Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-08-18
From the West Tennessee Wing.

For the first time in my life do place my name
before the public in a newspaper, not that think
am qualified to come before the scrutinlZng eye OF
the learned world, yet il is the privilege of every
American citizsn to express his sentiments with re-
gard to the political topics dividing the public mind
and the public acts Of public men, These are priv
eges handed down from our ancestry-and go-
rious privilege it is.
One of those public acts l wish to say little
about, at the present Tor might have eaid public
errors) is that committed by the democratic couVen-
ton which nominated THos. AVERY, at SOmeTville,
for Congress- when Mr.. AVERY, last fall, IN making
speeches 10 this Congressional district openly de-
clared that he Wing, and still added, to more
forcby illustrate his position, that he was Henry
Clay Wing" Well, we ali know what the poi ical
opinions Of Clay II he was Clay Whig he
was a pretty man to receive the nomination OF tue
d mocraIc party-tO be run by the Democrats OF
this Congressional District, when he was urged by
Dir. ST. PHENs upon every occasion, during the late
canvass to declare what party he belonged 10, and
what were his answers? DiI he say that he was
Democrat? No; he said he was the nominee OF the
Democratic party. And after eulogizlng the Dem
ocratc purity, there closed, thinking he had given
satisfaction to that pfrty. IT mere eulogy OF the
Democratic party is the standard by which We are
to know Democrat, and not endorsing the princ-
pies that party adheres to- think it is time We
ouli receive more into ranks OF that stripe
What assurance have we that Mr. AVERY will c .rry
out the principles OF the Demo cratic party, when he
: q
ions of Mr.. CLAY in regard TO the distribution poi-
c,P We all know that he Was an answering adVo-
cate of Distribution. Yet Mr.. AVERY prefers to be
neutral that question, and treata IL with silent
contempt and says there is vitality ia the ques-
ton. The Democrats endorse that. Now, gentle
men, tell NE why Mr.. HARRIS labored mote than
h.lf the time allotted him in the Court House IN
Jackson to prove that tibet policy was unconstitu-
| uona? It because the public mind was dlvi-
dsd on that question: aud were anxously enqulring
after truth, end b cause il was his duty pub
lie man to declare his views upon that question.
| Yet Mr. AVERY said it was a hum5ug-a hobby to
ride into Office upon, and yet both of these men
were presented to US upon the same party ticket.
| Mr. ETHERIDGE, at MitliG, in my hearing, said be
was ''Ciay Whig," and took up all the political
topics that divide the "Clay Wings" aud the Demo-
/ cratic party-discussed them, one by one, III the
presence Of audience of about one thousand per-
/ sons He first took up the bank and discussed t;
T., II the tariff; then the Distribution, aud on,
and said be was "Ciay Wing" and be is the most
odious man now in the United States to the Demo-
cratic party. cannot for my life discriminate be-
tween the positions OF AVERY and ETHERIDGE, II
bare assertion gives position.
Mr.. CuRRIE my choice aud he was the choice
| Of every good Democrat. that has endeav
ored to uphold the Democratic party through thick
aud thin-done more, yes, far more 20 promote the
purity in this Congressional District than any fOTty
democrats in it. and he had TO be sacrificed just az
| the time when we could have remGnefated him for
his many hard fought battles. Bus they must pro-
mote man who cared nothing for the party or its
prnciples--a that has done ell IN his power 20
demolsh the Democratic party for the last several
| years. man that said he was an "Old Clay Wing,
aud has nsver taken it back. The Clay party is tbs
same that ihe Democrats party have Sarred against
for more than thirty years past, aud yet she Demo
cratic party can meet in convention. and select a
man bound TO the principles Of tins old Clay party
| TO 90 him honor ia preference 10 such man as
CuRRIN, our noble standard-beaTer in times when
| success was doubtful.
Well, have ever professed to be Democrat,
aud have closely adhered 20 the principles OF that
/ party. but such proceedings dont suit me. an
/ Tor principles and not bare assertion.
BENZ. T. HART0N.
| August 10, 1857.