Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-06-07
THE CANVASS.
OF LINCOLN

BoLvAR.-The Bolivar Democrat
speaks of the debate at Bolivar as
follows:-
"The candidates for Governor, Messrs
johnson and Gentry, addressed an
audience variously estimated at from
fifteen to eighteen hundred persons in
Bolivar on yesterday. Gov. johnson
led off in speech of two hours dura-
tion-aud all We have heard speak of
it, the know-nothings excepted, pro-
nounce it the most mastery speech
ever delivered in a canvass in Tennes-
see. We will not attempt to describe
the speech of Gov. Johnson. Suffice
it to say, it told with thrilling effect
on the audience. Col. Gentry did
not attempt to answer large portion
of Gov. Johnson's speech, good ma
turedly remarking, he would lose by
doing so. His speech was almost en-
tirely taken up in defending his broth
er know-nothings. Professed great
love for the foreigners, but would not
allow them to vote; great love for the
Roman Catholic religion, but regarded
the Catholic as a dangerous set Of
christians; and, taken all in all, made
about as able defence of know-noth-
mgism as any man on earth could
have done.
s'The rejoinders were pointed and
decidedly interesting. The impress
sion made, in our opinion, was, that a
very wide difference exists either in
the policy or capacity of the two can
didates, that there is no comparison, so
far as craftsmanship is concerned, be-
tween the two men, and that Governor
Johnson will be reelected by largely
increased majority"
JACKsoN.-The Central Democrat
says Of the speaking at Jackson
1.-THE candidates for Governor ad-
dressed very large and attentive au-
dience here on Monday last The
haste in which the present number of
eur paper was gotten up, precludes
the possibility Of our giving, anything
like full and correct account Of the
speech of either gentleman. The po-
sition Of Gov. johnson on the White
Basis system, for which he is SO vio-
lently assailed, will be found in an ed
itorial in another column. And as we
intend publishing the particulars of
Col. Gentry's abolition votes in our
next, we forbear, for the present, our
comments upon either of the speeches.
Sufficient for our purpose, however, is
the simple statement that Gov. john
son made one Of the most powerful
and argumentative speeches that We
have ever had the fortune of listening
to. Col. Gentry, as usual, no means
came near up to the expectations OF
his friends"
SoMERvILLE-The Memphis Wing
describes the discussion at Someyille
IN a more candid spirit than usually
characterize the know-nothing press.
1t says
Gan immense throng of nearly
5000 persons assembled on yesterday,
at Somerville, to hear the Gubernato-
rial candidates. No one in that crowd
could have been disappointed, unless
they went there expecting to witness
the complete triumph of their favorite,
and the overthrow of his opponent.
1t was forensic disputation creditable
in the highest degree to both gentle
men, and was the cause of congratu-
Iation to every Tennesseean who glo-
ries in the genius and greatness of
his countrymen. 1t would be task
of supererogation to say aught in
praise of the matchless oratory of
Col. Gentry, and his clear and appa-
rently unanswerable appeals to the in
telligence of his hearers. To detract
from either would evidence an entire
want of appreciation, OF indicate the
utter depravity of party hack
Whilst this is true of Col Gentry, it
is also true that he is not the superior
of Gov. johnson in anything, save
voice and delivery. Thoroughly In
formed in the political history of the
country, he seizes on every vulnera-
bic act Of Col. Gentry's Legislative
career, and uses it as a two-edged
sword. His reasoning is concise and
logical, and at times he is so truly elo-