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


for good old fashion democracy. Over two thousand
of the Yeomsnry Of Madison assembled on the
courtyard green to listen to the candidates for
Governor, and in their midst was large number
of our fair daughters who encouraged with their
smiles, and literally covered with showers of bou.
quets their respective political champions. would
that every man in the State could have heard Gov
JOHNSON here on yesterday. Such efforts must and
will tell on the intelligence of the State. Know
Nothingism quails beneath his ponderous blows
and in the person of Col GENTRY gives evident
symptoms of distress. Col GENTRY made the opeu.
ing speech, and for one hour and half he sailed
beautifully over the political surface throwing out
his little clap trap sails to catch the popular breeze
bat yet enveloping everything he touched in such
mystery that none but Sans boys could even guess
at the purpose Of his argument BE talked of JOHN
sons State policy Is contained in bis message; but
IS JOHNSON would not read that paper from every
stump in the State, but simply referred to it, he
(GESTRr) did not feel called on to advocate any,
thing pertaining to State affairs himself, but would
refer the people to the message, which he iaended
to send in to the Legislature in October next for
his views thereon. In this statesmanlke stvle be
talked of most subjects be touched. The white be-
sis was again erhunsed, and Notwithstanding the
aOind mil exploit Of one Gustavus Adolphus, the
Col. ran toal oft The psrdoning power as e1-
ercsed by JOHNSON, and what GENTRY was pleased
to term his sgrsrisn tendencies rallied at. But for
know-nothingism he reserved his greatest energies
Bursted bomb after bomb over foreigners and
Catholics; considered the liberties of the country
insecure in their hands, and that nothing short Of
twenty-one years as the naturalization term would
do-iu fact, he Rugged Sam most amorously and
emitted strong knolV nothing stencil. When he
concluded Gov. JOHNSON arose, and never did an
audience eyince greater desire to hear public
speaker. They gathered in breathless silence close
around him, while he held them enchanted for
one hour and half, with . speech repete with the
lsftiest eloquence and most cogeut arguments. In
rapid succession he reviewed the numerous little
points and iauendos of Col. GENTRY, and battered
into fragments his brittle argument. He chsl-
lenged an investigation into his State policy, de-
Tended the white basis, with great power and gave
to GENTRY q more complete route on this point
than he ever gave HENRY. His reply to GKNrlr
was most triumphant; but he did not stop with this
he carried the war into Africa and marshalIed his
facts and arguments with such precision that the
rout was overwhelming He overhauled GExrnY's
congressional record and exhibited in startling col
ors his many tendencies TO reesoilism voting cheek
by jole with Giddings, Got & Co.. in favor of meas
ures which were sntagonistc to the institutions of
slavery. Under this startling expose, GENTRY
WINGED like jsded steed (Which, said Gov. JoHs-
SON, smells most Of aboih onsm, while my entire
congressional record on the slavery question is Is
competitor's-whie have made several speeches
in reply to abolitioniss, on the floor of Congress,
my competitor made none" His review of GIN
rRYs 8nt-Scott speech, and retirement to that Sc
questered valley with its bubbing brooks, and his
exit therein, was most admirable, and showed to
every wing who was wing in principle, that he
could not consistently support him. Know-noth-
ingism came in for q large share of his attention,
and never was . monster 80 successfully throttled.
He held it up in all of its naked deformity, and ex
hbited its monstrous doctrines in such colors that
every unprejudiced mind must have seen that's
support OF them was inconsistent with genuine
Republicsnism, and others at war with civil and
religious liberty. His argument in defence of re-
ISlous liberty was eloquent and conclusive, and
told with fine effect on the audience After short
replies and rejoinders the discussion closed. And
II can be taken as q fair sample of those which
are 70 follow, know-nothingism will be driven from
It's burrows aud hiding Places and democracy will
stand In triumph the first Thursday in August next
on the ramparts of the Constitution, with the BAN
ner of civil and religious lberty-the glorious stars
and stripes -Ruttering to the breezy shove.
MADISON