Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-01-19
oppo.itton state convention N.


The Opposition to the democracy in Ten |
nessee have been invited TO send delegates TO |
a State Convention to meet in this city on
the 22nd day of February next. The time
between this and the day appointed is short,
and ii is, therefore. necessary for prompt and
energetic action on the part OF the people, to
secure such a meeting as the interests of the
country and the party demand. We trust
our friends in every county will go to work.
hold primary meetings without delay, and
appoint delegates who will attend.
The objects of the State Convention have
been stated heretofore but it may not De
supererogatory to mention them again. They
are the appointment of delegates to represent
Tennessee in National Convention yet to
he called: to nominate candidates for the
State at large on the Presidential electoral
ticket of The Party and the further object
of comforting upon the best plan of organiza-
tim for the ensuing Presidential campaign.
These are certainly objects of the first i'm
portance 10 The Opposition, If, in the present
alarming condition of the political affairs OF
the nation, threatening the peace and stabili-
ty of the government, they expect TO take
patriotic position, and 10 discharge the high
duties incumbent upon them as children OF
this blessed land of liberty. There never
has been time. since the formation Oh The
Union. when so much was demanded OF every
Individual freeman owing allegiance to oui
Constitution and laws. Having made use Of
the dangerous and infammable subject OF
slavery to secure predominance as party
and, by so doing, built up in the North
powerful sectional party based upon opposl-
tisn to Southern slavery, and apparently
strong enough TO wrench the seeptre Of power
from them. democratic leaders are now stri-
wing to rave themselves by the erection o.
the united South into another sectional par
iy: or failing, to overwheim the people OF
all sections in ruin. They are every where
proclainIing that the day for compromises is
past-tbat upon all questions of government
al policy affecting her rights OF interests, the
South must d, maud a strict compliance with
what is nominated ia the boDd-must have
| her .spouud of fesh," no matter What the
| consequences to others-that the great ma
iority Of The people Of the non-slaveholdiDg
States are enemies with whom it is an evil
| to hold intercOu1e-anj that The election of
a republican 10 the Presidency, even though
il lie done according to law, under the pro-
visions of the Constitution, will be an out
rage TO he resisted even TO the disruption of
the government. The Representatives OF the
10 10 a
for Speaker of the Federal House of Repre-
sentatives, with renewal of the agitation Of
issues growing out of slavery, and given i'm
porlance 10 infamous libels upon the South
by felOn-author, whose base soul has turn
ed against the mother that gave him birth,
and have kept the House in disorganzed
condition. to the injury of private citizens,
creditors of the government, and to the PREF
udice of the government itself. Without the
power to elect one of their own number
over the sectional republican candidate, and
declaring that the election Of the republican
candidate would be great calamity-one
which the country should not be made TO suf-
fer-some of them refuse to put an end to
the struggle by the only means which has so
far appear.d possible, the election of sound
safe, conservative Southern statesman, Mr..
GILMER-some, on the poor plea that be will
be supported by few republicans; and 9th
ers, on the miserable pretext that they repre-
sent .'foreien" constituencies in part, and
dare not do Titus exhibiting their willing
ness to see anarchy and chaos reign III prefer
ence to giving up unmanly pr'judces or tn
hopes of future election.
On the other hand, the great aggressive
sectional party, which sprung from th'
dragons teeth sown 10y the democracy. con-
ndent, boastful of its strength, and bent upon
restricting the constitutional rights of tht
South, aims to get possession of the govern
ment Its fanatical leaders respond in kind
to the denunciatiOns and belligerent mani
festoes of the sectional democracy. Enemies
to the Union of most dangerous character.
preaching doctrines which tend to treason
and blOOdshed, TO strife and civil war, they
merit the condemnation and unyielding OPP
position Of all whO love the Constitution and
the Union They must be resisted, and the
power, which democracy has given them to
do mischief. destroyed.
The overthrow of the t"O sectional parties
which keep the political ea1ldron seething,
is due to the future prosperity and happiness
of the people. and the permanence of our
government. If the condition of affairs which
now prevails, is kept up. the wreck OF our
institutions must surely follow. The Oppo-
sition of Tennessee have, therefore, u sacred,
imperative duty to perform, in the bending
of their best efforts to the removal OF the
obstacles interposed TO the continuance OF
the institutions which have dispensed upon
them so many blessings. Let them exhibit
to their anxious brethren elsewhere that they
are fully impressed with the responsibility
which attaches to their actions. and that they
are resolutely determineupon fulfilling to the
letter every obligation resting upon them.
II they but do this, their convention on the
22j February will not merely be a large and
enthusiastic Congress of patriotic citizens,
but will become a part OF great Conserve
tive Union movement, which shall redeem
the nation.
Ee- The great strength of DOUGLAS in
thu North, recently developed, has had the
effect OF stiiiening his back bone, and making