"This man, (mankind, I crave pardon,) this worm, (little animals, forgive the insult,) was raised to a higher life than he was born to, for he was raised to the society of blackguards. Some fortune--kind to him, cruel to us--has tossed him to the Secretaryship of State. Contempt has the property of descending, but stops far short of him. She would die before she would reach him: he dwells below her fall. I would hate him, if I did not despise him. It is not WHAT he is, but WHERE he is, that puts my thoughts into action. The alphabet which writes the name of Thersites, blackguard, squalidity, refuses her letters for him. That mind which thinks on what it cannot express, can scarcely think on him. An hyperbole for MEANNESS would be an ellipsis for CLAY."
This was pleasing to Mr. Calhoun and the dominant party in the Senate, and his decision which tolerated it never was questioned by any authoritative precedent, until MILLARD FILLMORE was elected Vice-President. With characteristic independence, he determined that a precedent so unreasonable and absurd should not be binding on him as the presiding officer of the Senate. He therefore, on a.s.suming the duties of his office, delivered an address to the Senate, in which he informed that body that he considered it his sworn duty to preserve decorum, and would _reverse_ the rule which had so long prevailed, that Senators were not to be called to order for words spoken in debate! The Senate ordered this address to be entered at large on their journals, as an evidence of their endors.e.m.e.nt of its doctrines; and there it is now, recorded evidence of the patriotism, high sense of decorum, and senatorial dignity of that great and good man, MILLARD FILLMORE.
STRENGTH OF PARTIES IN TENNESSEE.
OFFICIAL VOTES OF THE STATE.
The following tables exhibit the official vote of Tennessee for President in 1852, for Governor in 1853, and for Governor in 1855, as compared at the capital of the State, and will be valuable as a table for reference. In the last contest, when the _Know Nothing issues_ were fully made, causing all the _latent blackguardism in the Democratic ranks to be fully developed_, it will be seen that _Andrew Johnson_ received 67,499 votes, and _Meredith P. Gentry_ 65,342, leaving Johnson a majority of 2,157, a falling off of 104 votes from his majority over _Maj. Henry_ two years before that. It will also be perceived that the vote of the State at this last election is an increase of 8,260 over the vote two years previous. Of this increase, _Col. Gentry_ gets 4,182, his vote exceeding _Maj. Henry"s_ by that much, while Johnson"s increase upon his own vote two years previous was 4,078.
It is a moderate calculation to say that Johnson received at least two thousand _foreign and illegal votes_; while we are within bounds when we say that at least 5,000 old-line Whigs refused to vote for _Col.
Gentry_--demonstrating beyond all doubt that a majority of the legal voters of the State were opposed to Johnson and his party.
In the contest now being waged, _Fillmore and Donelson_ will carry the State by a majority ranging from _three_ to _five_ thousand votes, despite the low Billingsgate slang and vile blackguardism that may be heaped upon them and their supporters. And as this calculation is made in _June_, five months in advance of the election, we must ask those into whose hands this work shall fall without the limits of Tennessee, to bear it in mind, and when they get the returns in November, to give us credit for our sagacity or our want of sagacity!
The contest will be fierce and bitter, exceeding any former political battle witnessed in the State. If the orators and editors of the self-styled Democratic party have not greatly reformed in the s.p.a.ce of one year, but little argument will be adduced, but little gentlemanly courtesy manifested; and instead of facts, figures and arguments, bitter invective, low blackguardism, and Billingsgate abuse of secret organizations, dark lanterns, and Protestant clergymen, will be the order of the day. In this _congenial_ work, all the conglomeration of ignorant men, foreign paupers, and f.a.g-ends and factions, styling themselves _Democrats_, will engage!
But to the official vote of the State:
_Popular Vote of Tennessee--Official._
EAST TENNESSEE.
1852. 1853. 1855.
Counties. Scott. Pierce. Henry. Johnson. Gentry. Johnson.
Anderson 602 267 648 379 772 333 Bledsoe 464 209 469 303 404 361 Blount 827 566 1146 734 1069 789 Bradley 547 778 562 1085 644 1021 Campbell 313 251 356 445 507 383 Carter 585 139 721 294 768 238 Claiborne 503 519 620 707 756 744 Cooke 743 196 867 383 929 422 Grainger 852 477 998 767 1327 621 Greene 780 1301 902 1915 989 1985 Hawkins 778 831 805 1180 887 1158 Hamilton 774 648 786 972 966 1044 Hanc.o.c.k 241 336 221 532 264 589 Jefferson 1168 307 1396 639 1697 444 Johnson 365 93 392 184 400 215 Knox 1863 565 2279 770 2560 695 McMinn 796 866 799 965 909 953 Meigs 141 442 118 561 97 588 Marion 453 292 476 357 554 468 Monroe 805 847 739 900 851 1005 Morgan 240 222 229 260 219 358 Polk 272 470 249 527 385 676 Rhea 300 307 270 358 298 415 Roane 820 678 912 755 1002 769 Sevier 621 80 824 133 964 120 Scott 199 127 186 182 121 259 Sullivan 260 1114 361 1407 601 1403 Washington 565 853 967 1069 847 1338 ------ ------ ------ ------ 19,298 18,763 21,787 19,394
MIDDLE TENNESSEE.
Counties. Scott. Pierce. Henry. Johnson. Gentry. Johnson.
