The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-04-04

Vt mOlNIONSN NAhANANb DASee A>~
AND POLK.
FELLow,CIrIzENs-The Convention
which was called to nominate a candidate
for the State Senate resulted after a stormy
sitting. in Nh. nomination If Capt. William
Grant. Of Bradley. There was a pretty
fair re- representation not wi,hstandine the e..
forts made 10 certain quarters 10 defeat il:
II was called bv some nv convention.
am sorry n have IN saw that full deIega>
ton was prevented from be'ng in attend.
ance nv the singular course pursued by
Mai. Walker. He Of all men is the man
who should have acquiesced with the most
hearty good will in the acron OF the dem.
ocra,ic par,y which has bled SO often and
so deeply for him. Moreover he had com.
mi,ted himself Internationally in card i"
the Athens Post. by declaring himself
candidate for re.elec,ion, "suhject 10 the
will Of the democracy, expressed IN any
form which they may desire, or IN any
manner which they NAV think hest c''cu'a'
ted TO advance the interest Of the parry to
which we bplong."' Yet so soon as "'he
Democracy" fixes a time and "manner"
for expressing its will. which time and
manner was fixed al the March term OF the
County Court nv . meeting Of the demo.
Gratis Of McMinn, the Major takes fright
and declines going into the conventlon.-
or course some pretext was stumped up to
excuse this regeneration, and that was the
pretext common 10 hose who are AFRAID OF
conventions that il was not fairly
gotten up. In his declaration IN favor Of
a convention, ! apprehend he was about
as sincere as when, before entering this
contest. he said. If Bradley would bring
out candidate, he would not be in the
field. submit whether the Major ought
not 10 have felt under some little obl,ga.
ton 10 the good people Of McMinn. Mon.
roe and Polk. But this is small matter.
I only instance il 10 show that he is pretty
well skilled 10 political legerdemain-,hat
species of legerdemain which ] am willing
he should practice alone.
When the Convention met. the names
Of Gen. Reagan, Col. Mcmillan, Major
Walker and myself were before II. A
majority of the delegation came up with
instructions 10 vote for my nomination.
This being ascertained and Maj Walker
declining to 20 into the convention, some
Of his friends whose prejudice ] am not
concious Of ever having provoked, seemed
determined to postpone the convention
defeat the will OF the major'v-or break
up in row. Seeing ,hi. disposition man.
iiested, I declared my entire willingness 10
sacrifice my personal aspirations on the al.
tar of my party If the other aspirr n's would
do the same. and let the convention decide
unanimously in favor Of J W. Black
well, Willlam Grant. or WIN. M. Stakely;
to either of whom I would have yielded
cheerfully. appealed 10 the other aspi'
ran,s.-to Major Walker particularly, in
view Of the manv and Oft repeated favors
bestowed on him Nv the people. 10 meet
me at the altar with his offering and show
his faith bv his works. Bu' no, this suited
no, the vie VS. If Maj. Walker. The sac
rifice must all be on the part Of others. not
of him. He could feel none ol the devo.
ton and patriotism which fred the bosom
of the noble Grecian WREN he rejOiceG that
"Sparta had many worthier son than he"
| Indeed, there are men for whom enough
can never be done 10 make them grateful
To those friends from the different coun-
ties who came up for the purpose Of hon
Orins me with the nomination, and who
would have succeeded had justice held
sway, l shall feel ever grateful; while to-
wards those who strove by every means 10
defeat me, cherish no unkind feelings
While, however, cast no reflections upon
any, my friends cannot but think and feel
that it was the first time in the history of
conventions when majority came up fresh
from the people with instructions 10 no.
inmate a certain individual, and were de.
feated by the extraordinary course pursued
BY the minority-wiihout even being allow
ed an opportunity to cast vote for the in.
dividual Of their choice.
The convention was gotten up a. before
stated BY a meeting Of the democrats Of
McMinn, among whom were many Of the
most worthy and respectable citizens Of the
county. They saw proper 10 adopt the
delegate system, which hns always been
adhered 10 in making nominations for the
Sena,e-,he popular vote being thought in
expedient, il not impracticable in q district
composed OF different counties. In the
con ven,ion all had an equal chance. ]
soush, no advan,age-l asked nothing IN.
fair. Had Maj Walker lent his couhle-
nance-sone into il in good faith as he was
bound BY every consideration Of honor and
duty 10 do, and succeeded in getting the
nomination, no one would have given him
a reader support than I. But in thus for
feiting his plieh,ed word. because he saw
the odds were against him. lie has forfeited
all claim 10 my support. | entertained no
prejudice or unkind feelings towards that
gentleman. Ia common with hundreds Of
others, ! recognised not his right to dog
the heels Of The people perpeiually a.
candidate 10 the exclusion OF al! others
If he towers above the majority in poin, Of
worth and qualification. ! confess have
been too obtuse 10 see II. OF the ether a..
pran,s before the convention, j, is-due TO
say their bearing has been manly and hon.
orabIe throughout. When the nomination
Of Capt. Grant was announced, was rea.
DIV 10 give in my adhesion. On looking
round Mai. Walker was absent. I wanted
10 hear him tell off-so did the meeting;
hut he came not. though time was given.
I said, and say yet. my adhesion is IN res.
diness TO be given in whenever Captain
Grant expresses q willingness 10 accept,
| .od sho n,hsp q n; "a ME IN q ro ui.srs in The