Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-17
The vital Principle of RepubIieanism
-Iudge Mclean.

The vital Principle of RePublieanfsm
Judge Mclean.
The vital principle of the republican par
ty is opposition TO the extension Of slavery
into the Territories. 1t is this principle
which gives it vigor, and imparts to II the
chief portion Of its strength. Upon all other
questions of public policy there is but little
harmony amongst the several fragments
which compose the party. The principle
which causes them to cohere is based upon
the pr,judices of the people OF the nom
slayebolding States-:heir erroneous SEN
timents of philanthropy and religion, and is
entirely sectional. 1t is opposed to, and
makes war upon, the constitutional rights OF
Q whole section of the Union, and should not
receive any favor from that section. No citI-
zen of a slave State can cooperate with
party organized upon this principle without
betraying the rights of his section, aud
aiding its enemies. He might cooperate
with a party organized upon other grounds,
and having other purposes in view, whose
candidate for the Presidency may be OPP
posed to the extension of slavery, but viii
ling to leave the question TO the people OF
the territories to settle for themselves, in
a proper way and at the proper time. In
q word, be might very properly support a
party chief. occupying the position OF HEN
RI CLAY. Further than this Southern men
cannot safely 60.
We are led to these remarks by the action
of the Union Opposition Convention OF lndi-
ana, last week, which expressed a preference
for Judge MCLEAN and Hon. JOHN BELL as
candidates for the Presidency and Vice Pres
idency. We have the sincerest respect for
the high character and distinguished ser
vices Of Judge MCLEAN. His great ability
his ripe experience, and unlmpeachahie
honesty audintegrity, wouldrestore to the
Presidency the dignity which 1t has
lost under the administrations of PIERCE
and BUCHAsAX. There are very few men
in the non-slavehOlding States to whom
we would more willingly confde our
rights or even the destinies of the govern
ment, If we were satisfied that, upon the
question of slavery, he would not be gov
erned by the vital principle of the republl-
can party But he has uttered opinions
and reverence him as a public functionary,
forbid the idea OF our supporting him for
the Presidency. His letter TO Judge HORN
BLOWER in 1856, republished in these eel
umns last week, places him, If We do not
miseonstrue it, upon the aDti-slayery portion
of the platform of the republican parry. 1t
is not so direct and unmistakable as the let
TER of Judge BATES, but, We think, covers the
same ground. If We are mistaken We shall
be glad to learn it.
The demand of the republican party for
the prohibition. by the general government.
of slavery in the territories. which Judge Nc
LEAN appears to approve in the letter to
Judge BoRNBLOwER, is open and undisguised
hostility TO the South. 1t is proper for
Northern men, of all parties, to understand
that il is SO regarded by the people of the
South, with but few and unimportant excep- |
than the Southern democracy, so regard it {; |
and are as fully determined TO assert and |
maintain their constitutional rights. No al |
lance OF Northern men with the Southern |
opposition can be made upon any basis |
which does not recognize this fact. The con-
stitutional Union organization cannot ig- |
more it; neither can it rally the conservative
men OF the South upon Judge MCLEAN I'M
less he will agree to stand upon the princi- |
pie of nonintervention, aud to oppose the |
agitation of slavery issues. The country |
needs repose, and must have it. Her best |
interests have been lost sight of in the bitter |
controversies which have been forced upon
the people by political demagogues and ia |
natics and an era of quiet and harmony is
necessary to arrest the current of corruption
which threatens ruin, and to inaugurate and
carry o9t measures for the advancement aud
prosperity of the nation. This end cannot
be attained until the slavery question is sunk
to the bottom of the political sea.