Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-03
Democratic, Anti-J OhnsOnianiSm In
Lawrence
For the Patriot

LAwRENCEBURG, May 9th, 1857.
MEssRs. EDIroRs:-The object Of this communi-
cation is to describe few of the leading features
of the Democratic anti. JohnsoDion Convention
which assembled in this place to-day.
The object of the Convention was to nominate
candidate to represent that party in our next Leg
islature if elected.
The party was well represented from differen!
parts of the county. As this was to be great day
"a general congregating together of the great
Democratic or Uunon-loving men of the coun ty-
You may rest assured it was time long to be re-
membered by those who were eyewitness otthat
awful and sublime body as they assembled ones
more to quiet the great political pool and appease
the wrath Of an avenging party.
The Hon. John B. Stribling was, by reclamation,
called to the Chair-an old line Whig-rest be to
be his soul! As the gentleman approached tn
stand, imagined that l could see the poor old fe
lows knees shifting against each other, as did Bel
shazzar's of old. 1t was hard trial for unceJacS
las we famiarly call him) to preside over this au
gust assembly Of Democrats. Uncle Jack explane
the object of the meeting. Several resolution
were offered and adopted by common consent. Th
contents of one was complimentary of Gen. Gideo
]. Pillow, God knows for what.
After some time had elapsed in trying to efecf
the nomination of a suitable man, who could carry
the strength of the patty, without succeeding, Mr..
Lee. NJ. Bentley took the floor, stating that be did
not intend participating 10 the Convention, and
would not occupy the position he did, had he not
been implicated by delegate. Mr.. Bentley is
gentleman Of honor, OF keen intellect and one that
I personally respect and admire. / have often
heard this gentleman speak, but think on this
son he gathered the. brightest lturels Of his po-
litical life. Mr.. Bentley is no sprig Of the Demo-
cratic tree; but noble stem-a proud branch of
bis party. His speech was one that every Demo-
crat should have heard, especially those who wor-
ship at the foot OF Pisgah. He remarked that sew.
era months previous to the Convention be declared
himself candidate to represent the county in the
next Legislature, but owing to circumstances which
at that time were unseen, together with his bust
ness, both personal and official, he had abandoned
his former intention, not through fear, or belief
that he would not be elected. And In so declaring
to Andrew Johnson, and his influence, and had
much reason for being so, as he thought and as
every sane man would think, who would listen inn
partially to an uneIsgerated history of the affair.
Sometime in the year 1888, wm r. Spears was
arraigned, tried and convicted undertSe charge OF
committing a rape. Nov, this man Spears is an
idiot, and if any man wishes better proof OF the
fact than this let him. some visit TO the city Of
Nashville 90 TO the State prison, consult the keep
err, aud examine the man. But above all, Spears
was innocent, and convicted by the shabbiest set
of witnesses ever Introduced into Court OF JUS
,ee, TO bear testimony against an honest and inno-
cent man. Spears was convicted and sentenced iot
ten years. A petition was short time Afterwards
drawn up aud sgned by between six and seven
hundred Of the most respectable citizens OF the
voting population. The petition contained an alb
stract of the Judge who presided over the Court
that convicted him, the coatents Of which vas
as follows, to-wir That il was question OF doubt
as to the gailtness of Spears That the Witnesses
on the part OF the State were not reliable. Bot,
aside from all abstracts. be was convicted BY the
shabbiest set Of witnesses ever introduced into
Court OF Justice. Persons destitute OF every prn-
cple OF honor aad integr:,y--thoss Who we're noto-
rious for their prostitution; whist men az infA-
nous as puljury could render shen, had s~orn
falsely, thar BY so doing they might convict one
poor idiot, Who Is this day suffering Imprisonment,
when iaBoeenL
The pstiGiOn vas ssnt TO the HOa. Andrew John.