Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-16
THE CANVASS.

We have received lengthy reports of the discus
sion between the candidates for Governor at Waynes
boro' and Pulaski. These reports are of great
length, and we can find room only for extracts.
Our Waynes borO' correspondent, under date of
the 9th, writes:
Col. HattOn opened the discussion have heard
many asprants for guberDatorial honors, vet Unjust
say that never one yet of quite as diminutive
caIbre this last know nothing card His speeebes
are sophomore, surcharged with bombast-mere
sound and fury, sgnifying nothing He labored
through a speech Of an hour and a half assailinc
and denOuncing the Democratic party, their men
ana measures; yet, as Gen'l Harris told him, sug-
costing nothing offering no plan of his own or of
the party he represents He is endeavorino IN
Wheedle those wings who have stood aloof from
know nothingism into his support by holding up
before their eyes Of the old principles of that
party when it was in full blast-a thing which even
the wing party abandoned before that party was pro-
nounced dead and buried by the present Door little
insignificant faction called the "Great American
party" The wings, however, viii prove too smart
to be caught by such gu-trap as this. The people
have no confidence in the thing and so clearly and
lucidly does Genl Harris expose the humbug its
unconsutuuonallty its injustice TO the Federal Gov
eminent, and the inability Of the know nothing
party to carry it out for a want Of numbers in Com
gress, that no man Of ordinary intelligence can be
mlsled by It. This distribution humbug was made
the ralying cry Of the prescription party in Vir-
ginia. They expected to accomplish something by
appealing through It to the cupidity of Virginians
yet how sgnally they did fail has lust been told in
thunder tones at the ballot box. And such will be
its fate in Tennessee.
Col Hatton's speech fell far short of the expee-
tations Of his friends and only excited the smiles
and sneers OF the Democracy whilst it served but to
call forth few clqps from the regularly appointed
applaudlng committee Of the know nothing socie-
Genl Harris occupied the same length of time in
ms reply, which was a profound, logical and con-
ylncIng effort such never before heard in this
town. He took up his competitors arguments and
literally rlddled them fore and aft He showed that
Genl jackson never favored the scheme of distribu
ton, as commended by HattOn-that he had only
read garbled extract from Gen1 Jaekson's mes
sage. lie also read from Clay and Webster. 70
prove that those great statesmen denied the power
Of Congress TO distribute the lands Mr. Hatton
referred TO some resolutions introduced into the
Tennessee Legislature by Gen1 Harris when several
years ago member of that body, declaring maj
the passage by Congress Of the Wilmot PToviso
would be unconstitutional and void the offering of
which resolutions Mr.. Hatton endeavored to torture
into notification.
Gen'l Harris showed that this resolution was the
mere expression Of an opinion upon political cues
ton of deep and vital interest to the Soutb that no
HllmOt provisO had been passed at the time or since
TO be nulhed, and that the charge was absurdly re-
dcUIous. He challenged his competitor to deny the
correctness Of any one Of his resolutions The Su-
preme Court Of the United States had decided that
every line Of the resolutions were true that the Will
mot provlso If passed, would have been uEconstiu-
Uonal and void. He said he had on all occasions
expressed his political opinions freely frankly and
tearlessly, and that he ptied the man who had not
the courage to do so. He called on Mr. Hattou to
say whether he would not hold it unconstitutional
for Congress to abolish slavery in Tennessee Col
HatTOQ hn yvorrld
preme Court decided.
Genl Harris took up the subject Of alien suffrage
"a taYorlte theme with his cOmpetitor-tbst gentle
man being in the habit of representing that por-
uon Of the Democracy favor it. He made this re-
coil upon his assailant, and showed conclusivelv
that Mr.. Fillmore had approved of it in the terrific
rial bill establishing Washington Territory only it
was IN more odiOus andrepUgnant form than Hat
ton urges against the Democracy because Mr. Fill
more and his party in Congress not only approved
OF aliens voting and bearing hand in the promo
ton OF the territorial government but that thew
might also be eligible to any office under those gov
ernments.
From Pulaski we have a very full report in letter
dated the llth and regret that we can find room only
for the following extract:
1t was Gen. Harris day to follow Mr. Hatton.-
The Generals friends confident of an easy vic
tory. Many Of them had heard him on a former oe-
casiOn at this place completely riddle The ablest
Know knothing orator in the southwest and never
feared the result Of his meeting such a penny
whistle politician" as Mr. Hatton. Calamity. gio-
rloUsly, and triumphantly was their confidence sus-
tanned If every voter in Tennessee could hear him
ten thousand would not come up to his majority in
August. will venture the opinion that since Ten
nessee has become State, renowned as it is for
eloquence, the speech which Harris made to-day
has not been eXcelled within its borders if the ex
eeIenee OF political speech consists in convincing
the Judgment arOusing patriotic feelings exposing
and holding up to political hereses stripping
nonsense Of its sOphistry, eloquently vindicatng
the truth Of history and advocating wise and beni-
hcent measures Of State and federal policy Harris
followed his opponent through all the windings of |
his tortuous speech, spiked his distribution guns
and proved cOnclusiyely by the opinion of every /
American Statesman worthy Of the name, that Con- |
gress has not the power to distribute the public
lands or its proceeds, and that it would be inexpe-
dent and impoGtio to do if 1t had On the hobby
horse Of alien suffrage in the Territories Harris
knocked the props from under his COM
pettor. He insisted and showed that it was not a
practical question, and that it is nor has been
strict party measure, he proved, by showing that
Mr.. Fillmore and Mr.. Bell were in favor Of it.
The Know Nothing party in the present canvass
ian be compared to nothing better than the scat
cred remnant Of a whipped and conquered army,
With Col HattOn vainly trying to cover its retreat
y upholdlng piece Of bunting, the remains of its
altered flag, inscribed mo alien suffrage;" but
wen this resuseitated limb Of X. N.ism will not pay
he expenses Of a decent re-interment Harris
allied on the freemen Of Tennessee to rush to the
tandard of the party that upheld their rights in
ver.y quarter of the Union, when others abandoned
hem, and on the whole far transcribed the expeca-
ions Of his most ardent friends
Another correspondent from Pulaski writes, in a
ostscript to business letter of the 18th, as fol-
)Ws:
The candidates are just concluding. They ad-
ressed a crowd here in a beautiful grove near the
quare. At least one thousand persons were pre-
mt. Hatton led of. His friends were evidently
sappointed. Gen. Harris made one Of his ablest !
i'd most convincing efforts, calling forth enthusi-