Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-07
OTNG OVER 10 THE ENEMY.

Forever.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial.
GOING OVER TO THE ENEMY.
l asked the eX-President what he thought
Of the plan for the Democracy to nominate
an anti-Grant Republican, and rally on
him.
"What is that, replied he, "but surren-
der? A surrender il as bad as a defeat, and
worse. If we nominate a Republican on a
Republican platform, what have we got to
contend for? No; that would be nothing
but a disgraceful fight for spoils. And if
successful, there would be an everlasting
wrangle. The Democratic party has a
higher mission than to surrender its prin-
ciples in the hope of gaining . share of
plumber. This plan is a Vallandigham de-
parture on a large scale, and is farce and
fraud. What was the Vallandighafn de-
parture? 1t placed the Democratic party in
the position OF whining ours standing on
the outside, and saying to the Radicals in
side: Nov, you get out and let US in, and
we'll carry out your plans and get Oh your
e platform. Only let us have the spoils and
wen do Just as you are doing That was
the Vallandigham departure. 1t was pro-
posed surrender of principle for place and
ardly surrender of the sort. Never inthe
history Of the Government has pure Demo
eracy more to fight for than now.
sTHE CONSTITUTION Is To BE SAVED.
But it may be said that the constitution is
gone; that the procession is already follow
ing it to the grave. Then stop the process
sion! If buried, then dig it up aud-escue
1t, preserve it as a priceless heritage. Roll
away the stone from the door of the sepul-
cher, as it were, and bring it forth. There
never was grander theme, a nobler cause
for which to do battle. As long as there is
a constitution TO be preserved and protected,
just so long will there be work for the De
mocracy."
. TOM SCOTT AND THE ENQUIRER.
"What do you think of Tom Scott as an
available candidate?'' l asked.
81 know Tom Scott very WELL" he re-
Piled, "and he is a clever gentleman, but it
would be a nice piece of business for the
Democracy to take him up. The very idea
is supremacy ridiculous. | am surprised
that Democratic paper of the standing of
the Enquirer should even make the sug-
gestion, much less follow it up with feeble
arguments, for all arguments in such
cause must be feeble. Whay is the matter
with the Enquirer" he asked, with some
impotence, as if it was a new thing that
anything should be the matter with that
great family journal.
l told him there was no answering that
question. The waysIOf the Enquirer were
past finding out, unless a man had the pow
er to go through key hole of that detesta-
bic institution at all hours Of the day and
night.
"WeIl,D he continued, sit would be pretty
business. after all the fuss and clamor the
Democracy has made about rings and mon
opolies, 10 take up notorious ring master
and mOnOpOlist and run him for President.
That would be consistency, indeed,' And
Mr.. johnson vigorously thrust the poker in
the fire as sort of an escape valve for his
outraged feelings.
CHARLES SUMNER AS A BEAUTIFUL DE-
MOCRATIC CANDIDATE.
"Have you noticed that the Washington
Patriot urges Charles Sumner as a suitable
man for the Democrats to vote for?" |
asked.
ayes, saw that, and it is even more alb
surd than tbe5TOm Scott proposition. The
idea of the Democracy supporting Charles
Sumner is too utterly prepoSterOus to talk
about. What sort Of victory must his
election be? victory for true Democrat
ic government? for State rights? for the
Constitution? or for what 2" Mr.. johnson
paused for an answer, but the magnitude of
the subject overwhelmed me, and did not
feel competent TO give one.
mo" continued be, "whenever you see
the Democracy walking up to the support of
Mr.. Sumner and his principles, you will see
them going to their own funeral. 1t would
be a base surrender of everything we have
fought for in the past, or hope to contend
for in the future. Democracy is a great
principle TO be upheld, and not merchandise
10 be bartered. The spirit of Democracy
will live as long as the Republic, and die
only with it. / speak of Democracy in a
broad, and not in a strictly partisan sense. |
Democracy does not mean Tammany rob
bers nor rebels; it means fidelity to the Con- |
stitution and to the institutions Of our cOun- /
try. As long as the Republic exists there ,
will be Democracy. Rebellion was not De
mOcracy, neither is Radicalism Democracy.
The one sought to divide the country and
ruin IL, and the other seeks consolidation and
an empire, which is also ruin. We want
neither divided Government nor an en-
pire. Capitalization and division are alike
dangerous. We want the old Government
as our fathers founded it, and until rescued
from the centralists, bribe-takers, money
lenders, monopolists, carpet-baggers, rob
bers, and corruptiOnists who now control it,
Democracy will have something to fight for.
To surrender the party and principle now,
would be surrender the Republic.
THE SOUTHERN ROBBERS.
81 read your letter from Georgia. con
tjnued Mr.. johnson, "giving the reasons
why Bullock ran away. 1t all looked reas-
enable enough. lie and his gang had
robbed until they could not get hold Of an
other dollar, and then run like thieves in
the night. 1t viii be so in other Of the
Southern States. The whole country seems
to have gone crazy in a grab after money.
Corruption stalks unchecked into every
department Of the Government. Even the
hurch is not exempt. InNew York see