Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-21
Discussion at sheIbyviIIe.

SHELBYyIIIE, Tenn, Aug. IA, 1860.
MEssRs. EDITORS: On Saturday, IIth instant we
had discussion of political issues by Col Lewis
| Tillman and Samuel III. Whitthorne, Esq
In the early part of the week Col. Tillman an
nOunced in posters, that on Saturday he would ad-
dress his fellow citizens, in answer to a speech de-
| Gvered by Robert Mathews Esq, on the preceding
Monday. On that occasion Mr.. NJ. had given the
Union-saving party some stunning blows, which the
Col could not answer he therefore kindly surren-
dered the stand to Mr. Carrgan, DOuglasite and took
the remainder of the week TO prepare his reply.
Mr. Matthews not being in the canvass as an Flee
tor sub Elector, choosing to engage regularly
a political DICTATOR, declined any notice of the
| Colones effort.
Samuel II. Whitthcrne, sub Elector was invited to
| be present and see the Colonel on that occasion
which he consented to do.
Col Timan took the stand about half-past two
o'clock, and led off in one of his characteristic
harangues made up of some old Whggery, a very
| little Americanism alias Know NOthingism. and a
great deal of union and disunion slang with occa-
sional bonbastc eulOgies on the great American
Union. At one time he became very earnest in his
endeavor to impress upon his audience the inestma-
bic value of the Union. He exclaimed fellowciti-
zens, it is priceless; its value be compared or
estimated;' ], said he, would surrender every
thing for its preservation, yes, all the negroes in
America Africa. too, rather than dissolve IT.
With this view of the subject, it appeared to me
twoud be very convenient TO fall into the support
of Lincoln Greeley & Co. If am correctly inform
ed they desire nothing more
He said much and read earnestly from modern
letter writers to prove Iancey Boyce and others in
the South Gisunionsts then closed with strong
appeal to all to come up TO the support of Bell and
Everett and the noble platform of the Union party
the Union the Constitution, and the Laws"
WhitthOrne came forward and for a few minutes
amused the crowd by indulging in some peasan-
tries in regard to the sspeech and then entered d
recty upon the discussion of the great issues The
Equality of the States, and the citizens of the States
and the maintenance of their rights in the Terrific
ries by the Federal Government as set forth in the
National Democratic platform
His arguments on nOn-interYenton by Congress-
and the want of power by Territorial Legislatures
to interfere with the rights of the Southern citizen
slaves and the duty of the Federal power to rro
tect such rights, were unanswerabe and to the two
or three Douglas men present most scathing. He
read the position taken by Mr.. Webster the great
expOunder of the Constitution OIL this subject il be-
ing in perfect harmony with the position of the De-
mocracy at present, which seemed to strike old
Wings with amazement.
He then took up Bells record and passed rapidly
over it, until he came to his disuniOn sentiments
contained in his speech of 1850, upon which he
dwet at some length, drawing the contrast between
Mr.. Yancey and Mr.. Bell on the subject of disunIon,
forcibly-exhbitng Mr.. Bell, as shown by his own
declarations, a more dangerous DisuniOnst than
Vim. L. Yancey ever dared to be. Then in most
eloquent terms, he portrayed some of the terrible
consequences which Mr.. Bell was willing TO risk IN
the dissolution of the Union rather than continue
IN IL with ceaSeeSS contention about slavery not
outstanding the Constitution should remain invio-
late This was going step beyond Mr. Yancev, !
and the audience seemed spell-bound and over
whelmed with amaZement. Some of the most in |
tensifed could not bear it, and left Since that time
the name of Yancey is not mentioned by the Union
takers; before, We could hear scarcely anything
else Now they never mention him.
Whitthorne closed by commenting pleasantly upon |
letter written by distinguished politician of Bed
ford county $50 said the Patriot to whom the letter
was addressed) before the nominations signed L. |
T. In that letter the author urged upon his party
to take distinct and high grounds for the rights of
the South and the Shareholders warned them against
Ignoring the negro question" and coming before |
the country with other platform than the "glit
tering generates of the Union the Constitution and
the Enforcement of the Laws" He asserted that |
such course would be to the party than the
cry of DO chance in 1856
Col. Tillman was extremely 10th to acknowledge |
the authorship of this prophetic letter, as Whit
thorne STYLED it; but after enduring an apparent
agony for a few minutes, in view of his ridiculous
attitude row urging for party purposes that which
he so wisely aud periodically condemned then, he
did own himself the author, and excused himself |
for not attempting apology for the letter OF an
swer to Whitthorne's speech for want OF time.
have heard much and able debating by political |
orators in Kentucky and Tennessee, and few, be as
sured, can surpass equal curry young friend SamI
Houston Whitthorne ONE OF THE VOTERS.