Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-16

districts, whether by the retiring of the BREoKN-
RIDGE or DouGLAs Electors. my proposition (as VIII
be SEEM is entirely silent Ny proposing to retire
in this district mere matter of courtesy, and
for the purpose of proving that was acting in en-
tire good faith. In the other districts my under
standing was that in some the BRECKENRIDGE elector
was to retire. and in some the DOUGLAS elector and
| in this way make the ticket a unit without doing
injustice 70 any one. am very well satisfied that
this was the understanding Of some BREcKINRiDGE
Democrats in high places Ny proposition was
made without any consultation with the other
DOUGLAS electors, and as matter OF course woulu
make no proposition that compromised their rights
in any way, as l am sure have not done when
fairly read and legitimately construed
see that my proposition has been accepted "
the BEEcKrYRIDGE State Central Committee at Nash
VILE and believe every one of the twelve bR1Ck-
rSRDGE electors and although there is little mis-
understanding in reference TO the purport OF my
proposition in regard to the withdrawal OF the
DoUGIAs ticket yet, that can make no sort OF dii
ference in the practical result, and as regard the
union of the two wings of the Democracy Tor
common purpose, as consideration OF paramount
importance to the peculiar whims of any man-and
as nv Judgment fully endorses the basis OF adjust
ment as set forth in my proposition and believing
that the BRECKNRTDGE electors will cast the vote OF
Tennessee if elected according to the proposition,
retire from the canvass DOUGLAS elector in this
district. on the faith of the pledges given by the
BREcKINRIDGE electors in their respective cards pub
lshed in the UNION AND AMERICAN. g
Again it is said in reference to my proposition,
that at Is a trick II comes from GreeneUiAe
Now it so happens that live in this political Naza-
areth out of tohich nothing good come 1t is surely
my misfortune, and not my fault-since no man has
the power to control the circumstances under
which, or the place where he shall be born. lsup-
pose however, that the pithy and significant Ian
guage is a trick 1t comes from GreenURe," Is
intended more as an allusion to Gov. JOHNSON than
myself 1t seems that this base attempt to detraud
the Douglas men in Tennessee (as some OF the WIRE
pullers say attributed to the fact acted by oena
tors JOHNSON and NICHOLSON while | am made the
mere medium through which this vile lniqulty and
abomination, which according to their say so,
% smells TO heduen" is made manifest 1t has been
, the policy to denounce them, and commserate and
: sympathize with me- on the ground that l was not
up to the intrigues of political, Senatorial wTe-
workers. being young, inexperienced and cOnfding
Now can assure those who such language,
Sore-beaded trckSterS about Nashville and Memphis,
: that am not so young as they might suppose, Of
= you call IS years old anything) and so far as IN
triguing and wire-pulling is concerned have some
I little reputation n that line myself. However
> without playing upon words and in justice to my
self and Senators Johnson and NICHOLSON. | must
> say that so far as my, proposition is concerned,
= alone am responsible and l alone am entitled to
the paternity. The proposition made by me was
: every word written by my own hand and dictated
alone by the promptings of my own brain, and when
submitted to them they did not suggest the altera-
= ton of a single word. They offered no inducement
to me- las has been basely charged) present pros
u pectivc, political or pecuniary, help ms God; and
j the insinuations that l have boon briJed to do
/ what have done in this matter are as false as he'll.
care not where these insinuations come from,
whether from political SoreheIds and pothy1nouhed
stump orators. or from BelLDoglas Editors ,rho may
happen 10 haze charge ca Ueal press 'cho hare basey
{ sold themselves to John Bell by abandonment Of
Judge Douglas. boldly assertthat the rejection of
my proposition is just saying to the country and to
the people of Tennessee. that We would rather sell
out the State to JonN BELL than give Mr. DoUGLAs
|
of the rejection, and no human ingenuity dodge
the point, escape the force of this conclusion.
And now once for all in reference the charge OF
bribery against me, have only to say. that it IS
vile SANDER to say that Senator Johnson and Nicho
son arc corrupt enough to offer bride, and it is
= damnabe SANDER to say, that am corrupt enough
accept it, and challenge any man in the State, or
i out of it. to make this charge good.
1t seems to me however, the strangest thing con-
nected with this TRADE against the fact that
IS should be the subject of criticism and denun
citation the hands OF BELL Editors and stump ora
tors What they have got TO do with this family DIFF
iculty in the Democratic party for the life of me
IF cannot tell When the Democracy first divided at
N Charleston and Baltimore. these Opposition n,
: seemed greatly exercised over the disruption vi
&c what they admitted was Ma tina perry and nov
when we are making honest efforts to unite the par
ty again they inerposing every obstacle IN their
power and offering up devout prayers thai the
s breach may be dsspened and 1oidened Great God
lie what duplicity! What downright base and hollow
1t hypocracyl Indeed have sometimes thought that
n the Almighty in his wisdom, then in his anger
10 had cursed this Opposition party with blindness to
L. the end, in the language of Scripture that they
Is may lcorl out their damnatoa with greedinsss
e 1t well known this party have been sympAthsing
1t with Judge DOUGLAS in order give him strength
in Tennessee and instead of their sympathy having
C. the desired effect, firmly believe Judge DoUGLAs
II would have been ten thousand eotes stronger iu Ten
nessee to-day, if from the day of his nomination he
u had received their bitter denunciatiOns instead Of
4 their sympathy and adulstions.
g Imust however close this communication, and
desire to do by expressing my decided preference
: for Judge DOUGLAS for the Presidency 10 any
e now before the American people. believe him to
# be sound Democrat and national in the highest
sense of the term, and the only that had the
availability to defeat Mp LINCOLN. But divided
y the Democratic party is in Tennessee, can see no
II chance to carry Tennessee for him on an indepen-
r dent ticket and therefore disposed to take the
best chances for my favore that the circumstances
will admit Of Believing the best and only chance
IS for him to be in the proposition made l. therefore,
IS retire from the upon that proposition, and
J ask every DOUGLAS in the State to consider it
: well and act in view of the best interests of
o candidate If that is to vote for the compromise
: ticket, feel satisfied You will act accordingly.
II sincerely hope that no man will see proper to
It inpugn the motives that have induced me to take
n this course However, let the responsibility be
e what it may. have determined to assume it. and
e leave it fer time decide the issues between us.
: have never felt the convictions of right sensi
bly, than at present, and whether 90 up or d0o0D,
: "sinL or Sgi1. lire die, SurUiCe or perish" the
whole matter Is with God and the country, and
l. await the issue. JAMES BRITToN, JR.
Greeneyillo, Oct 18th, 1860
: Haynes, Peyton and Mccain In BSans.
! Eds. UNION AND AMERICAN-DeIr SuS If were
disposed to deal the scale of exaggeration no OPP