Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-07
iprr OF Mr.. SLOAN
II VI NIX SLOAN.
NASHVILLE, August 3. 1860.

ANASnfA-LEH august ,, lcoO
NIB JOIN A. FISHER Presidentof he Democratic Cu5:
DEARSTR: Yours of this date Is received asking me
for synopsis of the speech delivered lefore the
Democratlc Central Club for publication have no
notes OF the arguments there nsed and can only
give you the reasons why am not for Mr. Douglas
- Inls tlme; Before the meeting of the Charleston
Convention was for Mr. Douglas: was even for
him after he had received the nomination of his
particular friends at Baltimore and to day would
De lor him were satisfied that he was the choice
OF one half the Democracy of Tennessee. | was for
MN because believed him to he more entitled to
sne nomination than any other contestant and that
OBJECTIONS to him the South were upon abstract
questions. signed call for a Douglas meeting to
oe neid IN Nashville on Saturday. July 81 for the
purpose OF hearing " Col Carroll and other distin-
sulsneg speakers The meeting came of, but To-,
anu oehold what change was here my country
.ne. Inc principle regarders and friends 1.-THE
men tAat done the hOEerRg of Mr. Douglas in that
49, es41S were gentlemen who supported Fillmore in
1coo, Ration IN 1857, and NetherIand in lS59-men
, "no Iao denounee Mr.. Douglas as Black Repub
MAJ, hng Squatter, and traitor to the South What
ou II mean! We're they all deserving Bell and going
IoF douglas! We're they sincere or was there some
siAAls Uehlhd The Curtain yet to be seen? | de-
Ierhlhed 10 wait and watch A Douglas Club of
sol'e JO''y OF Jyty members was formed, of which
was d member; that Club made me a Delegate to q
Convention that was to meet in Nashville On Satur-
Jay, the 10Th OF July for the purpose OF consulting
as understood it, as TO tile best means of securing
the success OF the party in the coming contest IL
was W De state Convention, and if deemed expe-
dlent state Electoral Ticket was to be appointed
Inc convention met at the State Capitol Oh the
morning appointed, but owing TO the slim attendance
the convention adjourned until O'Clock But again
nIas STATE CJlCentsOn Of the National Democracy Of
tennessee could mt drum together oentfOatr delegates
from all the counties in the Slate outside of DaUiIson
Where are the delegates to this great National par
ys convention? Why the friends of Mr.. Bell
mere IN such numbers! Why are they so anxious
Tor Mr. Douglas to have ticket in this State? Why
20 they have such long and animated consultations
with the delegates ofts Democratic COaUeRtion! Why
do they suggest the Of men in their particular
LOCALITIES that Will make good Douglas Electors and
why do the delegates to this NctiOndl Democratic
C0nUettoR lend listening to the suggestions of
their old political enemies? | could find but one
answer suggestion. was satisfied that some
thing was rotten in Denmark" l felt that it was
Bell movement in disguise and for the purpose of
testing the truth OF my suspicious ] drew up the
following resolution:
ResolUed, That the National Democracy of Ten
nessee, believing it wrong to throw their influence
IN favor OF any sectional candidate for tie Presi
dency or Vice Presidency are, first in favor of the
election Of Stephen A. Douglas and II. V. johnson,
and If they cannot effect their object in their cleo
ton, they are next in favor of the National Union
candidates, Bell and Everett.
Not wishing present the resolution IN person.
went among the members and told them my sus-
picions and that wanted it introduced to test the
fact whether not the delegates to the Democratic
COnceioR did not prefer giUing The state of Tennessee
to Mr.. Bel Ouer hr. BreekiHrdge. Their l0as
YES we don't want Mr.. Breckenridge 20 carry single
State but South Carolina They would not introduce
the resolution because they said 1t would split the
party; that there enough Bel IN the Convention
to carry the resolution, and its adoption would ruin
everything. This was the first animation that had
that there were Bell men in the convention. and
so expressed myself at the time to the gentlemen
with whom was eOnyersing, and tney ali SAID it
would be impossible to keep them from voting on
the resolution.
Was | in joint stock concern, n which Bell men
and Douglas equally interested, md were
we working for one and the same end? Had the
love for one man so far carried US from the true
landmarks of Democracy that we were prepared to
sell out body and baggage to the Opposition went
| into the Convention good faith working
for the elevation of Mr. Douglas, not M. Bell, and
when L found that the leaders OF the movement
were working for the sole purpose OF destroying
| the Democratic party In aiding Mr.. Bell and his
friends could not longer remain, when it was evil
dent that the Carroll. Watterson q Company party
were working not for the love of Mr. Douglas, but
of revenge that their efforts to destroy, not to
build up, the Democratic party Icould not see how
aay Democrat could longer remain with such fac
tion for it is faction working against Democratic
party, it'll purpose in view but Its destruction
| And do not hesitate to say, and that too without
the fear of successful contradiction that the leaders
| of this Douglas movement are working for the sUle
and only purpose of giving the State of Tennessee
to Mr. Bell and that they have other earthly object
in view, and except their political advance
ment in 1861, by and with the aid of the Bell men
| to whom they now trying to transfer portion
of the Democracy of Tennessee. There is one other
consideration why, IN my opinion, Douglas Demo
| Gratis should not support him in this State Ii
] is evident that the race now being made by
the friends of Mr. Bell and Mr.. Douglas is to split
up the electoral vote to get their partic-
uar friends in the House of Representatives.
Now, take it for granted that the election goes
into the House who will be the prominent candi-
dates-all admit that Mr.. Lincoln will be and it
Is equally certain that Mr. Breckenridge will be
another leaving the for the third place between
Mr.. Bell and Mir. Douglas. Now if the friends of
Mr. Douglas persist in dividing the State and giving
it to Bell don't they that they aid Mr.. Bell twelve
electoral votes. taking the corresponding number
from Mr. Douglas chances, whereas, If given to
Breckenridge it would not affect Mr. Douglas in tie
least. The argument is good for the balance of
the Southern States; give them to Breckenridge, and
you weaken Mr.. Bells chances at the time you
strengthen Mr. Douglas But for the sake of argu-
ment let us suppose that Mr.. Bell beats Mr.. Breck-
inridge in the South and thereby keeps him from
the House of Representatives; what benefit will it
be to Mr. Douglas! The Republican members of the
House all pledged to for Mr.. Bell in prefer
ence to any Democrat.
Mr.. Douglas single State will be p0werIess of
good so far as he Is concerned the Southern Demo-
cratic States may unite upon him but they cannot
elect because tie tied State is between Breckenridge
and Bell and Mr.. Bells men would not submit to
it cast for Mr.. Douglas. But if the Douglas
men will withdraw Mr.. Douglas from the South and
let it go unit for Mr.. Brecknridge,a Democratic
President bound TO be elected by combination of
the conservative portion of the House of Represen
tatives against the fanatical portion, and the split
in party will be healed, peace and harmony will
be restored to the country and the bonds of union
will be tied ten-fOld stronger than before.
These are the reasons why l, a Douglas Democrat,
I'm found battling unler the banner of Breckenridge
and Lane, and will be found battling there until the
ides of November. Very truly, r. B. SLOAN