The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-07-13
TO THE PUBLIC.


The undersigned this day witnessed the dis.
cussion between the candidates for Governor,
before what the citizens of this place say, was
As large an audience rs they ever knew con-
vened here on similar occasion. Col. Gentry
led off in speech of great eloquemce and
force, discussing the usual topics.
Gov. johnson, in his rejoinder, charged that
his competitor had euadcd or lodged the Free
Basis Resolution he had the honor to intro.
duce in the Senate of the Extra Session of the
Legislature, on tue 9th Of October, lS42. It
involved GREAT PRINCIPLE he said, aud one
which concerned the rights and interests of
the masses. 1t was obvious why his COMPETE
tor lodged an issue here, which he gladly met
In Fayette county. In that county there were
$4,000 slaves-in this, Campbell county, there
were but a50! The Resolution he had offer
ed, Of which he was proud as the friend of the
people and the poor man, and which had
been voted down by the lordly shareholders
OF Middle and West Tennessee, was in these
words:
,"Resolred, BY the General Assembly of the
State of Tennessee, that the basis to be Oh
served in laying off the State into Congress.
sional Districts, shall be the voting population,
'rsthoat any regrrd to the threeJftihs Of tie Ne
gro population"
Gov. johnson contendsd that the honest
working man Of Campbell county was borne
down by the aristocratic shareholders OF
Middle or West Tennessee and his Fair Daugh.
ter and Virtuous Wife, under the law advo.
Gated by his competitor, were weighed IN the
balances against the Negro Wenches Of the
proud slaveholderi =. p,..'-
Col. Gentry, in rejoinder of 80 minutes.
Indignantly denounced the charge of lodging
that or any other issue, as untrue, and in with.
ering terms asked the Governor why he had
not brought it up the day before, in his open-
ing speech at Clintoni Were there too many
Knox and Roane county Shareholders there I
Turning to the Governor and pointing in his
face, he charged him with denying publicly
in Fayette county and elsewhere beyond the
Mountains, that his Free Basis Abolition Peso.
tuition was an issue in this canvass He told
him that his organ, the Union and American,
denied that it was an issue. lie told him
that his friends in the West denied it, and
were excusing him for offering such an infa-
nous resolution, on the ground that it was
done in the confusion of debate, when vari-
Gus counter resolutions were offered But
the Governor should not escape under such
false pretences. The facts were, ms the Jour
nal would show, that he had his Infamous
Resolution called up thirteen days after it was
voted down by vote of ftoenty three to three,
Three Democrats voted for it, and one of the
three was ANDREW JOHNSON.
He said the political career of this man
had been characterized throughout, by pay.
ing the most hypocritical and obsequioiis
court to the people-by arrogating to himself
the high prerogative Of being the exclusive
champion of the rights of the masses, the Me-
chanics-ths peoples advocate. And here
he was, trying to array the poor against the
rich, and advocating a disorganizing PROPOSE
ton, that no other man, Democrat or Wing,
South of Mason and Dixon's line. had ever
advocated. 1t was a species of low.flung
demagognism, he would scorn to stoop to-
He was appealing to the lowest prejudices
and meanest passions Of the human heart
Al hough he Gentry was in division of the
State where there were but few slaves he
was ready to enter into bond with the Gov
ernor to discuss this question he had go ex-
ultingly brought forward, in every county,
and every mountain gorge in Fast Tennessee,
until the close of the canvass And he dared
the Governor, on this stand, to promise, if
elected, to urge in his Message, his Free Basis
-A6oiition Measure upon the Legislature.
When johnson came to reply. and WINS
about to close without noticing the PROPOSE
ton Of Gentry, he walked round behind the
stand and asked him to promise to bring the
subject forward in his Message, if elected, but
he declined the Offer
W. G. BRowNLow, Editor ofthe Wig.
JonS NJ. FLEMING, Editor Of The Register.
We certify that we were present and heard
the discussion at Jacksboro', and that the
foregoing statement is substantially correct.
Moses WHITE, of Knor co.
JOHN D. McADoo, of Sumner co.