Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-23
From the Memphis Enquirer.
THE DISCUSSION AT UNION DEPOT.

1t may be of some interest to your readers
to have a brief account of the debate at Union
Depot. between the candidates for Governor
Gov. Harris opened the debate in speech OF
an hour and a half; he devoted three-quarters
of an hour to the nationality Of the Demo
cratic party, the discussion of slavery, Kan
sas, Black Republicanism, and AbOlitionism
The next half hour of his time was devoted
to the public record of Netherland The last
quarter of an hour was devoted to the bank
question.
1t is due to Gov. Harris to say that he made
a creditable speech. considering the ground he
had to occupy. At the conclusion of the Gov
ernOr's speech, Col. Netherland rose to reply,
and it was evident to all his friends that he
felt fully equal to the task of meeting Gov.
Harris in debate He commenced by noticing
the attack made on his political record, and
more than satisfied his friends that he had act
ed right at the time and under the circum
stances in every vote he had given, for which
he had been arraigned by Gov. Harrisi that
the vote not 10 exempt certain property from
execution was given twenty-five years ago,
and at that time the sentiment of his consiitu-
ents was opposed to such law; that at later
date. probably in 1851, when again in the
Legislature. he had voted for an exemption
law. Col. Netherland retOrted on the Gov
ernor by the showing up his vote in Congress.
in which he refused to increase the pay OF the
soldiers who had SO triumphantly borne our
flag through the Mexican war.
In regard to these votes of Netherland
about which so much fuss has been made
| through the Democratic papers, we can only
| say that If Gov. Harris can make no more
out of them tina he made in the discussion al
Union DEPOT to-day, and that is his trump
| card, his game is lost.
Col. Netherland, after disposing of what he
properly styled the trash that the Governor
had luggcd into the canvass for the want oi
something better, turned his attention to the
extravagances and corruption of the Demo
cratic party. We can give no detailed report
| of this part of his speech. Suffice it to say il
was done in John Netherland's own style. Il
was full aud complete expose from proofs
| furnished by the leaders of the Democratic
party. Itwas a terrible expose.
Netherland then defined his position on the
| subject of re-chartering the Union and Plant
ters' banks. Was in favor of their re-charte
| with proper restrictions: while Gov. Harris
| was opposed to the re-charler of any existing
hank. and was opposed to the re-chartering o
any bank, unless full legislative control, t
I amend or repeal the charter, was retained
which, in the opinion of all sensible men
/ amounts to no charter at all.
To the people of Memphis we need sa,
nothing as to the opinion we or others formct
about the advantages that either part.
gained in the debate. as they will have
chance to hear and judge for themselves; bu
| for the benefit of those who may not have al
OppoI tunity of hearing them. we will say, il
all candor. that we have never heard maj
more completely fioored in a debate than wa
Gov. Harris by Col. Netheriand, at Uniol
! Depot. The game of .'brag" that the Demo
cratic papers in this end of the State have
been playing will certainly be stoppe'
| now.
| To the friends of Netherland here an'
throughout the State. we will say, after hear
ing the discussion to-day, have no fears 70
John Netherland; he is fully equal to the oc
casiOn; and if his friends will only do thei
duty, he will bear their flag in triumph at tn
August elections. MEMPHIS.