Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-17
THU aSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER IL
THE MAYoRALTY-GEN. B F. OHEATHAM

THE MAYORALTY.-GEN. B. F. CHEATHAM
We regret that the Patriot should make an express
sion CT ours in regard political elections pretext
for covert attack on one Of the candidates for
Mayor at the approaching municipal elections. Gen.
Cheatham is a candidate for Mayor not as q Demo-
crat or al the solicitation of Democrats alone, but
of large numbers of the opposition. When it was
urged upon him by leading members of the opposition
party, he objected to announcing himself upon The
ground that his having always been dem
ocrat would enlist against him, the feelings Of that
portion Of the community who are for making poll
tics a test in every election. lie was overhorne in
his convictions By the opportunities of his friends,
n ID consented 10 run the peoples candidate
We had hoped that his peculiar qualifications, his
hrmness AMI determination his integrity, his great
popularity with people amongst whom he was born
and raised his modesty in never seeking Office bis
past services TO she country ia two gallant campaigns
in Mexico, and his uuceasing efforts during the
severe weather Of the past winter to alleviate the
want and suffering Of the poor of our city, with
which the people familiar would at least secure
for him the silence of the opposition press of the
city. In this it seems however miscalculated.
We should be sorry to see the municipal elections
turnedinto political scrambes for place by the heat ed
partisans Of either side. nor do we believe the ma
jority of the people viii suffer themselves to be led
blindly by the nose into voting for any man for a
municipal Office which has nothing TO do with politics,
upou mere party grounds Neither Gen. Cheatham
nor his friends believe that he could be elected,
running simply upon political issues in city which
gives an anti-demoeratie majority of 500. But as
the candidate of the people, called out by the voters
of this city without respect to partyn favor Of re-
trenchment and reform in our city government
opposed to the corruptions which have crept into its
administration such the giving of heavy contracts
and fat jobs to aldermen in Office and the like
capable and willing to organise an active and
efficient police TO preserve the peace and good name
of the city-resolute in the discharge of his duties
and determined to strictly enforce the corporation
laws and ordinances-in favor reforms of all kinds
which the interests of the city clearly demand
in fine friend the suffering aud distressed at all
times and places and of every condition; he might
reasonably expect the support Of all wings, demo-
Gratis and know nothings, who regard the welfare
of the city of more Importance than the retention
in Office of this or that pet of the corporation.
It is hardly necessary for us TO say thai the edi-
tors Of this paper not instrumental in bringing
Gen. Cheatham out. They do not undertake to
defend him as a democrat, but think proper to say
this much, because a remark Of ours was
made the text of the Patriots uncaed for fusilade
upon the democracy and Gen Cheatham and his
friends Il may suit the PARROT to carry its pros
criptiveness to the extent Of making political faith
a test of qualification for municipal Office but for
ourselves we will none of it, nor do We believe the
people of Nashville will