Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-17
run CANDIDATES AT COLUMBIA.

We visited Columbia on the occasion of the de-
bate at that place between the candidates for Gov
ernor, returning on Tuesday evening. We have
heretofore given such full reports Of the debates at
other points that, the main thread OF the argu-
rnents of both candidates continues nearly the
same as at Murfreesboro', we took no notes at CO.
lumbia and indeed watched rather for effects and
opinions among the people addressed than for the
points of the speakers There was large crowd
at Columbia-not as large as at Murfreesboro' and
Shelbyvle but still there were more people present
than usually turn out to hear the candidates for
Governor. Such has been the case elsewhere, and
we look upon the sign as q healthy one. The Sc
cret order Of Jesuts against which the opeu-hearted
democracy of the country are now contending can
no more live in the light of public discussion of
rs tendencies than could any other of the enormi
lies of the dark ages 1t is loathsome fungus of
midnight growth, which withers and dies when
the sun-ish of tra h shines upon it. We do not
believe that there has ever, any occasion III the
United States, been brought TO bear upon any So
cial delornty an intellect better calculated to ex-
pose and eradicate the evil than that possessed by
Gov JOHNSON The effect of his speeches is evil
dent in the faces of those who hear him; aud, with
out exception thus far, stranger, at the close OF
the discussions has been able to tell the democrats
and the know-nothings of the audiences, from the
pleased, animated and resolved countenances of the
former, and the morose and disappointed looks of
the latter. The speeches Of Gov. JOHNSON exceed
all the warmest antcipstIons of his friends, while
those of Col GENTRY fall quite as far below the ex-
pectaiions OF the know-nothings. To some extent
this is doubtless attributable to the constant and
unrerDitting depreciation of the abilities OF Gov
JOHNSON by the whig-know nothings, and which
to some extent affects the minds of democrats
til they hear him. And it is certainly true that Col
GENTRY had adeservedy high reputation splen
did stump speaker before entering this canvass
which, from some cause which we have no inter-
est in investigating, he has thus far sally failed to
maintain. We have no motive for depreciating
Col GENTRY. We like the man personally, and
would be glad TO see him engaged in better cause
But our candid Judgment is, that, either from the
disgust with which know nothingism affects his
better nature and patriotic sense of the right
and the true, or from some other cause, he falls
far done infinitely more service to the democratic
cause than damage. On the other hand, Gov
JoHNsoN's previous reputation, even with those
who knew MIN best, did not prepare them for the
series of convincing and Overwhelming speeches
which he is making through the State. An old and
well informed democrat of Columbia, whose candid
judgment Of the effect of the speeches we asked,
declared to US that there had been no such triumph
in that place for twenty-five years Gov. JOHNSON
obtained. We repeat this as one of the least exsg-
gerated judgments we heard pronounced upon the
result of the discussion. There can he no doubt or
question of the effect of such speeches through the
State, and from every quarter where the candidates
have thus far spoken we hear of confidence and
resolution restored among our party. That this
will be the result every where, we are now entirely
assured.