The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-07-13
TO THE PUBLIC.


sion between the candidates for Governor, before
what the citizens Of this place say was as large an
audience as they ever knew convened here on a
similar occasion. Col Gentry led off in speech
of great eloquence and force, discussing the usual
| topics.
Gov. Johnson in his rejoinder, charged that his
competitor, had evaded or lodged the Free Basis
Resolution he had the honor to introduce in the
Senate of The extra session Of the Legislature, on
the 9Th Of October, 1912. 1t involved GREAT
PRINCIPLE, he said, and one which concerned the
rights and interests of the masses. 1t was obvious
why his competitor lodged an issue here which he
gladly met in Fayette county. In that county
there were $4,000 slaves-in this (CampbelD coun-
ty, there were but 35Ol The resolution he had
offered, of which he proud, as the friend of
the people and the poor man, and which had been
voted down by the lordly Shareholders of Middle
and West Tennessee, was in these words:
"ResolUeI, By the General assembly of The State
of Tennessee That the basis to be observed in lay
ing off the State into Congressional districts, shall
be the voting population, Tihout any regard to the
three t5ths Of Negro population"
Gov johnson contended that the honest working
man of Campbell county, borne down by the
arstocratic Shareholders of Middle or West Tennes
see, and his Fair Daughter and Virtuous Wife, I'M
der the law advocated by his competitor, were
weighed in the balances against the Negro Wenches
Of the proud slaveholderl
Col. Gentry in rejoinder Of so minutes, indg
nantly denounced the charge of lodging that or
any other issue, as untrue, and in whitening terms
asked the Governor why he had not brought it up
the day before in his opening speech at CintOn?-
Were there too many Knox and Roane county
Shareholders there? Turning to the Governor and
pointing in his face, he charged him with denying
publicly in Fayette county and elsewhere, beyond
the mountains, that his Free Basis Abolition Reso-
luton was sn issue in this canvassI He told him
that his organ, the Union and american, denied
that it was an issue. He told him that his friends
in the West denied it, and were excusing him for
offering such an infamous resolution, on the ground
that it was done in the CONFUSION of debate, when
various counter resolutions were offered. But the
Governor should not escape under such false pre-
fences. The facts were, as the journals would
show, that he had bis infamous resolution called I'D
/
voted down by vote of t1Oenty-t,Oo to three Three
Democrats voted for it, and one of the three was
ANDREW JOHNSONl
He said the political career of this man had been
characterized throughout, by paying the most hy9o-
critical and obnoxious court to the people-by
arrogating to himself the high prerogatve of being
the exclusive champion Of the rights of the masses,
the Mechanics-the peoples advocate. And here
he was trying to array the poor against the rich,
and advocating disorganizng proposition, that no
other man, Democrat or Wing, South of Mason and
Dixons line, had ever advocated. Is was species
OF low-fung demagoguism, he would scorn to stoop
to. He was appealing to the lowest prejudices, and
meanest passions of the human heart Although
he GENTRY was in division of the State where
there were but few slaves, he was ready to enter
into bond with the Governor to discuss this ques-
ton be had so exutingly brought forward, in every
county, and every mountain gorge in East Tennes-
see until the close of the canvass. And he dared
the Governor on this stand, to promise, if elected,
to urge, in his Message, his Free Basis Abolition
measure upon the Legislature.
When Johnson came to reply, aud was about to
close without noticing the proposition of Gentry,
he, Gentry, walked round behind the stand, asked
him to promise to bring the subject forward in his
message, if elected, but he declined the offer
w. G. BROwNLOw,
Editor Of the Wing.
JOHN NJ. FLEMISG,
Editor Of tie Register.
We certify that we were present aud heard the
discussion at Jacksborough, and that the foregoing
statement is substantially correct.
MosEs WHITE, Of K'oz co.
JOHN D. MCADoo, of Sumner co..