Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-01-01
a0T. 5QHN80N-THE NEXT CANVASS.


GOV. 5QHN3oN-THE NEXT CANVASS.
Tie convention which meets in this city on the
l5sh April next win have to select candidate for
governor Of Tho State This convention should
srrssahs the people, and in its action, conform to
sis wishes The great service rendered by Gov
oHEsos % che democratic party has made him
dsssrgedly our strong man, and fixed the hopes
Of macy democrats upon him for another contest. |
TIE hsrouleen labor which be performed in the !
canvass Of 1855 Is stu gratefully remembered
TIE service be lhen rendered the party has never
besn exceeded b. that rendered by any man since
tbe organisation Of our party. TIE success OF
know nottingham here in that contest would have
1een ~ 1secsss il most Of the southern States; as
Us overthrow through the trauscendent ability
with which q was exposed by Gov. JOHNSON, fol-
lowed It's crushing out by the Tennessee demOcra-
o. TIE result Of that contest confirmed the po-
stion ia the cos6denos and affection of the people
which Gov JOHNSON had well earned by life de.
voted to their service; and it is no less compli.
lneut to the people than to Gov JOHNSON to say
chat 20 servant of the State has ever rendered
more patriots service than the latter, and that
ths former have never more gratefully remembered
and honored such service. The hope that Gov.
J0HEsoN viii again be candidate for the Office of
Governor, rs It may prevent that canvass Of the
qualifications of others which should precede the
meeting Of the convention, makes it proper for US
to say as we do By his authority, that be neither
expects nas desires the nomination His determine
doa not 70 BE- sgain candidate has been frequently
end freely expressed to bis friends ever since the
llst election and be will be ready to labor in the
ranks for tas triumph Of the principles of democ.
Eacy and Of such one of their true representatives.
as the people, in their convention shall designate
a. leader.
We trust that the announcement We thus make,
ss i renders the nomination Of q new man neces-
ssrys viii secure representation of every county
IN the State at the Convention in April Our can
didate must be the representative of our pTinci-
PIES; and while distinguished services are entitled
q remembrance and honor, yet no man who has
real claims upon the party viii ever urge them
The democratic party may use its best men; but
no man may use the democratic party.
These remarks are quite as true and perhaps
still more necessary to be urged, when applied to
oaniidstss for the Legislature, IS when used in
oon1eedon with the nomination of a candidate for
Governor, Doubtless every reader of this article
can call to mind cases in which Senatorial or Rep.
rssentstiVa dstTi have been lost, and the Legis-
tare also. By the Obstinacy of aspirsuts for seats
IN tae Senate or House, in perssting in being can
didetes agliua. the wishes Of the party. These
men talk Of their "clsims, with an impudence
which, Of ITSELF, should prevent their receiving
8 single vote. 1t should be always remem-
bsred that SenatoEs and Representatives should be
tEa best men Of their counties; and that an aspi-
ran. for Office is q very unsafe judge of merit in
his own case The man who will not trust the
people to choose for themselves cannot be a safe
5sntauvs of the people There may be
cases where conventions are unnecessary; but in
such cases they can do no harm. Those who decry
conventions are generally those who are afraid 10
trust the people to pass on their merits and who
are 50 eager for Office as to take it By being &C
Cspted as 3 choice Of evils.
We have not hesitated frankly ard plainly to
tel our Political friends that while for Governor,
nomins ion by democratic convention is EQUIV
aIsatto al eIscion by the people, yet the Lsgsla-
tufs may be lost by the loss of a single democratic
county. We have the strength to secure both
Hsusss, if we do lot permit ambitious sspirants,
thinking mora OF personal sggrsndizement than Of
ths suceess Of the party, to defeat US. A good
democrat viii submit to injustice sooner than risk
lhs defeat Of bis party. he will act out the patti
otio saying ofthe revolutionary father, alt IS NO
rnH 70 HDULsR PRIVATE eRIEFs WIEN TIE ENEIrY
TsE FRoErr We are secure of A rrsi ,rifv when
ard only When, the policy is recognz ID and acged
upon, that in cases OF rivalry for the candidacy
for political olhoes the party in convention is to
be the E1sl Judge IN the matter. An experience
o. near twenty years in party contests in Tennes-
see enables Us TO say that our principles would
hsve been represented by a democratic LsgsIa.
rure four 6ths of the time since 1887 but for mere
personal conflicts. Men and brethren We mast
net suffer such conflicts in 1851