Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-28
Gov. JoHgsoN m THE WEST.

We make room to-day, as matter more likely to
interest our readers than anything else, for the
skstchby the Memphis AgYsalof thespeeches Of Gov.
johnson, Mr.. Nicholson, and Gen. Glenn ct Raleigh
in Shelby county. on Friday last
THE SPEAKING AT RAIrIoH.--Hsving taken no
notes Of the speeches of Gov. johnson and Hon. A.
4 O. P. Nicholson at Raleigh last Friday, We cannot
Of course, furnish readers with anything like
heightened and accurate report Of them. We will,
however, glance at some Of the most prominent
positions taken by these gentlemen Gov. Johnson
opened his speech By saying that he appeared be-
fore the people Of Shelby county by the invitation of
portion Of them not the Governor Of the State,
hut Andrew Johnson claiming itas Alright belong
| ing to every freeman to do so. The big and the
little stump speakers and newspaper scribbers all
/ over the State, could be permitted to hurl their
malignant weapons at him, bur it was great wrong
In him 10 come before the people in self-defense!
Such weapons, he said fell harmless at his feet He
then took up the "white basis" question which he
dscussedsnd eueidated to the satisfaction of every
impartial mind, discussing many Of the erroneous
| impressions heretofore made upon them, and con-
vincing others Of the correctness of his position on
this question. To this portion of his speech we
shall hereafter alude in separate article. He next
took up and dissected the question Of Distribu.
ton, proSouneing it fossil remain dug up and
thrown into this canvass not with the hope Of ever
carrying out the measure but Of divering the aten
ton of the people from the true and proper issues
The idea Of dividing the lands he said was not even
respectable humbug.
Passing from this, he took up the question of
slavery, which he discussed most thoroughly and
foreibly contending that slavery in some form or
other always had and always would exist He said
it grew necessarily out of the physical and mental
structure Of man, some being stronger in both re-
spects than Others and that the stronger would al
ways control and govern the weaker. He regarded
the negro here in state of slavery in a far better
Al h
connection with the white man had an eleyating
tendency, and many of those negroes who had re-
turned TO Liberia had relapsed into the bsrbarous
and savage habits of the natives showing that the
negro is an inferior type Of man, and incapable of
Advancement in his native country On this ones
lion he very foFcible and conclusive in discus
sing which be showed that while those or many of
them, who are traducing him on the white basis
question, were cooperating in Congress with the
Northern enemies of the South on the slavery oues-
ton, he was standing up to the STAKEHOLDER, and
parryng off the blows Of the Northern abolitiopsts
He dehed any man from the opposite party in Ten
nessee TO show good a record upon this question
as he could show. He defed them to show single
speech ever delivered against the abolitiOnists in
Congress by his Tennessee revilers.
KnOw-Nothiugism the next subject that en- |
gagged Gov. JOhnson's attention. He reviewed its |
history and showed that the doctrine was first prae
iced by George the Third, and advocated and sus-
tanned by Benedict Arnold the old Federal partv
under the first Adams, and by the Hartford Conven-
ton He said that while the party pretended to |
have done away with all secrecy, such was not real
y the fact. Members had the liberty to tell where
the council met and that they were members of the
order, but that what done in their councils they
could not reveal Their grips, passwords, &c. &c. |
were still kept secret He said he had less respect
for this than for any other party which he had ever
cOmbatted In the free States, although all Adolf
tionists were not Know Nothngs all Know Nothngs
were AbolitiOnists. He advised all to come out of
the party, and in order that no record evidence
might hereafter be brought against them to prove
that they had seen Sam and taken the oaths he ad-
yised them to burn up their books and DESTROY all
their papers He had argued that nations and par
ties, well individuals should be governed by
high standard of mOrals he could never approve of
lying though if there was any single in which
a man would be justified in telling falsehood, it
was IN denying that he was ever member of the
Know Nothing order.
The entire speech of Gov. johnson was character
lied by originality of thought and vigor of express
sion He occupied about two and half hours in
its delivery. He was often greeted with the plaudits
Of his hearers, who paid the profOundest attention
throughout
At the conclusion of Gov. Johnsons speech, Hon.
A. o. P. Nicholson was introduced to the meeting.
and spoke for about one hour. He urged the i'm
Dortance of a union at the South on the principles
Of the Kansas bill. He had no idea that agitation
IN the slavery question in the North was killed off
uch questions distribution aud alien suffrage 1t
vas yet in doubt who would have the majority in |
congress, and he deemed it of great Importance that
Ir. Buchanan should have House of Representa-
ives to sustain him. He thought that the people |
night continue their confidence in the Democratic |
'arty, although the Know NOthings in the South |
Eere making strong efforts to put it out of power
Who would take possession of the Government he |
sked, if the Democratic party is put down. Not |
ne know Nothings, for, compared with the Black
republicans in Congress, they stand about as one to
en-. Under Democratic rule we had gone on pros
ering and to prosper, and he thought when this :
arty goes out, the Black Republicans will come in
lie took firm and decided ground in favor of the DO
tion of the Administration on the Walker-Kansas
uestIOn, and very forcble and clear in his ar
ument on this point Although there was the ap-
earanee of dsafection in the Democratic party in
lie South, he had no idea that it would prove per-
lament or of long duration Mr.. NichOlsOns speech
as received with marked attention, and could not
nj of telling effect upon his hearers. ?
After dinner, which was prepared in splendid .
yle, Gen. P. B. Glenn was called to the stand, who
sliyered rOusng speech to his Democratic friends
ling them if the State is not carried and our
hole ticket elected, it will be the fault of the De-
ocracy in this end of the State. Within the past
Onth, he had travelled through the larger portion
Middle Tennessee, and he said the work was al r
ady done up there. If we would do our duty from I
is time until the election Know Nothingism would N
consigned to its tomb on the 9th Of August, and
at if Of Sans boys could be found after that 2;
ne he would pay for his likeness in order that he
ght send it to the iron works and have it put On %
the dog-irOns so to brighten the little iggers 20
d keep them out of the fire. Z
After Gen. Glenn, the various candidates for the
yislature called upon the stand to show them
ives and say few words, when the meeting ad-
Irned and the crowd dispersed. 81
Altogether it a refreshing day to the Democ- aP
~, and we are more thoroughly convinced than =.
er that We can, il we will, carry Shelby county
a handsome majority. Let US all work to this
1 from this time until next Thursday week, oad .5
victory is ours pr