Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-02-23
EVENING SESSION.
EVENING SESSION.
Col. Stokes. from the Committee on Res
lutions, reported the following
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS:

Col. Stokes. from the Committee on Reso-
lutions, reported the following
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS:
The members of this Convention, chosen
in primary meetings of the people IN their
respective COUNTIES. and representing the
sentiments aud opinions of all those. whether
Wings. Democrats or Americans in, times
past, who view with concern and not WITH
out alarm, the present political condition Of
the country, have convened for the purpose
of taking counsel together. and to adopt such
measures as may appear best. to awaken the
sleeping powers and arouse the Indifferent to
a sense of the impending dangers, and to
unite their energies to save the country from
the disorganizing and revolutionary spiritof
the times. They believe that the time has
come and will not brook postponement, when
il ever. the progress of abuses and carrup-
tions in our Government which all history
shows are the parents and forerunners Of re-
volution and anarchy, may be stayed, if they
cannot be eradicated.
That we may not be accused of exaggera-
ting the extent of the existing abuses and
disorders in the body polite, and of overrat-
ing their disastrous and baneful consequent
cns. a brief enumeration and description OF
some of the more prominent of them. will be
submitted 10 the judgment of the people, who
alone can apply remedy.
A little more than thirty years ago the
editor Of q newspaper in New Hampshire,
who had rudely assailed the character of a
Secretary of State. was denied the publish
ing Of the laws of Congress- a job insignificant
in value. which had been accorded to him
undet previous administrations. This was
denounced attbe time by The whole opposi-
ton as an act of tyranny and abuse of execu-
tive patronage-an attack upon the freedom
nf the press-upon liberty ITSELF in poisoning
the fountain from which was derived one of
its chief supports At this dav, strange as
it may appear, without any change in the
form of Government. important public Offices
are frequently bestowed upon the proprie-
tors and editors of public journals in The
Interests of the administration. and jobs and
contracts meted out TO them, or the profits of
them. amounting sometimes TO thousands,
distributed among them without scruple, and
under Executive iGfiuence and direction.
Under the maxims and teachings oi Jeffer-
SOP, confirmed by the Practice of Madison,
Monroe and j. Q. Adams. the freedom of po-
litical opinion was held to be of SO sacred and
important a characteri in Republic that in
period of thirty years prescription or remov-
ais from Office for opinions sake were I'M
known. During the same period of time The
preservation of the purity and independence
of the elective franchise was held to be so inn
poriant that the interference of Federal Off
GERS in elections. State or National, was for
hidden according to the teaching of jeff r
son, who announced that such interference
would be held Just cause of removal.
But soon after the close of the period to
which reference has been made. the whole
some doctrines and sentiments Of Jefferson
and of his immediate successors upon those
important subjects, lost much OF their force
and respect with the pnblic.
The first departure from them by the pop
ular Chief of a new Administration found
excuse among his followers in the fierce as
saults made upon his private character by his
opponents in the canvass which had termina-
ted in his election; and Justification in the
special circumstances of each case of removal.
But in time. under various plausible pre-
texts, particularly that which assumed that
the Tetrenchmcnt of expenditures, and re-
form of abuses promised 10y the President in
his first inaugural address could not be carried
cut unless the public Offices and employments,
ministerial, as well as political and admins
trative, should be in the hands of his friends
and supporters-the injunctions of JEFF, rsOn
ceased to be respected, and the wholesale pro-
scription which followed the discovery OF this
necessity, led, in the end, 10 the introduction
of long train of abuses in the exercise OF
the appointing power in the distribution OF
executive patronage and to practical Ope
ration of the government subversive of the
spirit aud intention of the Constitution. The
freedom once cOncrded to the officeholders as
well as all other citizens to approve or cen
sure the acts and measures of an adminiSfra-
ton as their Judgment and conscience might
die ate, can now be exercised only under the
penalty of forfeiture of Office. A fealty due
To the country aud its government from all
cit Zens in their case is now held to be trans
ferred TO political Chief or to party. No
political heresy, no matter how mischievOus
and dangerous. even tho it aims at the de-
Of the ConstitutiOn-nO violation
of solemn pledges or duties is held to be cause
Of exclusion from. or appointment TO, Office,
provided the essential point of honor is saved
in bearing true allegiance TO party.
A jealousy with which the freedom of
elections, and the purity of the elective fran
chise was once guarded against the influence
of the executive power and the interference
of federal officers in elections is no longer
+. cognized by those who have the control Of
affairs of any importance TO the preservation
OF free institutions.
Under the operation of a new maxim in
dispensing executive patronage, that Ito the
victOrs belongs the spoils,' the maxims of
j fiersOn have been reversed and a new ten
ure OF Office prescribed. not known by the
Office holders are expected
and required 10 Interfere actively in elections
under penalty OF dismissal, and thus the
whole corps of civil officers and employees
and their dependents, hundred thousand or
more in numbers di, persed over the country
constitute standing political police force,
trained hands. disciplined to any service
which may be required III uphoiding tie par
ty in power.
At every Collectors office in o. large
cities-at every post Office in every city,
and respectable village in the land NAV be
nj luh NH.
Issue missiyes giving instructions TO the
faithful.
The purity of the elective franchise in the
present times is not exempt from the tempta-
tions and Influences If pecuniary brides, with
executive connivance.
1t is notorious that a per centage OF the
salaries of Federal Office holders has been fire.
4uently, if not regularly, assessed and col
lectcd, 10 raise "A fund TO be transmitted to
whatever State. or Congressional District il
may BE- deemed necessary TO enable the par
~ To carry an election And, thus, portions
Of the public revenue derived from the peo-
Pile. tens of thousands in amount are turned
into a corruption fund. to stife the voices
and defeat the will of the honest and indie
pendent voters.
These evils and abuses, great and gross
As they maniiestly are, may be tolerated and
liberty may survive, and the country may
prosper for season, while the great body of
the people continue untainted by corruption;
but how long that season may b.. will depend
lpou the operation of some of the indir rect
aud more remote consequences of the abuses
above enumerated. The maxims observed
and pIactised upon in the distribution of the
polls for the last quar.er Of a century, has
lowered the standard of public
morals, and diifused mercenary spirit over
the country.
Lured by the magnitude Of the spoils. the
rewards OF partisan services, thousands take
TO politics as profession. trade, livrIi-
hood. An army of political mereenaries and
ldventurers is thus recruited, who, by con-
:erted action, is Often able to control the
most important elections, and when success
fui, virtually acquire the direction aud co.,