Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-03-09
ConercssionaI Convention

We have heretofore expressed our views in
favor of conventions, and we look upon a con-
venton for the purpose of nominating can
didate for Congress, as being as necessary as
that for nominating the Governor. If con
vention TO decide claims aud select the bes t
man, is needed for the one; the same reason exists
for the other. That there are conflicting claims
no one can deny, and that these claims must
be adjusted before the election, or defeat fol
low, is equally clear. Now there are but two
ways TO settle these claims: the first is by
agreement among the candidates, the second
by the expressed wishes of the party; the lat
ter being in our Judgment, the best, rs being
the expression OF the popular will. We think
highly of both of the gentlemen proposed.
Mr. Ready has been a faithful officer, and Mr..
Hatton is a true American, and has done the
party great service. Both gentlemen have
many friends in this county, and il is to deter
mine who has the more, that we desire a coma
vention. To clear expression of the popular
will both ought to submit cheerfuly, and if
either refuses, he is no candidate of ours we
will support DO man who would force himself
upon the party contrary to its known wishes.
The Lebanon Herald, Mr.. Hattons friend,
leaks thus:
"In view of the existing state Of things we
cannot see how the matter is to be settled, ex.
cepu by convention fairly gotten up. All
must see the Importance and necessity OF this
step. We hope our neighbor of the Ruther
ford Telegraph, for the sake of union and har-
mony, will no longer be an obstacle in the way
of the meeting or convention. An over
whelmng majority of the party require and
demand it. The minority should submit cheer
fully to the wishes of the majority. Let US
have a convention, friends aud settle this mat
ter, and enter upon the coming contest as a
unit. We would suggest F. ankln as the place,
and the first Monday in May as the time for
the meeting OF the Convention. Whatsay the
press and our friends generality"
This is the right kind of spirit, and indicates
that Mr.. IIatton will abide by the action OF
such convention, and should he fail to get the
nomination, then We expect to see the Herald
drop him and go with might and main for Mr..
Ready, should lie be the nominee.
The Rutherford Telegraph, however, holds
u somewhat different style. The following we
! clip from its last issue:
For both of the gentlemen (Mr. Ready and
Mr.. Hatton) we entertain, not only feelings of
the Highest admiration for their talents, but
| also of the warlnest personal regard. We have
taken our stand for Ready, after weighing the
matter well. We are for him without his
| nomination by q convention. In this we are
sustained by precedent.
"The calling of convention would be SHOVE
! ing disregard for him that we shall oppose
with all the ability we possess
Now we happen to have supreme contempt
for precedentS when we think they interfere
with common sense and the good OF our cause;
and the precedent" of not opposing a man
merely because he wishes to be candidate, is
a very weak one. On this principle the most
cubsumInate knave in the world might declare
himself our candidate, and we might get a
very sound drubbng, all because precedent"
would not permit us to consult together and
bring forward our strongest man. These re-
marks are not intended to apply to any man
ID particular; but We say if Mr.. Ready is the
choice of the majority, let us have him Tor our
candidate, and elect him; if Mr.. Hatton, ditto
or if any other good American is the choice,
we are for him. Taking this view of the case,
we cheeriully acquesce in the proposal of the
Herald, to make Franklin the place of holding
the convention, and the first Monday IL May
| the time. What do our American friends say
| 10 this arrangement l-FrdnkLin Reuien.