Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-01
THE CANVASS.
Haynes Peyton and Polk at Winchester.
lsEcIAL CORRESPONDENCE AlrEKIcAS

WINCHESTER, aug oUtu 1ooU
Messrs. HAYNES, PEYToN and Polk opened their
canvass here to day before intelligent and atten
tive audience, numbering thousand or twelve hun
dred. Col. PEYToN opened the discussion with the
rather startling announcement that this TRAN
gular fight, or rather that he stood between two
Democratic fires, and that while one would pelt him
in front the other would be pouring hot shot in the
rear. As the Colonel had Travelled from Nashville in
company with one of the :" two Democrats" be-
tween whom he professed TO stand it was presumed
he spoke by the card /" and there was some anxiety
manifested to hear how the DOUGLAS eector would
pitch into Mr., BELL and his party and how he would
pour the hot shot in the rear of the Colonel.
Col PEYToN told an anecdote, and then, with
all the solemnity of a minister officiating at
funeral announced that he was here to discuss the
great question of the perpetmty of the Union. This
glorious Union, bequeathed us by our fathers, was
seriously menaced by bitser sectional party at the
North It. therefore, became an important question
how LIScoLN who was but the tool of SEwARD, could
be defeated but without telling his hearers how this
could be DONE Col PETroN took up the slavery ques-
ton, and entertained those disposed to listen with
his version of its history, the evils of which, of
course attributable not to any one of the nu-
merous parties to which he had belonged.
Having disposed CT the slavery question to his
own satisfaction Col. PEYTON paid his respects to
the freeaters. He paid his respects to Mr.. YANcEY
for fully one hour. YGNCEY is terrible fellow ac-
cordng to Col PEYToN. He admirable
purpose-that of enabling 20 statesmen " such as Col
PEYToN to make hob-gobblins with which to scare
| weak men and old women. After beratng YASCEY
to his hearts content, Col PEYToN told his auditors
of an important discovery he had made, namely
that since 1853 there had existed reasonable con-
spiracy to dissolve the Union, and that Alabama
into this plot to the tune of $500
by her last Legislature-and 5000 men. With
mock gravity that would have reflected credit upon
the most nveterate JOKER Col. PEYToN then declared
that every vote given to BRECKNRIDGE would en-
courage the dlsunionsts, and that they would count
every such voter as a soldier in their cause. The
Cooael frankly admitted that he believed the whole
Democracy of Tennessee and Kentucky, the masses.
leaders, editors and ALL sound in regard to the
Union.
If LINCOLN should be fairly and constitutionally
elected, COL PErrON declared himself in favor of
letting him take his seat, as he could do no harm
without the Senate, which is Democratic.
He did not believe, if LINCOLN should be cleo
ted he could find man in the South who would
|
man could be found he was a traitor, and deserved
to be tortured to terrible DEATH And the Colonel
admitted that the election of LINCOLN would dissolve
the Union by Southern refusing to accept office
under him and not permitting it tc be done by
! others.
He thought Mr.. BELL better man to defeat LIN
coin than either BRECKENRIDGE or DOUGLAS, and that
was all he said in favor of Mr.. BELL during his hour
and half except that Mr.. BELL was as sound on the
Democratic platform as Mr.. BRECKINRIDGE himself.
Col HAYNES then took the stand, and for an hour
and half he held the whole audience spell bound
by one of the most logical, argumentative and elo-
gent speeches made during the canvass. 1t was
mere childs play " for him to tear into shreds the
few points made by Col. PEYToN. There has never
been period he said since $780, that there has not
been few disuniOnsts in this country, and he had
never known the time when the charge of disunion
had not been charged against the Democratic party,
yet the course of that great party had put to shame
| all who had made such charges.
The great issue which now agitates the people
the conservative element of our Union-was the
equality of the States and the rights of property in
the territories which lie at the very foundation of
! government and underlie the constitution itself
The questions involved in this paramount issue were
discussed by Col. HAYNES in mastery manner, and
so clearly placed before his hearers that every one
could understand and fully appreciate them. He
showed that the position of the Democratic party on
these great issues the only position that could
| be assumed with safety to the South, and as evil
dence of this he referred to the fact that Col PEY
TON had taken position on the BRECKENRIDGE plat
form and that party in the South had questioned
the soundness of that platform.
Col. HAYNES commended in glowing terms the ac
| ton of Virginia in regard to the Harper's Ferry
! foray. The mother of Presidents had set a noble
example in this respect.
! Col. HAYNES then passed in rapid review the his
tory of political parties for the last twenty years,
showing by indsputable facts and figures, that tie
| growth of the Black Republican party, which Col
PEYToN attributed to the disuniOnis:s, has been at
the expense of the party parties opposed to the
Democratic; while the hitter had steadily gained in
strength the other parties had only lost theirs
| but even their names had ceased to exist.
The Democratic party the only party to save
the Union. He did not deny that the will of the OPP
| position to save the Union good, but where is
their power? The strength of this party amounted
to Just twentyfour in the House of Representatives,
and to only one in the Senate The party with this
array of strength was put forward to save the
| Union.
In regard to DOUGLAS, lie had but little to say
He did not see where he had any strength-certanly
not in Tennessee. In East Tennessee, from whence
he hailed, the Democracy were harmoniously
united on BRECKENRIDGE and LANE they ever were
for any candidate, and Mr. DOUGLAS would get less
vote there scarcely cOrporals guard) than in any
other portion of the State. Mr.. DOUGLAS originally
bad bvtb 4
ness were unwilling to cast their votes as to aid
BELL.
Col. HAYNES dissection of Mr.. BELLS record was
a masterpiece of workmanship, and the way the OPP
position men WINGED under it, told how effectively
it was done. Even Col PEYToN could not remain |
quiet under the calling exposure of the unreliaby
and untrustworthiness of his candidate.
But cannot notice half the good points made |
by Col. HAYNES He closed his speech with q |
thriingly eloquent euiogy upon BREcKINRIDGE and |
LANE. They are sound, safe and reliable, and in |
their hands the Union will stand firm as the Rock
of Gibraltar, and he appealed to the Democrats of
Franklin county, by the memory of their past vic
tories and their devotion to Democratic principles,
to rally as one man to this ticket and to give no
vote so as to benefit the Opposition.
Maj Polk, tile DOUGLAS elector, then took the
stand and the only percepuble difference IN the lew
remarks he made and those of Col. PEYToN, YVES
that he accused Mr.. BELL of being opposed to the
Mexican war Mai. Polk was very unwell, and
spoke only half an hourl
You may rest assured that Col. HAYNES achieved
most brilliant victory to-day.
The debate was conducted with the greatest cour-
tesy on all sides.
Well informed men say there are not more than
twenty DOUGLAS men in Franklin county, and that
they will gain as many from the Opposition as DOUG
LAS will take off SEwANEE. |
Speaking ut SOmeryille.
SoMERvuLE, Tenn. Aug. 29th, 1850.
Yesterday, 2Sth, instant, was day long to be re-
membered by the true democracy of Fayette. Gov.
HARRIS. NICHOLSON and EWING spoke to the Demo-
cracy. Gov. HARRIS made the most powerful
speech of his life. NICHOLSON and EWING made
powerful speeches. Things look rather gloomy for
NNr