Bedford 1390 1356 1359 1257 1630 1293 Cannon 453 727 445 803 458 859 Coffee 205 722 274 824 294 880 Davidson 2617 2058 2597 1963 3132 1783 De Kalb 559 588 632 610 560 738 d.i.c.kson 323 607 357 743 388 745 Fentress 153 411 166 504 129 616 Franklin 330 1133 356 1224 394 1302 Giles 1303 1447 1301 1468 1312 1439 Grundy 44 327 58 374 22 425 Hardin 643 808 671 827 745 775 Hickman 241 839 263 812 223 1053 Humphreys 263 471 341 501 354 543 Jackson 1170 803 1154 995 1122 1131 Lawrence 547 583 523 731 524 845 Lewis 43 186 66 182 34 243 Lincoln 606 2297 617 2322 402 2521 Maury 1324 1799 1238 1731 1444 1793 Montgomery 1260 993 1309 1004 1502 881 Marshall 666 1340 671 1282 678 1310 Macon 617 374 553 341 540 424 Overton 345 1039 431 1282 290 1528 Robertson 1013 769 1183 763 1256 804 Rutherford 1495 1313 1407 1243 1435 1288 Smith 1742 520 1735 546 1572 644 Stewart 533 725 479 718 563 785 Sumner 825 1563 806 1425 780 1740 Van Buren 107 165 110 205 90 228 Warren 344 922 402 1093 393 1153 Wayne 666 380 709 430 687 535 White 949 518 974 634 978 694 Williamson 1583 763 1502 710 1621 688 Wilson 2248 923 2241 995 2290 937 ------ ------ ------ ------ 26,930 30,550 27,842 32,623
WEST TENNESSEE.
Counties. Scott. Pierce. Henry. Johnson. Gentry. Johnson.
Benton 340 485 393 465 475 453 Carroll 1498 649 1469 663 1567 694 Decatur 400 315 408 285 353 429 Dyer 508 411 476 373 442 483 Fayette 1006 1034 1011 1006 1151 940 Gibson 1570 901 1514 1024 1618 1213 Hardeman 717 1024 651 1025 619 1123 Henderson 1193 511 1301 593 1230 734 Henry 899 1516 891 1496 871 1738 Haywood 790 732 726 785 803 762 Lauderdale 330 277 319 252 354 297 McNairy 921 872 1016 984 915 1059 Madison 1426 819 1261 795 1448 788 Obion 431 644 547 792 407 865 Perry 325 314 387 329 320 450 Shelby 1824 1628 1545 1435 1831 1477 Tipton 357 565 284 527 424 566 Weakley 783 1149 733 1279 885 1411 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 58,802 57,123 14,932 14,108 15,713 15,482 57,123 ------ Scott"s majority, 1,679
East Tennessee, 19,298 18,763 21,787 19,394 Middle Tennessee, 26,930 30,550 27,842 32,623 ------ ------ ------ ------ 61,160 63,421 65,342 67,499 61,160 65,342 ------ ------ Johnson"s majority 2,261 2,157
_Fillmore and Donelson Electoral Ticket._
As a matter of reference, and that none may mistake the American Ticket on the day of the election, we give it as agreed upon and matured by our party:
FOR THE STATE.
HON. NEILL S. BROWN, of Davidson.
HORACE MAYNARD, of Knox.
FOR THE DISTRICTS.
1st District--N. G. TAYLOR, of Carter.
2d " MOSES WHITE, of Knox.
3d " REESE B. BRABSON, of Hamilton.
4th " W. P. HICKERSON, of Coffee.
5th " ROBERT HATTON, of Wilson.
6th " W. H. WISENER, of Bedford.
7th " C. C. CROWE, of Giles.
8th " J. M. QUARLES, of Montgomery.
9th " ISAAC R. HAWKINS, of Carroll.
10th " JOSEPH R. MOSBY, of Fayette.
This is an able ticket, and greatly superior to the opposing ticket, as our readers will bear us witness when they hear the parties in debate.
Most of these gentlemen have consented to serve on the ticket at great personal sacrifices; and like their chief, Mr. FILLMORE, they have undertaken to serve their party and country "without waiting to inquire of its prospects of success or defeat." And all the reward they seek is to be able to conduct the struggle to a victorious consummation in Tennessee, and this we feel confident they will do. The battle in Tennessee will be hotly contested, but it is by no means doubtful.
Tennessee for the last twenty years, and in five preceding presidential contests, has refused to range herself under the black banner of Locofocoism; and now that that banner is doubly infamous by being raised and cheered by Catholics, foreigners, and paupers of every clime, it is fair to presume she will spurn the flag!
THE BLACK REPUBLICAN NOMINEES.
The Black Republican Party, in their recent Convention at Philadelphia, have nominated JOHN CHARLES FREMONT, of California, for the Presidency, and Ex-Senator WILLIAM L. DAYTON, of New Jersey, for the Vice Presidency!
This man Fremont is no statesman--has no experience in political life--has not the first qualification for this eminent and responsible station--and his nomination has not been made upon any plausible pretext whatever. He is an Engineer by profession--once penetrated with his companions to the Pacific coast, across the Rocky Mountains--is the son-in-law of _Tom Benton_--is a Free Trade Locofoco, and an avowed Free Soiler.
The following letter addressed by Fremont to the great Tabernacle Abolition meeting in New York, last spring, is full and explicit, and defines his position on the slavery question:
"NEW YORK, April 29, 1856.
"GENTLEMEN: I have to thank you for the honor of an invitation to a meeting this evening at the Broadway Tabernacle, and regret that other engagements have interfered to prevent my being present.
"I heartily concur in all movements which have for their object "to repair the mischiefs arising from the violation of good faith in the repeal of the Missouri Compromise." I am opposed to slavery in the abstract and upon principle, sustained and made habitual by long-settled convictions.
"While I feel inflexible in the belief that it ought not to be interfered with where it exists under the shield of State sovereignty, I am as inflexibly opposed to its extension on this continent beyond its present limits.
"With the a.s.surance of regard for yourselves,
"I am very respectfully yours,