Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-21
THE VOICE OF An OLD LINE WHIG
ON THIRD-PARTY-ISM

We remarked a few days since
that the distinction attempted to be
drawn between an old line Wing
and an old line Democrat, in regard
to the issues now pending between
Conservatism and so-called Repub-
licanism, was distinction without
a difference and that the attempt to
evolve a new party organization
based upon a supposed affinity
of the former class (old line
Whigs) with the monstrous doctrine
of Federal consolidation, which is
the cornerstone of this miscalled
Republicanism, and upon the party
prejudiccs of past times, which
were endeavOrcd TO be revived in
order TO promote the longed for al
lance of the third -partyites, would
receive no countenance at the hands
of the mass of old-line Wings in
Tennessee. or the correctness of
our position, day unto day uttereth
speech. Our columns would be
overburdened to present the re-
sponses of old line Wings in its
support.
The following extract from the
letter of distinguished gentleman
who was one of that class, and in
the civil war, sided with the Fede-
raj government, may be taken as a
sample of the expression of public
opinion from the standpoint of true
Old Line Wings of Tennessee:
My views on the movement to estab
lish a new party can be briefly stated.
You very well know that before the war
| was Wing, ard in early life imbibed
deep prejudices against the Democratic
party. The objections, however, were
merely question of policy. The Wing
and Democratic parties wed with each
other in their support of the fundamen-
tai principles upon which our govern
10 ent was established.
When the Republican party was organ
lied it was equally pledged to the support
of the constitution, and when the contest
came on between the North and the
South, it, time and again, renewed its
pledges OF fealty and devotion to the
constitution, and by these pledges secured
the support of the entire anti.slave
States, and of many persons in the slave
States. 1t was upon these pledges alone,
that Union men were found in the slave
States. The first open departure from
the constitution and violation Of
it, was under the plea of necessity
to save the life of the nation.
In this many acquiesced, hoping
that when the war was over, and the
necessity passed. these innovations upon
the constitution would also cease. But,
as some of our more thoughtful states
men believed, the party in power finding
il convenient method of retaining
power, persisted in disregardiDg its pro-
visions, and innovation after innovation
has been had, until the constitution
ceases to be restraint upon their acts.
Congress, by its usurpations, has become
the government and not CO ordinate
department thereof and the re-
straints of the constitution made by
the people of the several States
that they have sworn to support, are
Knocked at. They have become
the mere tools of moneyed interest
that was built up by the war, that is
afraid TO trust the people for fear Of
loss, in part, Of their ill-gOtten gains.
A movement was made by the admins
tration of President johnson, in 1866, to
build up great constitutional party out
of material from the Republican and
Democratic parties. The Democrats ais
most unanimously gave their support
to the movement, but the Republicans
almost unanimously refused to do so.
The issues upon which the Republican
party was organized were settled by
the abolition of slavery, and became as
obsolete as the issues between the old
Wing and Democratic parties; yet We find
its members adheriRg tenaciOusly to
their party organizations under new
issues, and, in many instances, new lead
ers, What is this new issue? A
central despOtism against the reserved
rights of the States and the liberties OF
the people. Its object is 70 centralize the
powers of government in Congress, in
stead of in the people, as expressed in
the constitution. These are the new
Issues, and &C q Wing, | have a,
right to take which side | pleas d
and to be consistent, must oppose those
innovations and adhere to the old land
marks, and With whom do | find mys tli?
The answer is with Large portion of he
old Wing party in this State sud he
most prominent Of its members in other