Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-01
VALEDICTORY.

Compelled, by circumstances over which
l have no control, to sever my connection
with the Avalanche as one Of its editors
and proprietors, the mournful duty de-
wolves upon me of bidding a most affec-
tomato farewell to those friends, who for
twelve years, have given me their conf
dence and patronage. The Avalanche
is peculiarly my own bantling. l started
it on larger means than l retire with-and
the name, new, quaint and unknown in
newspaper nomenclature, had its origin in
my own fancy. Since the issuance of the
first number, in January, 1858, the paper
has been eminently successful. In
public estimation it has long since reached
a rank which places it among the respect
able and influential journals of the cOun-
try. 1t is no egotism to say that this re-
suit has been achieved mainly through
my instrumentality-by a fidelity to
friends, party, principles and an ardent
love for the land of my birth.
Circumstances are
memorable and have governed by force
to the action Of which, though long fore
seen and apprehended, l could interpose
no adequate resistance, without larger
drafts upon private friendship than l was
willing to make; and hence there is no al
tentative left but for me 10 announce that
with this issue ends, henceforth and for
ever, my connection with the AUaLdnche.
| write these words with sad heart
and trimming eyes. To give up paper
that has for so many years of anxious
turmoil filled my heart and brain, is like
giving up great hope. But much as the
AUaLdnche is endeared to me by all that
is sacred, precious and affecting in mem
ory-much as love an object, suggestive
of so many hallowed associations, love
principles and the land beloved with
the graves of her slain child
rem still more; and my heart in
dignantly tells me my duty,
aud how to perform it. 1t would not
cOmpOrt with the courtesy which per-
mits this address to narrate the causes
which impel me to a withdrawal from
the paper. Suffice it to say, however,
that they have their origin in disagree
ment in regard to political sentiments.
As my late partner, Colonel A. ]. Kellar,
owned majority of the stock, he die
tated the general policy of the paper, and
hence it has often been made to think as
l never thought to speak as never
spoke, and to write as l never wrote.
| learned Democracy as l learned to lisp
my mothers name, and it is so deeply in
grained in every fiber and lgament of nv
existence that could not eradicate it if /
would, and would not if l could. The
Democratic party now occupies its nor
NAL position. 1t had its birth in advo-
eating strict construction of the Con-
stitution, in conuadistinction to the lati-
tudinarian,- construction which the old
Federal party favored. 1t is still
true TO its ancient renown, fol-
lowing the landmarks which Thomas
Jefferson blazed out for its gui-
dance. The Democratic party presents
no new platform of varying doctrines tn
meet the eXigencies of a temporary ex-
pediency; but it stands now, as it stood
more than fifty years ago, the steadfast
advocate of the integrity of State Sever
eighty; of strict limitation of the bow
ers coded to the General Government: of
a liberal immigration from abroad which
has contributed so largely to the increase
Of our population and the DEVELOPMENT
of our national wealth. 1t has. more
over, been the consistent and uniform
opponent of all attempts to introduce .
sectarian religious element as an influence
upon political action, and has ever main
tanned, as the true doctrine of the Con.
stituiion, that We "should throw dow n
no mans altar, that we should punish no
mans prayer" and that we shoulS i'm
pose no disabilities upon any form of
ialth, IN accordance with which any
man may deem it his dptv
to manifest his dependence 70,
ward his God. These doctrines have
become hereditary in the councils of De-
mooracy, and the same party is still strug-
Cling to transmit them in unimpaired ms
ter and efficiency to posterity. l assert
with confidence, that in the whole yanra
OF our political horizon, there is no orpa9-
lzatlon other than the Democratic mart,
which has the ability and the will TO main.
tain the compromises of the Constitr3or
or that can bring an assured sIreng,b
from every quarter of the republic to r.
support of principles which are ,r,, &C
The Constitution and the Union. 10
pies which are recognized by ,. PllnG i
in the remote North and reGlS Sl people
the shores OF the Atlantic O ~ oou.ii, On
the gentle murmuF OF . 80" az" M ny
is surely neitheFN)- NC acinc- 1here
ing the South . dom norpohcy IN fore
alT raasogss .nto position which repels
inst = .Ole support, and it is neither
~ or generous TO assail with terms
reprOach and Contumely those cmi-
nent Northern patriots who, in every
issue involving our cons itui)n rights.
have shown themselves our friends. and
who, under circumstances IF trial and
difficulty which no Southern statesman is
compelled to encounter, have, without
calculation of personal consequences. la
bored to beat back the waves of fanati-
cism which threaten our safety as a
united people. Two national parties
and only two, are demanded by the pres, |
ent exigencies of American politics. The |
paramount and, indeed, almost the sole
question at present at issue before tbe
country is one which relates to the nature
and powers of the Federal and STAT
Governments. Tie Radical party is H.