Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-29
THE CANVASS

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THE CANVASS.
BoLIvAR.-The Bolivar Democrat speaks of the
debate at Bolivar as follows
The candidates for Governor, Messrs Johnson
and Gentry, addressed an audience variously esti-
mated at from fifteen to eighteen hundred persons
IN Bolivar on yesterday. Gov. johnson led off in
speech OF two hours duration-and all we have
heard speak OF If, the know-nothings excepted
pronounce 1t the most mastery speech ever deliv-
cred in canvass in Tennessee. We will not at
tempt 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. Johnsons speech, good
naturally remarking, he would lose by doing so.
His speech was almost entirely taken up in de-
Tending his brother know nothngs 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 dangerous
set Of christians; and, ta;en all in ALL made about
as able defence of know-nothingism as any man
on earth could have done.
The Tejoinders were pointed and decidedly in
teresting. The impression made, in opinion,
was, that very wide difference exists either in
the policy or capacity of the two candidates that
there is no comparison, so far as craftsmanship is
concerned between the two men, and that Gov
johnson will be reelected by largely increased
majority"
JAcKsov-The Central Democrat says of the
speaking at jackson:
"The candidates for Governor addressed very
large and attentive audience here on Monday last.
The haste in which the present number of our
paper was gotten up precludes the possibility of
our giving anything like full and correct account
of the speech of either gentleman The position
e n. IL, 1ba De-, g
which he is so violently assailed will be found in
an editorial in another column. And as we intend
publishing the particulars of Col Gentrys 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. Johnson made one of the most powerful
and argumeutative speeches that we have ever had
the fortune Of listening to- Col. Gentry, as usual,
by no means came near up to the expectations Of
his friends
SoMERynLE.-The Memphis Hhig describes the
discussion at Somerville in more candid spirit
than usually characterizes the know nothing press
1t says:
"An immense tbrongof nearly 5000 persons as
sembled on yesterday, at Somervile, to hear the
Gubernatoria candidates. No one in that crowd
could have been disappointed, unless they went
there expecting to witness the complete trium oh
nent. 1t was forensic disputation creditable in
the highest degree to both gentlemen and was the
| cause of congratulation to every Te-nessean who
gories in the genius and greatness of his country
men. 1t would be task of superr-rogaton to say
aught in praise of the machless oratory of Col
Gentry aud his clear and apparently unanswera-
bic appeals to the intelligence of his hearers To
detract from either would evidence an entire want
OF appreciation. indicate the utter depravty 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 informed in the political history of the
country, lie seizes every vulnerable act of COL
Gentry's legislative career, and uses it as a two
edged sword. His reasoning is concise and lcgi-
cal! aud at times he IS so truly eloquent to thrill
the very hearts of his hearers.
ME,rHIs.-Of the debate at Memphis the Ap-
peal speaks at follows:
':The two candidates for Governor filed their
appointment at this place yesterday, and spoke to
quite IS large audience as ever assembled in
Memphis, and larger than we remember TO have
seen Tor several years past. Gov johnson led of
in a speech of one hour and half which, for COM
pact argument, close reasoning, correct principle.
and true eloquence, we have never heard sur
passed. Since we last heard him be has improved
greatly in both voice and elocution and he areuss
with impact logic that is unanswerebe, He
dwelt at some length upon the erratc course of
Mr.. Gentry as a politician traced him into the
Known othing order which, lie sad hiss its basis
in old Hartford Convention Federalism and finally
left him retired on his Sabine farm, PRAYING for
Rome, disguised with whiggery, and claiming no
political habltatlon or name In this situation he
declares himself a candidate for Governor of Ten
nessee, regulating conventions and not desiring
nomination by the wings. After this he glanced at
the new order called know Nothngism which he
handled with great severity, exposing it in all its
deformity regarding it at war with the genius of
or government and the spirit of our institutions.
In the conclusion of this portion Of his speech, he
was peculiarly happy, and left an effect upon his
hearers which they will never forget and which
all the potency of sam and sophstrY OF Mr. Gen
try can never efface. The Governor concluded
amid the paudits of his hearers, and Mr. Gentry
rose to rely.
His speech was well received by his peculiar
friends, but must have failed to satisfy those who
were searching for truth. The leading and forcible
points of Gov. johnson were left unanswered, as
they were unanswerable. He admitted himself
fully as one OF the disciples of Nothngism,
and at the same time that he dealt deadly blows at
the foreigner and the Catholic, made use of such
honeyed phrases and sophistical arguments as might
be deemed calculated to reconcile them to his doc
trine. II is the first time we ever remember to
have heard religious sermon embodied in po-
htlcal speech, and may well be regarded as the
dawning Of new and dangerous era in the poll
tics of our country. We care not if the Catholic
religion be as Objectionable and as dangerous to
liberty as is pretended it was never designed that
our politicians should become religious reformers.
This is the province OF the Bible and the Pulpit,
and we but look with suspicion oh the man
who will bring it forward upon the political ros-
trnm.
''But we have neither time nor space this morn
ing for further notice, but will take up the ques-
tons debated more in detail tomorrow. The day
passed off harmoniously, and we can safely say to
our friends abroad, that the Democracy Of Mem
phis was never IN better cheer. They are more
pleased with their standard bearer than ever, and
will give him bumper on the first Thursday in
August next that will astonish Sans boys and
make glad the heart of every tue Democrat