Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-30
THE CANVASS.
Dlscussion at GaIIatin.

GALLATIN, August Is, 1850.
To THE EDITORS OF THE UNION AND AMERICAN: In
conformity with previous notice, the Hon. ROBERT
HATroN, member of Congress, er-odicio BELL and
EVERETT elector for this district made his appear
ance in town. not for the purpose of rendering
faithful account of his stewardship to his con-
sttuents but of storming them into the belief that
if they did not vote for Mr.. BELL the Union would
be dissolved. Announcing that he was willing to d
vide time with any Democrat, we pirted our clean
JIMMY" TURNER against their "BoB." Mr.. HATroS
opened the discussion and occupied the -st thirty
five minutes of his hour and half in attempting to
prove what said everybody knew that the country
in greatperil thereby implying that his audience
was nobody, or very ignorant. The next twenty min
tes spent trying to prove that neither BREoK
NRDGE nor DOUGLAS stood any chance of being elect
ed and therefcre twas the duty of all patriots vote
for BELL and EVERETT. The reason why he knew
the Government was upon the eve of disruption
was from what HE had heard the ''hot-spurs from
the South" say upon the floor of Congress, in the
hotels, Offices and 6arr0oS and at the dining tables
J whilo HE was eating by their sides. h. therefore,
knew disunion plotted by majority of the
| BRECKENRIDGE leaders. The balance of Mr. HATToNs
time was consumed in attempt to prove that the
slavery question abstraction and its protec-
ton in the Territories worse than an absurdity
Among other things he insisted that Mr.. BELL lad
made more of the Compromise measures of 1850
| than any other man-had voted for the Utah and
New Mexico bill-asserted that every department
| of the Government was rotten and corrupt-that
the Democratic party was disunion party. and
that HE at the birth of the Union party last
winter, in company with Mr. CRITTENDEN and others.
The most remarkable feature of Mr.. HATToNs speech
was, that notwithstanding the great peril and cor
ruptions of the Government, he took no position,
nor recommended any line policy by which all this
could be remedied.,
Mr.. TURNER arose amidst the deafcning applause
| of the ''unterrihed." He insisted among other
things that we should look to the antecedents and
past character of the members of the Union party
| in order to know their present sincerity-tfat Mr.
HATToN had within the last eight years, played
Yankee Doodle with all its variations. In 1852 he
| was for foreigners-"sweet Irish brogue and rich
German accent"-opposed PIERCE because New
Hampshire would not permit Catholics to vote. in
| 1855, they were sworn band of know Nothings at
| war with and dealing out vengeance upon foreign
ers and Catholics In 1859, the professed friend of
| the foreigners, and had forgotten the Catholics.
| That, the party had tried everything with
out success, they had now determined to start
party without platform which made it
necessary to examine the records of BELL and
| EVERETT, for upon that they were making the
race First, that it insisted there agitation
and danger in the South-hat this could only be al
layed by giving the South her rights under the Con-
stituhon- Messrs. BELL and EVERETT were agi-
rights and siding in all things with the North. Mr.
BELL had commenced in 1885, and had voted and
sided on every occasion with the abotonists, CIV
ing them aid and comfort, while the whole South
opposed him voting to abolition petitions
thereby admitting the rights asked for, and the pow
of Congress to act upon them and grant the relief
He opposed the admission of Texas, slave State
opposed the CLAYTON compromise which the South
demanded and which would have brought peace to
the country. In 1885, he favored the admission of
California which the South denounced as a fraud
favored the abolition of slavery in the District of
Columbia though he finally voted against top
posed or lodged Utah and New Mexico In 1854 he
opposed the Kansas-Nebraska | ill., though he voted
for and favored the repeal of the Missouri compro-
mise, which he says built up the abolition party
opposed the admission of Kansas under the Lecomp-
ton Constitution, though she had complied with
every thing necessary-founded his objections upon
considerations which he could overlook and pass by
in the admission of California, free State and all
this done in direct opposition to instructions from
his State. That Mr.. EvERTrr's record in 1889 was
as bad or worse than LINCoLN's platform-that Mr.
EVERETT had never retracted his sentiments Mr.
Turner insis ted their records were aggressive and
could not alay the excitement. He dared Mr. HAT
TON to take issue upon the BRECKENRIDGE platform
which he failed to d. did he define the position
of his own party.
Upon the subject of corruption Mr.. TURNER in
sisted and showed that the Opposition were to
blame for it and Mr.. BELL who voted himself
about $1,000 under the compensation bill, would
not be reliable authority upon extravaganza. On
the Union question, Mr.. Turner insisted that Mr..
BELL was for and against all things-that the sta
tute bosk and the territory acquired since he has
been in public life all looked te in vain for one
evidence of either patriotism craftsmanship That
remedy was suggested by the party for existing
evils and that good could be promoted by eleyat
ing them to power. None of these positions were at
tempted to be met or controverted by Mr. HATroN |
by argument.
1t was glorious day for the Democracy of old |
Sumner. She came out Of the conflict with renewed
vigOr and confidence. We have good reason to be
proud of our young and promising champion. Ans
right here OBSERVER.