Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-07-16
The Canvass opened i'm the 5th District.

MURFREEsBoRo July IA, 1856.
EDITORS OF THE PATRIoT-Dedr Sir: This has
been glorious day for the American party Of
Murfreesboro and Rutherford county. The can.
vass IN this Congressional District opened in this
place to-day, between the Electors, Robt. Hattou
ESQ, and Col. E. A. Keeble. There was large
number Of the good citizens of Rutherford pres
ent. The debate was opened at about two O'clock
by Mr.. Hatton who led off in fine style. He first
gave the democratic platform a notice, which be
coon left in perfect tatters. He showed conclu~
svely that Notwithstanding the great boasts Of the
democracy concerning the unanimty with which
their platform adopted the North aud South
hold entirely different views in regard to some OF
the important planks IN that platform, nstancing
the antagonistc opinions held in regard to internal
Improvement by the General Government and the
Nebraska-Kansas bill. He showed up Mr Buchan-
ans political life in fine style, making beautiful
expose of his avowsl of "squatter sovereignty"
in bis letter OF acceptance. He then spoke of the
political life and services of Mr.. Fillmore in the
most eloquent terms, but not having taken any
notes, | cannot pretend to give you IN detail all
the points so eloquently and ably discussed by
Mr.. Hatton, suffice it TO say that be occupied one
hour and a half in defending his candidate and
showing the Inconsistencies of the so.caled demo-
cratic party and its candidate as ably aud efectus
ally a. possible for a of great talents and
eloquence TO do. Every member of the American
party was perfectly ubilant with joy on the occa
sion.
After Mr.. Hatton had concluded Col Keeble
arose, and though he is a gentleman of ackuo"l-
edged ability, possessing talents equal not superior
to any man of the democratic party in Tennessee,
yet, in my humble estimation, he utterly failed in
meeting the arguments of Mr. Hatton at a single
point, not that he wanted the ability but his op-
poncnt had so well fortified his positions that be
unanswerable After endeavOring to assal
Mr.. Fillmore'S political life, he brought up the
great stereotyped humbug that bis party has ar.
ranged for the canvass TO wit that is unsafe for
the South to vote for Fillmore, because he has no
chance for success. He told his audience that il
Mr.. Fillmore should get a few States that there
would be great probability Of the elections having
10 be decided by the House of Representatives
that in that case the North would have the advan-
tage, there being only fifteen slave States against
sixteen free States
Mr. Keeble labored hard during his -peech to
endeavor to prop up the sinking cause OF denloc.
racy but that all his labor was in VAIN, was appar.
ent from the long visages of the democrats. Their
doeful countensnces told that they were completes
ly used up.
Mr. Hatton's reply a brilliant display of elo
quence and augmentation In reply to Colonel
Keeble's position concerning the probability of
electDg free.soiler provided the election should
devove upon the House of Representative, he
brought forth thunders of applause.
Col. Keeble's rejoinder was, if possible, more
fruitIess than his first speech. ! think that he
showed he was completely overcome; that he was
laboring in sinking cause; one that he cannot
save.
Late in the evening the crowd quietly dispersed
the Americans carrying the evidences OF triumph
in their cOuntenances while on the other hand the
democrats looked as if they had just been attend
ing the funeral of democracy and returning
to their homes to indulge 10 grief over its demise
In conclusion, will say that Mr. Haiton will
do noble service in the canvass; and will add lau.
rels TO those which already deck his brow. His
talents and energy cannot be surpassed, and the
American party have in him one that cannot fail
TO do efficient service in the canvass
On ERyER