Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-07-16
The DISCUSSION at sparta.

SPARTA, July To- lo0f-
hEssRs. EDI1oRs The candidates for Cover
nor have just closed the discussion a: this place
They had large and attentive audience. It was
Hattons day 70 lead of; which ne did in speech
of one hour and half. It was the most convinc-
ing, na-clinching argument have heard for ma
ny day. The position in reference to Distribution
clear and lucid that minds of the most ordina
~ comprehension and least with the ma
ture of that question could not failt appreciate it,
notwithstanding Harris made desperate and unava-
ing effort mystfy and veil it in the fimsy gauz4
of sophistical reasoning. He, Hattou, told the
people that the lands were the common property of
all the States of the Union; obtained by the chiv
airy, proves and treasure of them all; and that
each State should plrticipIte in their enjOym in
common with the 9th RS, and no one to the e1clu-
sion of another. But, said ne, instead of observ-
ing that equitable aud just rule, many of the new
States, large proportion of whose population are
aliens, being made rich with the common in
heritance of ALL that their land and their children's
land was bling given to the alien and his children
to educate them and build their railroads. HI
asked them if they willing to see them thus
wasted and disposed Of; or would they rather have
their share that they might realize the benefits that
would accrue from it. But he said be was met
with the objection from bis competitor that the
measure is unconstitutional In reply to which he
said that Gen. Harris stood in antsgonism to Gov
johnson and other distinguished Democratic wor-
thes that question; and not only that, but he
had, when member Of Congress, voted for the Ar
kansas Swamp land BILL and the bounty land bill.
both Of which were grants and not sales as Gen.
b. contendcd they were. He remarked very face
tiOusly that Congress may have sold the swamp
lands to Arkansas, but if Arkansas and her Gov
ernOr are badly taken in, for the Governor in his
list Message said the lands were given to the
State. and that same stupid old Governor had been
made believe his State was made rich by the op-
Grafton; that they had realized money enough
from General Harris alligator mosquito lands, as he
is pleased to term them, to build railroad from
one corner Of the State to the other and to estab
fish a school fund for the education OF all the
children in the State, all of which appears from the
silly old fellows message. He then asked the Gen
eral if he thought there was tyro in the law of
the State that silly enough TO believe the SOL
diers, to whom the lands were voted, could have
recovered them upon the ground of contract.
Then, if they had no legal right to dem and them,
Congress, of course, was under no legal obligation
to vote them, and if it was constitutional 10 do
so, il would be just constitutional to give them
to State as it would to a citizen. He said his OBJ
jec 10 referring to the vote Was to show that Har-
rs had by casting it, virtually recognized the con-
stitutionality of Opposing of them as he, Hatton
proposed. Hatton discussed Alien Suffrage and all
the other issues of the canvass with no less ability
than the Distribution question, but it seemed to
create greater stir among the other party and our
party seemed to regard it as the vital question in
this race.
After Hatton had concluded his speech, Gen
Harris took the stand and attempted to break the
force of Hatton's speech by nduIging in vein of
le'ity, but in that he found himself eyre giousy
disappointed. He next tried to create some en-
thusiasm among the unternfed, by advertiug, sor-
ter after the Andy orderto the former secrecy, &c.
Of the American organization; but the string that
once rendered back music to Andy had ceased to
vibrate, and he ag lin foIed. He then kept upa
brisk skirmish throughout the balance of his speech
evidently on the defence and lodging.
Hatton then attempted a reply, but had to quit
in consequence of rain Harris did not reply for
the reason. Hatton's friends were delighted.
and win make handsome gain for him in White
Yours, &C., B