The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-17
The PFesldency-.-The Prospective
Fight.

Fight.
We are opposed to giving undue
prominence TO the Presidential ques-
ton, so far as it relates to the men who
are to be the opponents OF true and
unconditional Unionism; but as public
journalists, we are bound to chronicle
events, as they occur; and we, there
fore, devote the present article to the
subject We have frequently said but
repeat it now, that there may be no
misunderstanding, that we would sup
port no man for the Chief Magistracy
of the country, for the next four years,
who was not devoted to a continuance
of the Union, devoted to American
nationality, and degoted to freedom as
a basis of that nationality; and we be-
lieye that no contingency viii occur,
which will allow of the selection of a
man Of any other political views
The late elections have taught this
lesson, as clearly as lessons can be
taught; and all those who did not fully
sympathize with traitors, but who chung
to party, because their prejudices
outweighed their patriotism, will now
leave it; they can hope for nothing,
save by abiding the sinking fortunes
of Wood, Vallandigham, and their as
sociates.
The withdrawal Of Secretary Chase
from the canvass has left the race be-
tween Lincoln and Fremont; and we
think has very materially enhanced the
strength of the latter; he is not only
preferred by the war Democrats to the
present executive, but is the first choice
Of the German and Missouri radicals,
who viii have weight in the Baltimore
convention; and his recent letter ex-
planning his position in the army and
also the fact that every suggestion he
made at the beginning Of the war, rela-
tive to the manner in which hostilities
should be conducted, although ridiculsd
and modified at the time, have since
been literally adopted by the President,
viii aid in giving him strength
We are assured that the war Demo
crats-those who have been true as
steel from the beginning, have made
overtures to him, and proposed to make
him their candidate but of his reply
we know nothing; but from some re-
cent articles in the Cincinnati Enquirer
we infer that they dread his candidacy
A paper called the New Nation has
been started in New York, devoted to
his interests, which lays down the fol-
lowing PLATFORM
First-Absolute, complete and immediate
liberty, without distinction of race or color.
Seeond-The absolute maintenance OF the
Monroe doctrine.
Third--Another and better military or
gAnization than that Of President Lincoln.
Fourth--A diminution Of the powers Of
the Executive and larger responsibility Of
Cabinet ministers 10 Congress.
Fifth-A nation in the place Of eonfed
Grafton.
On which the New York Herald CON-
ments as follows:
Now, unless the fortunes Of war shall yet
bring General Grant in the foreground and
leave Old Abe" in the background, the
best thing that the broken up democracy
can do is TO fuse with the Fremont party.
Why not2 Why stick upon democratic
principles and prejudiees when they have
had their day and become obsolete ideas
Why not take a new departure, and strike
ahead Of the administration on this modern
idea of universal liberty by adopting the
Fremont platform and Fremont as their
candidate?
As an indication that the war portion
of the party are taking the direction
indicated by the Herald, we have to
add that the Cincinnati Volksfreund,
the old Democratic German organ,
comes out in lengthy article on the
Presidency, and announces its adhesion
to Fremont, as follows
Perhaps the only man who, under the
present circumstances, could be put up
against Lincoln with any prospect Of sue
cess is Gen. John c.. Fremont The slavery
question, which we consider 10 have been
disposed Of by the war, separates US no more.
And we are happy to have, through con-
versation with old, respected, patriotic
Democrats, won the conviction that the
great mass Of our readers are animated by
like sentiments.
And why not9 General Fremont has
always proven himself TO be q warm
friend Of the Germans, and in these chang
ing times this is guaranty which cannot
be overTated. For these reasons, then, we
put the name Of General John c. Fremont,
as that Of an independent candidate of the
peoples at the head OF our columns, cher
ishing the hope, thst soon other indepen-
dent papers will follow our example. Our
time IS an earnest one. Who knows which
lot is hidden in the dark womb OF the fu-
ture, for the people Of this country, and par
ticularly for US Germans We, Germans,
know BY experience the curse Of disunion-
the curse Of slavery. How much have we
not longed for unity and freedom, and here
we shall discard these treasures, nay, shall
sacrifice them on the altar of a blind party
spirit
This is significant; and we should not
be surprised to see the great mass of
the Democratic party come up to the
support of Gen. Fremont; though a
faction wiz, of course, support yallan-
digham, or some man of his stripe; but
it win scarcely be worthy Of notice so
contemplate viii it be in strength and
in the character of its ingredients.
II Fremont is an Independent can
didate and Mr.. lincoln the regular
nominee Of the Union party, as he
probably win be, We shall witness a
spectacle in strange contrast with those
quadrennially presented in this country /
for many successive years We have 1
been habituated to the existence of
two political parties, each claiming 10
be the especial friend of State rights
and of slavery but now, too, each de /!
string to Guido It's rival in devotion to
nationality and universal emancipation
The contrast is especially suggestive,
and instructive; and viii cheer the
heart Of the patriot. When the choice
GENES beentween Gen. Fremont and
Abraham Lincoln, it must be personal