Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-04
GUBEBNAToRIAL CANVASS.

1hEhToh, may u, AoO''
EDITORS OF THE PATRIOT entLemen:-The can
old OF all political creeds admit that Col. Hatton,
To-Day, gained most signal and glorious victory,
over Gen. Harris-the ajax of democracy, and
present candidate for Governor The result was
more effective and overwhelming, because it was
not anticipated. Gen. Harris is an able speaker
and most adroit tsctician, and hence, most per-
sons looked for him to, at least "keep up his end
OF the sngletree:" but he failed to do so; nor can
be do so, in discussion with Col Hatton. Neither
you nor your readers will feel the fell force of
this truth until you hear these gentlemen in de-
bate On the subject of distributing the Public
Lands Col. Hattons victory is most complete.
zen. Harris and his party have always occupied
position, as shown by their votes in Congress, in
oireet antagouism to their present PLATFORM and in
opposition to the position now occupied by Gen.
Harris. Col. Hatton claims that each State has
right to its share of the public lands, and shows that
while Gen. Harris and the democracy now oppose
distribution, and while Gen. Harris argues that it
is Unconstitutional" to distribute the lands among
the States, that all the while, for years back, they
have been giving o,Ody this precious domain to
enrich Raslroad Companies; giving away and sp-
propriating alternate sections of the public lands,
and the s'oamp lands, that belong to the govern
ment, to build railroads; and that even Gen. Harris
himself voted while in Congress, for some of these
very expenditures of the peoples lanG-and then,
after showing up these facts, asks Gen. Harris to
chow why the people of the States are not as much
i'll cd 10 ja Pail mic
are-and holds him responsible to show how it is
unconstitutional to distribute the public lands
among the States, as well as to Railroad Compa-
nies-and how he came to determine that it was
constitutional to give away the wet lands, and al
constitutional to distribute the dry lands. On this
question Col. Hatton was most triumphant, and
every body present felt it and saw it.
But, Gen. Harris was most completely crippled
by the argument of Col Hatton, as to the position
of the Northern Democracy. On this branch of
the debate Col Hatton most concusively showed
that the Northern Democracy now constitute the
only party in the Union whose doctrines are detri-
tai to sEavery he peculiar institution of the South
that cam by possibility, be put into execution He
aludes to the fact that by the Dred Scott decision
the Wilmot Proyiso is pronounced unconStitution-
al BY the Supreme Court; and that as the free coil
ers and black republicans, only hoped, proposed,
to interfere with slavery, by attaching the Will
mot Provso to all the new territorial bills and thus
prohibit slavery in that way only, that under the
said decision, they disable and rendered harm
less. And that the Northern Democracy in attach
ing the allen suffrage" clause to territorial bills al
lowing all foreigners to vote at once, although pro-
verbally opposed to slavery, are now, as stated,
the only party holding sentiments, and likely, by
possibility, to possess the power to nure the South
Col. Hatton showed that such is the position OF
Gen. Cass, Mr.. Douglass, and all the leading Demo.
Gratis North, and pronounced the Northern Demo-
cracy and their sentiments at with, and danger
Gus to the interests of the South. At this point
Gen. Harris is completely stumped" and con-
founded, and is manifest to the crowd that lie and
his friends feel it. Set it down that COL Hatton
has his opponent in his arms, in his embrace, in his
power.
We have given only one or two points by way of
indicating how and by what means Hatton worries
his opponent; and now let it be felt by all, that
victory can be won-a SPLENDID triumph can be had
if the friends of Hatton will but arouse-wil but
become inSpirited, and go to ,OorkN Last summer
in the Presidential canvass, were beaten in Ten.
nessee by all sorts of "scarecrows. Why, "No
chance" "Negro rebellion" and all sorts of hum
bHgging was gotten up to dethrone reason, (which
it partially did) and scare the good people into the
belief that Fremont would be elected-aud the
Union dissolved. Now, reason is again on the
throne, and the people, the bone and siuew of the
country, who want their share OF tie public lands
for their children, and want their children educa-
ted, will vote for Hatton, and he can be elected
no mistake, if we go to work.
ONE THAT KNOWS.