Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-04-23
Maj Henry's Letter of DeeIcnsIon.
From The Palmer If yss..ra.,


CLARKsvILLE. April IS, 1887.
nissRs y. A. BARREL, T. W. KING, Jo. N yDYE-
GsHftemen ;--On yesterday had the honor Of re.
eeising from your hands your letter of the 10th
nst.' informing me hatthe Convention of the Amer
cah party, which met here on the IA b, had nomi-
sionsl District.
al the lime this high and unsolicited honor was
conferred upon me, was not in TenBessee, and had
oeen absent one month In the State OF Arkansas.
sincerely regret | was not present. and especi4ly,
That the nomination did not isl on one of the three
gentlemen whose just claims to the Office had been
canEassed before the people of the District. II
had been here at the tine, am can65eut sincere
word OF reconciliation. and brotherly kindness drop
ped, at the proper time ike oil upon the troubled
waters, would have tranquiized the opposing sent-
menis Of the Convention.
Ia all thepolical conflicts through which Tonnes
see has pass ID since 1885, have borne my fnll
share have hestated not to bare nv right arm
in the battle and my bosom TO the shafts Of malig-
nant oppositoo,-
-If dangers tn dangerous known
That dangers self was lure alone"
nor would ,urnmy back upon itnow. III b lev
ed was ctled upon to lead forlorn hone would
do u or die ia the ditch. Such however Is our
position in this District Our party is strong aud
"
not content with defeating US 10 November last have
Sung Us 10 resentment and aroused our giant pow
ers by slapdering motives, traducng our pur-
poses, and by heaping prosecutions upon heads.
They seem TO have forgotten that the blood of the
m rtyF is the seed Of church.
Alter the presidential election we bowed without
murnur te the voice of the people, however ex-
pressed. They seem TO have mistaken quiet
for PARALYSIS and our sumber fJr death. They will
ind l-s.N
Acteus, have gathered strength by DOR fall.
With the Wing and American parties, shared
in all their triumDhs and w.pt with them when our
principles were trOdden down; personally, defeat
brought Inc but little anguish; II / suffered il,
mourned more for the triumph OF error over truth
than i did over my own fall II any sting has been
lett 10 ny heart it cid ranke there; butt it had
this h4tIering compliment bestowed upon me, in
my absence, by convention of the 9Th congress
| slonal district, by my old friends and neighbors-
those who have known me longest and best in all
the walks of life, whether as Lawyer, Politician,
or private ciizen-bas extracted it and given it TO
the winds forever, and has filed my heart with a
feeling Of gratitude this people, that shall abide
with me TO the latest hour of nv existence:-aud
| yet painful duty-the most painful have ever
| been Called upon to perform-compes me 10 decline
this nomination enthusiastically bestowed.
was taken wholly by surprise; had no foreshadow-
"g oil such result, and within the last twenty days,
have entered into business engagements that will
require my close and undivided attention during
the whole OF this spring and approaching SUNNI 7.
take the stsp with less reluctance from the con-
vctioD that there are many others-younger men
than myself aud more able bear the labors Of a
Canvass, who Car carry our banner 10 triumph thro
tue District. No man will contribute more to thai
triumph than VIII, or at least, yield more hearty
| support to our candidate, whoever he may be, oil
from whatever county he may come, and risk
nothing III stalking Montgomery on this pledge.
Thanking you, gen.l men, most kindly for the
handsome manner in which You notified me of the
action oil the Convection.
remain, as ever, your friend and ob't servant
g. A. HENRY.