Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-01-14

Circumstances beyond our control have now fore
ed Us to change the IHdiGuian from a Republican
to a Democratic paper. 1t Is always unpleasant,
even in private life TO change one course OF acting.
but much more unpleasant for a public journalist
to be compelled TO leave the party with which ii has
acted.
1t was a remark we believe Of Henry Clay, when
changing his political course On some taYOrGte aea-
sure that he would rather be right than President
and that he was never 50 old or wise but that lac
might not be wrong.
Nothing but sheer duty has compelled us to make
this change We were raised a Wing, gave the last
vote we ever gave tor a Presidential candidate to
a Wing iGCn. ScOtt.) and acted with the Wings rs
long as the party had an organization. In 1886. we
had no voting residence and did not support either
candidate. Since that time we have acted with the
Opposition branch OF the Repubhcaniparty. Recent
events well known 80 the newspaper readers, have
shown clearly that the most ultra views are to rule
the Republican party that sectional man is bound
10 be the Presidential candidate in 1860. We can
not consistently support such candidate, and we
viii not be forced to by any political organization
We acted with the Republican party because we sup
posed it was about to cut loose from the abolition
party and take Conservative. national grOUndg
Since it has failed TO thus act cIUOt act with IL
The Democratic party. we aware. Is cursed with
a set of sorc-hcaded, dsaHected dsuniOnist, well
as the Republican party but rs these control the ac
ton of the Republican party, and in spite Of them
the Democratic party still continues to take high
national grounds. have no alternative but to act
with the Democratic party.
We regard the present az The most critical period
in our national existence. We have beEeld men
banded together, going into a acighboIing STATE,
and putting 70 death peaceable citizens. And We
have seen also leaders Of great party eulogiZing
those H.urderers az heFeeg, and casting all
Of Obloquy and contempt uPGa t.,a State and Fed
eral authorities for bringing them 10 q meFtlEa
Justice We have seen also. these same political
leaders. who occupy high places, aiding in scat
terng broad cast over our country, documents
and publications calculated only to breed disunon,
and set one section of the Union at variance with
she other.
In noting carefully the course Of both political
parties for several months, we have become con-
WINGED that the DemCcrahc party Is in no danger
of being controlled or driven from 9 tFus national
course by the few disafectea in the party. On
the other hand when we see the New York Ifi-
b1tEe the Cincinnati Gazette. and numerous other
leading Republican papers, publishing speech at
ter speech from Beccher, Phillips, CheeYer and
others. of the most violent AbOlitiousts in the
Union with little or no comments. except in the
same strain. we are forced 20 conclude that they
svmpathse with them and have an object in view
10 50 scfiHa P4pcTs thar can publish in this
manner t4e most VICiGHt abqse Of State and Fed
eraI authorities and oulOsse - i.eEoGg Hqen who
have been engaged in wholesale GutCEery Ct
our RalloW-pitIzcus. must have some sympathy
with them Traasan is one Of tAe highest grimes
known to law, and If party EqstalHs traitors to
the Government we can not tell what EsEt expect
of it. These are some Of the reasons why we have
been compelled to change the politics Of paper.
Other reasons will be given from time to time
Southern LadicHjlH.