Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-09
coNAUNldAqToN
TEE CANVASS

" :
&c the canvass for Governor was present at the
discussion ct jackson between GEM Harris and Col
Hatton. The crowd on that occasion was larger
than usually Witnessed in that place on similar oc-
easions. 80.
The, opening speech was made by Gen'l Harris.
It is not my intention here to indulge in the hack
neyd phrases Of adulation, plgsRg, and hyperbole,
examples Of which are sent US every day BY the
sefi5ss Of the great Know Nothing party, but to
speak candidly Of men and things as honestly
conceive them to be Our champion Fortunately
stands not in need Of the studied phrases of adula
tionso often doled out by newspaper correspondents
shan not attemptto report the various questions of
State and Federal politics discussed in the exact or
der in which they were presented, but only refer to
the lsading issues These were Distribution of the
public lands among the States, Col Hatton would
have ft-alien suffrage, the catholic question, the
naturalization laws, the extension Of State aid to
railroads, Hattons normal school bill, sc.
Upon the subject Of distribution, GENT Harris is
peculiarly forcible and effective. He exposes witha
master hand the humbug and fallacy, and the in
justice and unconstitutiOnaliy of the whole thing
he charged that it was an old ntdemoeratio meas
ure which the selEstyled American party has de-
nOuneed along with the other old issues of the wing
party as unsound and impOltic-that it was resur-
rected by that shrewd and ambitious politician and
Wire-worker, John Bell, only few days before the
Adjournment Of the late Congress, when he knew
and actually admitted that, there was no hope or
possibility of getting such bill passed. but that
the movement was put on foot By Mr.. Bell for the
purpose Of revving the PROSTATE condition of his
party in Tennessee, to make capital in the pending
State canvass, and also with view to quilting old
line wings, and winning them into the support of
this modern bogus Americanism. He read from
speeches made By Henry Clay and Daniel Webster,
in which they took the ground that the distribution
Of the public lands among the States would be
palpabe and fragrant violation of the constitution,
an act transcending the power Of Congress. The
narrow limits of a letter would not suffice even
were competent to the task to follow up and trace
out the able, lucid, and conclusive argument made
blythe Democratic candidate on this subject, and
his mastery exposition of the hollow-heartedness
and insincerity of the whole scheme.
Mr.. HattOn is counting quite largely upon gull
bilty of Tennesseans in supposing that their suf-
frages can be controlled or purchased by such
miserable hnmbug. Many, even of his own party
regard it as downright insult to their virtue, their
patriotism their intelligence.
But Gen. Harris viii not suffer the Know Nothing
prosorptionst candidate to dodge the real issues of
his PROSTATE and crest fallen party. He disposedof
this distribution rubbish in a most summary and
triumphant manner and opens plunging broadside
upon the rotten hulk of Know Nothingism. His
competitor desired that the foreigner should remain
in this country twenty-one years before he was ad
nitted to yote. The laws of the United States only
required residence of five years-they were well
guarded on that subject and if there was any fault
about it. it was not in the law ITSELF but the manner
ID which the aliens in the Territories could exclude
the slave holder with his property, Gen. Harris
showed that such was not the case that the foreign
er could effect nothing even if he desired so to do
that by the decision of the @. S. Supreme Court in
the bred Scott case, the policy of the National Demo-
cratic party this important subject had been en-
tirely indicated and sustained and that in accord
anee with that decision the people Of the Territories
possess no power whatever to exclude slave holders
on their slaves from these Territories until they are
called on to frame their State constitution. Gen.
Harris reminded his competitor that his iusinuatiOns
as to the unsoundness of the Northern Democratic
leaders on the slavery question came with an ex-
ceeding i'll grace from member Of that party the
Northern wing Of which was so VIGOROUSLY unsound
on that question: and were arrayed in solid phalanx
against us. He cOntended that his competitor had
no party at the North: that they had gone over to-
tally and entire; that they were completely fused
with and absorbed by the Black Republican, Abo-
lJtion party. He appealed in strains of most lofty
and oyerpoWerng elOquence to the whole South to
present undivided, bold and serred front to the
enemies. of her constitutional rights-to enrol us
der the broad national banner of that time honored
and venerated party which alone had the power and
the agR to stay the dark and threatening tide of
Black Republicanism.
But my limits remind me that Imust close There
we're various other questions of " great pith and
moment" questions in which every sOutherner is
interested-discussed by Gen. Harris. 1 will only
add, in conclusion, that be treated them with IN
surpassed ability, and to the satisfaction of his
party eliciting throughout their most enthusiastic
applause. The accounts from all quarters of West
Tennessee are indeed most fattering and heart
cheering. The democracy have in the field some of
their sblest men. In this district, Vim. T. Avery
win soon open the Congressional canvass with his
Know Nothing competitor Mr.. Stephens. He is
more than d match for Stephens on the hustings-
The party are greatly pleased with his nomination;
they viii accord to him warm, an enthusiastic /
suppOEe and will be assisted by hundreds of oldlne
Wings. You may set Avery's election down as a
foregone conclusion, and by majority of not less
than 500.
Let, then, every Democrat be at his post through
out the State-let every friend of the constitution
aud the South stand with us in his contest and we
shall send q Sam }" once and forever back to
his dark holes and cayerns. In the word of Rich
ard III:
80 Let's muster men, our platform is our shield,
We must be brief when traitors brave the field"
MADISON. !
= THE RAPID DISTRIBUTION OF MONEY. /
Snandtbrifts while thew ruin themselves alwavs