Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-08-10
TO the Vi eehanics of Tennessee.

A friend has just placed in my hands Sc
cret circular issued by whom, or published
where. know not, signed 1.-The Mechanics Of
KnorviLle,n and and addressed, "I6 the Ne
cJ.aI,ics Of Tennessee" urging the craft through
out the State to unite To defeat me Tor the Of
flee of Attorney General and Reporter, on
the 18th of August next.
The ground upon which this secret circular
appeals to mechanics to go against me, is the
allegation that either myself or father had
said-when, where or to whom, is not stated
-"that mechanic should not aspire higher
than the tools with which he works, aud his
voice should not be heard in the councils OF
the nation" The circular goes on to say,
ian opportunity is now offered to prove TO
the world that we are something more than
the servile attendant of the bloated aristo-
crat, ready at any and all times to do his bid
ding"
To urge you not to believe, not to be
influenced by such dwelling nonse nSe, to
say TO you, that you should not be preJudlc-
ed by any such irresponsible, anonymous
maiignity. | feel would almost require an
apology from me, for it would seem to imply
that | thou ht some of you silly enough to
be- caught with such chaff Take my word
for it, fellow-citizens, the person who penned
the circular, the base miscreant who shoots
his poisoned and cowardly arrow from be-
hind an anonymous signature, upon the
very face of his circular shows that he has
less respect for you, that he believes you
have a lower standard of taste, of intelll-
gence, of manliness, OF propriety, ana right
conduct, than the person would have who
should entertain the sentiment so falsely at
| iributed to me.
The object of this card, is not so much,
therefore, to utterly deny ever having en-
/ tertained, or given expression TO any such
sent ment in the whole course of my life
phich do IN tie most emphatic mdnnr--as to
| vindicate the mechanics of Knoxville from
being held responsible for the publication OF
! any such dastardly document,--dastard
| because issued anonymously, dastardly be-
cause not circulated in Knoxville, but at a
distance; dastardly, because fixing neither
| time, place nor person, TO whom the WORDS
said to have been spoken were uttered
| il gives no opportunity for contutation. Now
| have seen the majority of the mechanics OF
| Knoxville. of all kinds and descriptions, and
they unanimously tell me they had no.
| thing To do with getting out the circular re-
| ierred TO, most Of them had never heard oil ~
nine-tenths of them had not seen 1t, and TO 4
| man they express their utter abhorrence ol
any such low and cowardly conduct. lwould
vihdicate tue mechanics of my native place.
| | hope, therefore, mechanics OF the State OF
| Tennessee, that you will not believe any oil
the craft 10 Knoxville, base enough 20 sane
ton any such publication. My word for IT,
and have known them all my life, they are
all too honorable, too high minded, too mnca
of gentlemen, TO have published any such
contemplate stuff. And l would further
| more yiudicate the printers of Knoxville. The
| Infamous slip was not published here. All
the printers tell me 70. believe them- They
assure me the type is such as Is not used IN
any office Ia this place. | am convinced OF
il, and hope that you will exeuipate the
printers OF my native place nom any such
baseness.
1 have done. know you viii not let any
such malignant, SILLY appeals as are contained
In that circular, influence your votes on ths
18Th OF August, 1853, and am therefore proud
To subscribe myself, your friend and obedien
servant, w ID. REisE, JR.
Knoxville, August 5, Is59.--lt.