Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-03-16
CONCENTRATIONS
The OppOsition-.TReIr Platform and

COMMUNICATIONS
The OppOsition-.TheIr Platform and
Allies.
In 9 late number of your paper we discussed the 4
llatform Of the National Union Party, and endea- 4
ored to show that so long as they believe in the ar
les of faith laid down by them there is no neces-
ity for third party in the coming contest. Great
constitutional questions are involved tn the pending
canvass which are to maintain the Constitution IL
is original purify, or forever stamp the seal OF
sectiOnalism on Its untarnished shield. Between
the National Union Party and the Democracy there
IS no vital difference; and if the National Union
Party, with the rec0ectons Of their inglorOus de-
feat in the triple fight of 1856 still continue TO as
sist the Black Republicans by weakening the Democ-
racy in the South, we are forced to the conviction
that patriotism is not the primary course Of such
party. There are passions IN the human heart as
potent as as the inspirations of patriotism. Aspra
rations after power and position for personal az
grandizement are not unknown in the human
breast Though the new party, in their address,
grow eloquent in their disnteresed love Of country
yet, imagine the War-cry, The SP0IIS- HE
SP0Hs1 does not cause them togrow less courageous
or less willing to lift their batteaxe IN the coming
campaign. Many of them have never tasted the
sweets Of public patronage, and we opine that many
Of the eutenants and high privates are Ike Ancient
Pistol, who said
Unto the camp, and pror5s will accrue.
We do not wish to impugn the motives OF the
Opposition party, yet cannot see, undef the pre-
sent state Of affairs, what good can De accomplish
ed by the organization.
In the next place we shall speak Of their Allies.
The Holy Alliance eloquently advocated last
summer by John Minor Bolts, was not the wild
dreaming of an enthusiast 1t has thousands Of
bold adherents on Southern soil. The friends Of the
..immacuateMr Bell have positively affirmed to us
that the Southern Opposition party in Tennessee de-
sire 10 nominate him for the Presidency and then
get the Black Republican Convention at Chicago to
re-uominate him. If this should be done we should
expect to hear the voice Of Seward and Chase
of Giddings and Philips reyerberating among our
Southern hills with the praise of their gallant hero
But we have no idea that the Chicago Convention
would indorse Mr. Bell even should he be the stand
ard bearer of the Opposition forces, as Mr.. Bel is
not radical enough TO answer the ends Of the Black
Republicans. The Black Republicans are a little
hard TO please Many Of them are advocating the
nomination Of Mr. Bates; yet he is thought by many
not TO- be radical enough for representative Of their
doctrines. Yet Mr.. Greeley says he is Essential
" Republican, practical Ebmanclpauonlsts
The Black Republican organ Of st. Louis, speaking
"bU didhOry' Of his views declares that slavery
shall not be permitted to enter any territory which
free soil when acquired by the United States, or
which become free at any period subsequent to It's
acquisition; that no power Jld Congress can plant
slavery on such SOIL" As a further evidence
Of his claims before the Chicago Convention,
Greeley. which appeared in the Tribune of the
9th inst, in which he says there is no man a
more thorough representative OF the principles
Of tie Republican party" Yet after all this tes-
timony he is considered by many as most toe
conservative to get the nomination. What man
whom Greeley says is a genuine Republican,
a practical Emancipationist,' too conservative to
be elected to the Chief Magistracy OF the United
States What think Southerners Of this declaration
The Cincinnati Gazette, one Of the most ably edited
of the Republican organs, and at the same time q
most reliable index to Republican sentiment, II
reviewing the prospects of the various candidates
whose treachery TO the South would make them n
subjects for the Chicago nomination. introduces the
names of HonE John Bell, John NJ Bolts, and John J
Crlttendcn. Again alintegent correspondence OF tn'
same journal in discussing the merits Of various aspir
ants for thePresidency thus pours out his soul OnJno
Bell after having exhausted the language OF eulogy
/ on Seward and Chase. Hear him: "Anc Old JONI
Bell. of Tennessee, the noblest Roman Of the Soutt
what patrios heart does not thrill with high emo
ton at the very mention of his name. purel
patriot an hOnester statesman lives not IN the limits
| Of our country L Mr.. Bell does not sympathlsC
with his Black Republican supports, well might h'
excaim 's What have done thatmy enemies praise
meln But attention, my candid reader, 70 the loL
lowing bit of rhapsody over the viper OF Virginia
aWhie John N. Bolts. fearless and daring, WELDING
| the pen of Junius has stood ike LeOnidas at Their
mopyie and breasted the fercest, darkest wave OF
slavery propagadism." But the trio Is yet incOm
plete here IS the other "Cassius N. Clay has
been for years past like pillar Of fire IN kentucky
amid the surrounding darkness.
Now heaP the above correspondents opinion o.
the doctrine on which his candidate Is to stand lie
closes with the following exlrortation:
Give US those who have the clear ring OF gen
uine Republicanism who viii oppose the extension
of slavery IN territories now free; who have de
cison of character enough TO resist the claIlOrous
and reasonable threats Of Southern Dlsunlomsts
and who scorn the sycOphantic subseryIency OF
Northern dOughfaceism, and the Republicans OF this
region viii eagerly rally TO their support
Now would ask my Southern Opposition friends
who are the allies Of their party? Is 1t not plainly
seen from the tenor of Black Republican sentiment
that in case man Of the ultra views Of Seward OF
Chase or Giddngs cannot receive the nomination at
Chicago then some of these Southern allies are to
be placed on their ticket? Can any man who loves
his Southern home, who reyeres the memory OF
those great men who gave US the Constitution, JON
in with the avOwed enemies of our rights and tight
under the banner Of &. No more Slave States with
Seward as his General and Giddings, Slade. FesSen-
den. Phillips and Gerrit Smith as his companions
in armsy
If the old maxim that " A man Is known by the
kind Of friends he has has not lost all its force
and truth. then we think, we have made out clear
case against the Opposition.
At some future time, we will speak Of the proba-
bic chances Of the Nui0Rall@ Union Party, with and
without an alliance with the Black Republicans.
SHIRLEY