The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-02-09
THE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

OSS" P"O"5 WIS P"PN'i "Nt "
what seemed to be the expression or de-
sire of the majority upon such occasions, and
as long as we profess to act with the party,
we expect to do this, although the selection
may sometimes fall upon the wrong one
upon one whose nomination, whether by
convention or "by acclamation," though he
may be competent and in many respects wor-
thy, instead OF victory, will ensure defeat
We repeat, we have no desire TO stir up dis
sensions or east distractions in the way of
harmonious and concerted action; but we can
not, and will not, permit the impression to
be made, so far rs our particular section of
the State is concerned, that Mr.. Gentry is
the choice Of any considerable portion-yea,
of even an inconsiderable portion-for Gov
ernor. 1t is not true, and those who are la
boring to make such impression are sad
" deficient in the facts of the case. 1t is not
true in the first place, because there has been
but little, very little, agitation of the subject,
and consequently but little expressi on-and,
secondly, what expression has been had is de-
cidedly adverse to that talented and distin-
guished gentleman. We have better oppor-
tunities for obtaining correct and reliable in
formation on the subject in this and the
counties Immediately adjoining, than persons
who live beyond their bounds, and we know
,,.I, - IA, la. OF i,,tI,, W..
are aware that Mr.. Gentry possesses great
talents and power-that he is an eloquent
debater and combines tirmness and moral III
tcgrity--at the same time we know there
are hundreds in our section, still believing
in the soundness and purity Of wing princi-
cples Ohcy may be wrong, but none the less
HONESTY who are opposed TO his being run
for the office of Governor, and who, if they
can be brought to vote for him at all, will do
so with GOODNESS and apathy unerringly
indicative of defeat. And we think the
presses and placed letter-writers who so We
hemently urge his selection, are acting with
cut that consdcrat on and mature delibera-
ton which the Importance of the subject
and the interests involved, demand.
We make these statements with rcluc-
lance, because we know we are liable to be
misunderstood; but we know it is bette. TO
let the truth be candidIy spoken now, than
that false impressions should go abroad TO be
contradctcd by results at the ballot-box,
when it will be too late to remedy the evil.
We are speaking in reference to our own
section, of course.
As to tho eXpedicncy Of 4 Convention to
make nomination-if the whig party is in
Il state of dissolution, if il is dead, as the
opposition sometimes assert, and is sleeping
the sleep that knows no waking-if it is de-
sirat!e that its unity and identity should be
lost entirely, why Of course it would be the
supreme of folly TO call Convention to-
gether for any purpose otntr than TO shed
few tears over the 'dcar dcfunct," and to
expunge the word 'fcalty" from the party
calendar. If, however, it is still a living,
breathing body-ifitis desirable that its uni
ty and integrity should be maintained and
preserved, and that We should keep in con-
dtion 70 rally ut any time when the necessi.
ties and exigcncies of the occasion may de-
mand, which we cannot do if we discard all
the usagcs and practices of party, it appears
10 our view that the formality Of Conven-
ton cannot be dispensed with even at this
time without the penalty of ultimate dsas-
ter. We are aware there are many honest,
sincere persons who believe it erpedient to
ALLURE a Convention, especially ut this time,
and to take upa man and run him upon the
spontaneous combustion" plan We beg
leave to dissent from such opinion or belief.
We think there never was a greater necessi-
ty for Convention than at this time, even if
its deliberations are certain to result in the
nomination of Mr.. Gentry-who, with such
ar endorsement, would come before the peo-
pie with far better chances of success than
he can under any other auspices. In a word
of all the men whose names have been men,
toned in connection with the subject, he
most needs the endorsement of a Conven-
tion-its hearty, unanimous endorsement.
Erpediency! All the disasters that have be-
fallen the party have grown out of its prone
ness to jcopardize ultimate success by sac
riicing to the erpediency of the hour The
word is lie and falsehood, whether in ethics
or politics, and more frequently means an
abandonment of principle than any thing
else.
There is one other point we must remark
upon before closing this article. We are mp.
prised there is Il new party in the country,
/ drawing IFS recruits in about equal numbers
from both the old disordered organizations
n party rapidly increasing and formidable in
the secrecy Of its movements The demo.
cratic prints charge that it is "whsgcry in
Disguise and We regret 10 know there arc
wings laborng under the same delusion.-
The last we wish to undeceive. This new
party, in whose invisible presence politicians
quake and trcmble, was neither wing or de-
mocratic in its inception or origin, it is ne
Their wing or democratic now, nor will it end
in whiggery or democracy, 1t was forced IN
to being by u great and growing evil which
neither of the old parties could arrest or re-
move-it has certain mission to accomplish
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