Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-07-19
TwoTheories. But one Prae.ice.


The New York Ford, which advocates,
| We believe. the election of Messrs LINCOLN
| and HAMLIS, institutes in a recent number a
| brief comparison between the avowed prin-
ciples of the Republican and Democratic par
ties, for the purpose of showing that there is
| no such broad difference between their
platforms as stranger might suppose.
To this effect that journal observes as fol-
| lows:
"The only real patent issues set forth in
| these party fabrics, directly affirmed in the
| one and as directly denied in the other, is the
power of Congress to exclude slavery from
the Territories; and, in fact. that issue. pre-
scented, amounts to nothing more than an abstraction.
| inasmuch the Republican platform. though
holding forth the power, does not present
| any claim for the actual practical exercise of
| that power. contenting itself with the gener-
| ality that the power shall be used acheTeUer
such legislation is necessary. 1t never was used
| nor even attempted to be used IN the case of
Kansas. and 1t is not pretended that any Other
case as likely TO arise requiring it,"
If the issue presented by the Republican
party under this head is confessed to be moth
ing more than an " abstraction" it is only
just to say that the antagonist issue Joined
with it by the " Breckenridge Democracy" is
equally speculative in the estimation of their
chosen standard-bearer. We know of moth
ing which has occurred to change the atti-
tude of the Territorial question" within the
last five or six months, considered as one of
practical concern and not of partisan debate.
The views entertained upon the subject by
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE previous to his nOmina-
ton, and as announced in his well-known
speech delivered at Frankfort, Kentucky,
before the members of the Legislature of
that State, may therefore be justly deemed
the same now as they were when first uttered
on the 21st of December last. We quote
from that speech as follows:
sin common with many public men, hold
that the existing machinery of our Govern
ment is adequate to execute the decisions of
the judicial tribunals; but, should the time
ever arrive when a decision of competent
court on question of private right is likely
to fail for want of adequate remedies to ex-
ecute 1t, those remedies, executive and legis
lative, if need be, shall be afforded, or Gov
eminent is a failure; and from this couclu
sion L see no escape for any just mind that
would uphold the authorities of the country.
In this conneXion l do not hesitate to say
that the aim of every good citizen should be
to keep the question of slavery out of Con-
gress. It's agitation there has been prcduc-
tive only of evil to US, and that continually.
In the present condition of public affairs
can see no motive to thrust the Territorial
question on the Congressional arena that has
its origin in feeling of loyalty to the Union.
At present the slavery question, in this as
pect of it, is not before Congress. No South
ern Senator or Representative proposes legis-
lation upon it. No complaint of violated
rights comes from any Territory No evil |
dence is offered that the Contribution, the
laws. and the courts are not competent to |
protect personal and private property. |
Hence, while would never abandon con- |
right, especially after it had beel !
determined, l never would prema |
turely raise any question to distract the |
when no voice demands it, North, |
South, East or West.
at should be cause of congratulat,on to |
every patriot that the Territorial question is |
nearly fought out. 1t is nearly fought out. |
Nc man of sense and observation ever sup |
posed that the institution would ever pene- |
trate into Minnesota, Nebraska, and other |
Northern Territories. AS to the territory |
south of certain parallel of latitude, where |
slave property is really profitable, and wnere
the interests of both races seem to harmonic |
IN this relation, do not doubt that CHM .te
and interest, and the proximity of slave
States, and the Constitution and the courts
will sustain us there in all our rights, and
hat we will have Southern States out of
Southern soil.'
And thus it is that we have the curious
spectacle of two parties arrayed against each
other in relentless antagonism on mere alb
stractiOn, while they both join in denouncing
The Constitutional Union party, which pro-
poses TO act before the election on precisely
The same principles as the Democracy and
Republicans expect to act alter that event,
For the want, on the part of the latter two,
Of any thing else which in the nature of
things it will be possible for them to do -
Could the force of party further gO?-Nat.
LptelLiQeacer.