Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-03-19
From the Nashville Banner. .

Il. Il. McGtnty and Gen. +. X. ZOllicofeT:
Gentlemen--It is known to you, that when
/ left Nashville recently, was undecided as to
what course 1t might be proper for me to pursue
in reference to the approaching Wing Conven-
ton, to nominate a candidate for Governor of
Tennessee.
| had been most Aatteringly and prominently
mentioned in that connection by the newspa-
pers; and numerous private letters. from lead
ing sources, had led me to believe that nv nom
nation by the Convention, was rendered almost,
if not absolutely, certain. This belief was
strengthened in me by coincidence in opinion
among leading and sagaciOus men at the capital
With these manifestations Of public conf
dence, have inspired me with the profoundest
and most grateful sensibility; of COURSE I have
not been blind to the fact that they have been
| induced by the understanding that other more
| distinguished and deserving men, neither de-
signed, nor would accept the nomination.
am, probably, the youngest of the wings
who have been houored with a very leading part
! in Tennessee politics. For many reasons which
peculiarly affect me now | am not unambitious
OF popular distinction, as the result of popular
confidence, but on the contrary, | frankly avow,
that nomination by the Wing Party for, and
an election by the people to the high Office Of
/ Governor of Tennessee, would be the fruition of
an early, and trust, worthily cherished ambi-
ton. Yet, | am not greedy for honors, nor ca
GER Of opportunity to seek them. have not
known the hour since the close of the regent
Presidential canvass, when |, with others. edurs
to be mentioned in connection with this Station,
that would not have waived pretensions Imay
have had to it, or that my friends might have
urged for me, in favor of any one of number
of distinguished whig gentlemen in the State.
| have done nothing whatever, to invite pub
lie attention towards me. On the contrary, |
have abstained even at the risk of apparent in
difference to their friendship, from answering a
single letter of the many which have received
from valuable and leading friends, containing
offers of services in this respect and requesting
suggestions and advice as to the most judicious
mannerof presenting myname To the convention.
| was prompted to this course by a determin-
alton to have nothing whatever to do, towards
eliciting public sentiment in my favor. | was
more than satisfied with It's unprompted mani
festations, and had intended to await its express
sion in the Convention, without IF it
still continued to be the understanding that 9th
err gentlemen for whom | would have willingly
waived my pretensions, would not consent to
: nomination.
r Recent circumstances, have, however, chan
, ged nv determinations. While descending the
Cumberland river, from Nashville to Memphis
on nv way home, Maj. HENRY came on bOarC
the steamboat at GAINESVILLE, passenger, witt
= his daughter, on the way to New Orleans. Ou1
meeting was entirely accidental. | immediate
" seized the opportunity to induce him to re
. consider his publicly expressed intention, not tt
: suffer his name to 20 before the Convention
S Nv urgent and repeated solicitations so far pre-
8 vailed with him, as TO cause him to contide th'
whole matter, so far as we were concerned, Il
my discretion.
l. | avail myself of that confidence in my judg
d ment, and request my friends throughout tn
d State, to no longer think of me asa candldat
, before the Convention. | believe, that the
whole Wing party in this State will rejoice q
{ this opportunity of doing honor to Nal Henry
e For without invidious distinction between hin
q and others, who are prominently placed in rel
erence to the highest political honors, which tt
wbir party in Tennessee, may be able to confer
! It NAV be safely said that there is no man anon
!" MS who has sacrificed SO much for the VII
u .,,s,curr see him G0vernor than be GOveTno
Q myself
In arriving to my present determination,
have been influenced by 10 timid calculations O
the chances of election, in case of nomination
; The wings of Tennessee can and will triumph
: if they are animated by the proper spirit in tn,
, coming State struggle. I have never known {
time when their highest efforts were more de
: manded OF them by every consideration of hon
+ or and patriotism. they have withstood the
shock OF adverse fortune, and it is now the time
for them to establish themselves as the nucleus
OF that conservatism, which constitutes the great
ness, and the glory, and the Justice of peculiar
government. The Inaugural Address of the
pew President despite its specious phraseologv
and studied qualification, displays a spirit 9
oayresSirejSm, the result of a yieldirxglo, or q
fear OF the desperate factions which IN Z eleva
ted him, which forbodes disaster both 10. or
, domestic quiet and ''the peace of the worldn-
1t as Idle to talk of the acquisition of Cuba with
OUT war, and OF Its incorporation into our I'm
ION, II we acquire 1t, after the expense of our
Dlood ana money, without a recurrence to the
dangerous domestic agitation which so lately
startled us from our hopes in the permanent Sc
curlty OF our forms and its situations of govern
ment. SAID it last summer all over Tennessee,
ana repeat 1t now, that the aggressive, pro-
greSslve, and propagandist tendencies of the
various restless and disorganizing factions which
IN the aggregate make up that monstrous cong
lomerate known IN this country, under the par
ty mlsnomer OF 'the Democracy" is rapidly
merging all questions of internal policy. and
domestic concern, into an absorbing. feverish,
and painful anxiety about our foreign relations,
which no sagacity can unravel, and at which
the stouteSt and most hopeful patriotism might
stand appalled,.
What is it to this turbulent Democracy. that
we already have an Empire, commanding the
trade of two oceans, with millions of square
miles of territory, uncultivated and much of it
npeopled, capable of maintaining hundreds of
millions of people and which even our unext
ampled reproduction of population, coupled
with an extraordinary influx of immigration,
cannot develope in century? What is it to it,
! if our rivers, lakes, and barbors, 90 unim,
proved, and our facilities for intercommunication
and trade are retarded indefinitely? What is it
to 1t, that the true spirit of patriotism, which is
/ attachment to tie oa,-love Of the places
where we were born and reared and where rest
the ashes of our fathers-a sentiment which a
wise government should foster by making it the
interest of its people to remain at places con-
secrated by memory to affection-s diluted BY
an unholy thirst for the strange lands of strange
people? That bad spirit of cupidity and I'M
rest, should take the place Of contentment and
quiet, in the national heart? Nothing what
ever. The possession Of power is a satisfaction
Tor all manner of agitation with it. 1t would
convince the people that "whole boundless
continent is too small to "cOnfine orr mowers -