Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-05-14

laski, | herewith transmit to you the
substance ofsome remarks made by
me at that place on Monday, the 18th
inst
Yon viii confer a favor on my
friends and myself by giving them q
place in your columns.
Yours respectfully.
JAMES NJ. DAVIDSON.
GENTLEMEN OF THE CoUNTf OF GILES:
| ask your attention for a few mo-
ments, to some remarks which I wish
to make on the subject of the ap-
preaching election for members ofthe
next General Assembly. My name
has been published as a candidate fol
your sullrages; and it Is due to you
that I avail mysslfof this opportunity
to explain my political position.
BY a sort of established custom in
the floating District, composed of the
counties Of Giles, Lincoln and bIarsh-
all, the office has been flied by a gen.
tleman for each county in rotation,
and, in the application Of this rule,
Lincoln is entitled, and expects to
supply the candidate in the approach
ing election. Ny friends in the dis
trict have urged me to present myself
as a candidate for the Office, and |
have accepted the invitation. Per
nit me, Therefore, in the exercise ofa
privilege belonging to every citizen,
to solicit your sulrag and support.
To many Of you, there have oc-
Cured opportunities Of knowing my
political. opinions; but Notwithstanding
this fact, circumstances connected
with the course ofpolitical parties, and
my relation thereto, render it proper
for ne to state my present position
so that no vote may be in doubt a.
bout the political faith of one who
seeks to represent them.
From my FIRST arrival in Tennessee.
sixteen years ago, until the advent Of
Know -Nothinism, | Was member of
the Wing party; the principles of
which, according to my judgment at
the time, were calculated to pro-
mote the best interest of the country,
Theissuesof those days Were frequent
ly pressed upon the attention of the
people, and determined by their YER
dict; and, so far as ! am concerned, I
have no disposition to revive, at this
day, the agitation Of doctrines which
time and experience have shown to be
of very questionable expediency,
After the dismemberment of the
Wing party, and the abandonment of
It's name and faith by those who had
beenregarded as its leaders, Iremained
a Wing in name, though forced by
convictions Of duty to act with those
whom ! had formerly opposed. The
alternative was presented-either to
adopt Nothingisln, with its mar
row prejadices, its anti-republican
tendencies and secret organization, or
to act with the Democratic party, who
professed to be the friends OF civil
liberty and religious liberation, to re-
gard all citizens as equal, irrespective
of birthplace and religious faith, to
administer The government in accor-
dance with the policy Of its founders,
and to hold its principles and tactics
open to the world. | determined to
the latter in its struggle with
enemies North and South, and / did
so to the fall extent Of my opportun-
ity-not very materially it may be,
but still sufficient to read the denun-
Citations of those who charge me with
deserting the very party upon the ru-
ms Of which they themselves boosted
to have arisen, and to whom it APP
pearcl a very easy matter for an a.
dopted citizen to prosecute crusade
against bis countrymen and kindred.
The history of the last two years
has satisfied me Of the correctness Of
my course, and. amongst all the Incl
dents of the past, can recall none
more satisfactory than the occasions
on which / have advocated the cause
Of the Democratic party, as safest for
the South, for the whole country, and
for the cause of Constitutional liberty
throughout the world.
In that late great coctest We con-
quered, and the victory demonstrated
one fact amongst many that might