Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-30
Come to the Mass Meet
ing on Saturday.



The Election i'm the south.
There is 10 one who believes that Mr.. BELL has
the remotest possible chance of carrying several of
the Southern States There is no one who will deny
that the change from BELL to BRECKINRIDGE of
very small proportion of the votes of those Southern
States considered doubtful, will give the entire
Southern Electoral vote 10 BRECKENRIDGE. No one
will deny that BREcKTSRIDGE is the only of the
candidates against LINCOLN who stands chance for
an election by the Electoral College. If Mr. BELL
were to get New York under the fusion arrange
ment, he would have to carry every Southern State
except Florida or Delaware each of which have
three votes in order to secure his election That is
an impossibility, and every man knows it. Why
then cast the vote of one of the doubtful Southern
States for Mr.. BELL unless for the purpose of
throwing the election into the House, where, we
honestly believe, the election of LINCOLN would be
certain. The Black Republicans have already ff-
teen States; seventeen elect. MORRIS, of Illinois
has declared his intention to vote for LINCOLN, If
DOUGLAS stands no chance. That gives the Black
Republicans the sixteenth State. 1t will not tale
them twenty-four hours to turn out Stout, of Ore-
gon and give his to the contestant, LOGAN, is
they turned out BAhRETT, of Missouri, and put in
BLAIR, and that gives LINCOLN the election. Men of
the South business men, whose interest in the coun-
try is not dependent upon the distribution of the
spoils Of Office, pause and think.
mr. RelI and KnovV-NOthIngism.
The Banner thinks we have done Mr.. BELL injus-
tee in our charges against him about Know Moth
ngism To sustain its position it publishes the fol-
IL,
which it says was made when the Know-Nothings
were at the zenith of their power" The speech
was made on the 22d of September. 1855, months
after Gov. WISE had numerically excOriated it in
Virginia, and weeks after Gov. JOHNSON, of this
State, had sent SAM bowling to his den But here
are the extracts produced by the Banner:
But while entertain the sentiment that no for
eigner who is worthy of trust to any extent, d
vest himself of all attachment and Partially to his
native country, L believe he may yet possess, and
many foreigners do the virtues of gratitude TO the
land of their adoption and fidelity to its interests.
and that he may safely be entrusted not only with
the right of suffrage, but advanced to all official
trusts, from which he is not excluded by the Con
stitutiOn."
In laying down the fundamental principles and
policy Of a national conservative party-one that
shall be truly American in principle and sentiments,
and to secure its permanent ascendancy, nothing
which to conflict nth the mild and tolerant ge
MUS Of The american SySLenl of government in matters
OF TeligjOn-nOthing which appears to conflict with
the true American sentiment OF justice, in cOnceding
the full enjoyment of all vested rights and privileges
however impOitic it may be to confer them
should find admittance; and trust, that when suf-
fcient time and reflection shall have been allowed
the creed of the American party will faithfully re-
feet every truly American principle and senti-
ment."
We are not the habit of using language of aIper-
sonal character about our contemporaries. We
have studously avoided everything of the kind
otherwise might be fully justified by the cOnclu-
sion Of the BaraerS article in using language of
harSher import than it is our desire wont to do.
But to come to the issue: Have done Mr.. BELL
injustice: We give it as opinion that Mr.. BELL
never in ais life came near making a speech en-
trely on one side of the question he did at the
Knoxville Know Nothing meeting, though even
there he said of the foreigner:
i believe lie may yet possess, as many foreigners
do, the virtues of gratitude TO the land of their
adoption and fidelity its interests. and that he may
be safely entrusted not only with the right of suf-
frage, but advanced to all official trust from which
he Is not excluded by the Constitution"
But what was the whole tenor and effect Of that
speech? 1t seems impossible that any sane man can
read without regarding it of the most bit
ter Know Nothing speeches ever made in the United
States. Who mas forgotten the party watch word ?
"PUT NONE But AMERICANS on GUARD" iOated from
every Know Nothing mast head. The public ear
was stunned by the constant repetition of figures
showing the thousands of foreigners and Catholics
that were annually landing in the United States
Know Nothing presses and speakers were continual
ly parading before the public the criminal and pau
per statistics of the country, showing the number
of foreigners that were il the jails work-houses.
pOOrhouses, and pcnitentiaries Of the various
States All of the abuse that could be heaped upon
the Catholic Church. It's bishops its priests and its
laity was daily poured forth in copious streams.
All these things and many more cannot have been
forgotten by the American public. It cannot be de-
MED that among the leading principles Of the Know
Nothing or American party was, Extension Of the
time before naturalization from five TO twenty-one
years Put none but American born protcstants in
office. The published oaths of the party required
that every one while member should not vote
for foreigner, Catholic or one whose wife was
Catholic. Mr.. Bell when he made his knoxville
speech knew all all these things we'll and yet he did
not hesitate TO say
am not member of the order, but feel that
am at heart as true the great and leading prrci
pies Of the party could be were formally init
ated into one of its COUnscls.
What those great and leading principles were
as taught BY the press and speakers Of the party
no one can so soon have forgotten.