Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-09-17
The M.yor.i,y--John Hugh smith,

The Mayoraity--John Hugh Smith,
Esq.
Since the nomination of Mr.. HoLLINGswoRTH
as the Opposition candidate for Mayor OF the
city, on the 10th inst. there has been manifest
desire among certain parties to bring out OPP
position to him. 1t was understood for a time
on the streets that the present Mayor, Mr.. Nc
GAvocK would make The race against him.
He was elected a year ago as a no party man,
and be could not SO far forget himself as now
to run as democrat against the nominee of
the Opposition. Some of bis party friends,
himself included, we understand, thought it
would not do to allow Mr.. HoLLINGsw ORTIZ
to walk over the track without contest
And after much consultation and caleul alton
ofchances, &c, an arrangement was conclud
ed that our friend JOIN HUGH SMITH should
make the race against Mr.. HoLLISGswoRrH.
This was understood to have been agreed up
on on Wednesday; but no announcement was
made Of the fact through the press,
and has not been yet. On Thursday du-
ring the day the current impression was
that Mr.. SMITH was candidate; aud on
Thursday night he appeared at Mr.. HoLLISGs-
WORMS appointment for public speaking in
the 7lh Ward-not, however, at the opening
of Mr. HIS spePch.
When Mr.. III. bad concluded Mr. SMITH
took the stand and made brief speech, in
which he failed to declare himsel II in express
terms as candidate for Mayor; but charged
that Mr. HOLiLNGswoRTH was not the n0mna-
ton Of bona ide Opposition con vention. but
OF a caucus or convention of anti railroad
men--referring 10 the late contest in the city
in relation to subscription of stock to the
Nashville and Northwestern Railroad--avow-
ing that he was as good an Opposition man
as Mr.. H--that be could not be held up a
dIsorgauizer, as there was democratic
candidate in the feld-aud expressing his
determination to meet Mr.. III. the uext even
my in the adjoining Ward, when he would
discuss these matters more at ngth than he
was then able TO do, on account of iil-heaith
SO that we suppose Mr. SMITH is fairly TO be
considered as Il candidate
We entertain no less sstouishment than
regret at the attitude in which Mr.. SxIrH has
seen proper TO place himself; in antag"nism,
a. it il, TO a party tor which he has for many
years tabor,d faithfully AID which has in
turn honared hi,a with its confidence and
support The manner OF Mr. HOILINGswDRTH's
nomination is well known all over the city.
There being three IN in the field OF the
same party. he and one of the other attempt
ed to settle their claims through mutual
friends, which failed. Tue two then in pub
liShed cards agreed to leave the matter in the
hands of the party. A call was then made
through the Opposition pnpers of the city, Tor
"a convention. aud as preliminary thereto for
Ward meetings, the time and places OF meet
ing being fully designated. This call was
published three days ia sueccssi0n-the
Ward meetings were duly held in each of the
Wards delegates appointed-twO days iH-
tervened between that and the convention
the convention was then held with a full dele
CATION from each OF the Wards--and resulted
, i'll the nomination of Mr.. HoLLINGswORTH.
Mr. SMITH was iulIy aware OF all these
faets, yet he assumes that the Convention
did not represent the wishes Of the city!
Ills attempt to Avoid tae force of these facts
giving The Convention every attribute OF a
nominating body, authorized and commits
stoned to act for the Opposition OF the
entire city-by the allegation that 1t was a
convocatiOn OF ant-railroad tax men Is alb
surd The subject OF the railroad tax was
new r mentioned ia the convention, nor, az
ia. us we know, in any OF the Ward meetings,
All the questions that could possibly arise on
that subject were settled by the vote of the
4th Of last June. by which the tax was car
ried aud the subscription made by the proper
authority in obedience to that vote. That
question is ended-and nobody thinks of it
now as having the least relation to the May
orally anything else. The Only concerh
the people now have in the matter il the
,,ayment of the tax aud in it, faithful appli-
C sIiOn.
Our own opinion is. that Mr.. SMITH has
suffered himself to be 0verpersuadcd to this
We believe il is the work Of his aud our pO-
lIiiGal opponents, designed by them to dis
tr,ct and divide the Opp JsiLiun, to weaken its
power, and to render il less effective in The
approaching campaign OF next year. lie
has witnessed the lesso Us taught by the fate
of those who have loaned themselves 10 such
purpusts in other cases. He knows that
neithtr he nor the party will be ben fitted,
aud he must know that he cannot calculate
IN the support of the party in his present
his steps.