Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-06-27
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
MARYvILLE June % 1857.
Edtor. Union and Ameriean

A5Uapft CfftgN UftH <ANtltt'-i
According to appointment the candidates for
Governor addressed the people Of Blount county at
this place to-day Mr.. HattOn led Of in speech
Of an hour and half, two thirds Of which was de-
voted exclusively to the discussion Of the distribu-
ton measure He attempted, in a very weak and
silly manner, to convince an audience threefourths
Of whom were fully as intelligent as himself that
the division Of the public lands among the States,
would rival in its effects all and the most glorious
influences Of the tabled stone of the philosopher,
which was to transform every thing into gold which
it touched He certainly attempted the veries hum
bug that was ever attempted to be palmed of any
people. And it was but an attempt. The intelli-
gent old farmers who had been reading Of distribu
ton long before Mr.. Hatton born, and had seen
all the rising and falling Of the many humbugs that
have from time to time been attempted to be played
off on the public by the worn out hacks Of party,
laughed in his face while the young man endeavOr-
ed to put on a serious counienance he spoke. He
next discussed the abstract and obsolete question Of
what he calls alien suffrage"-Said his party were
united and national so far as that question is con-
eerned and this was the only question on which he
said they were national. The young aspirant seemed
not to know that there was no occasion and can pos
sibly arise no occasion of applying his doctrine
practically He might as well discuss any Of the
old issues connected with the Mexican war, or the
war of 1872, and they about as much connected
with this canvass as his "alien suffrage issue.
He attempted a review of Gen. Harris record,
and wound up by telling the people he was once
poor school teacher, at the head of a hollow The
people thought that the school master was abroad,
and some Of his own party thought he had better
return to the ferule. The general opinion of the
sensible men of both parties is that Mr. HattoR is
a young man of some sprightliness, and would make
pretty good canvass for seat in the lower House
Of the Legislatures but they think that he had bet
ter tarry at Jericho before attempting to measure
arms with an accomplished statesman and orator.
I have heard some Know Nothings remark that
Hatton vas the darndest poorest chance that ever
came along here" am willing to take their word
Gen. Harris occupied his two hours in reply and
rejoinder in a most happy and forcible style The
party have not been better pleased since the days of
Polk. One old Democrat remarked 90 Well, I
thought Andy Johnson was pretty tight on an argu-
ment, but this man is a eetle ahead of him" His
exposure of the distribution humbug was complete
and triumphant. It was dying effort of Mr.. Bell,
just at the close of the last gress to furnish
thing for the present canvass bait to old line
Wings to put them into Know Nothing ranks-an
appeal to the pocket to secure the next legislature
and consequently his reelection to the Senate Mr..
Bell said when he introduced it. that he did not
pect pass-that he did not wish it to interfere
with the system of plumber which had for a long
time been carried on by his own party in Congress
in regard to the public lands.-Sam was dead and
burried-the other questions were all at rest and
the wheels Of government we're rolling on prosper
ously under a Democratic Administration Sone-
thing must be gotten,up expressly. He could find
nothing neW-he therefore scraped and galvanized
the old carcass which had lain in the tomb 10. these
many years. Gen. Harris showed with overWhelm-
ing effect that the theory Of distribution was chi
mera-impraoticable and unconstitutional It was
robbing Peter to pay Paul-borrowing from one man
to pay another. While the State got one dollar
they payed back two. We have two governments
to support. While we take from one and give to
the other, we are only creating a deficit that must
the next day be supplied by taxation or otherwise.
The people have some sense, tho Mr.. Hatton did
not seem to think so; and they understood and ap-
preciated and were delighted with Gen Harris clear
and conclusive reasoning.
Gen Harris treated the alien suffrage question as
it deserves. He showed that his competitor in de-
nouncing the doctrine Infamous was casting re-
prOach upon the memory of Washington, jackson,
and Polk, and was treading on the toes of his own
beau ideal of President, Mr. Fillmore himself who
approved the doctrine in the Territory of Washing
ton.
The impression of the speeches was all one-sided,
so far the favor of the people is concerned Fill
mOre's majority in this county was 641-Hatton's
majority will not be more than 800. Mark that.
BLOUNT.