Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-10-09
THE CANVASS.
From MACON Cnuntx.

GOOSE CREEK, Tenn, OCTOBER z, 1ooV.
EDITORS OF UNION AND AMERIcAN-G Gentlemen: On |
was at Lafayette, in Macon county, to |
hear the Hon. VIM. B. Stokes and W. II. Dewitt |
speak And it being County Court day, there was |
very large crowd present and by agreement they
divided time with NJ. N Alexander, Breckinr1dge
and Lane Elector for Macon county. Col. Stokes
led off in speech of one hour and half lie trst,
in a very few remarks alluded to Lincoln and his
chances for election, and said it was the duty OF
every conservative man to rally around Bell in or
der to beat Lincoln. He then dropped Lincoln and
pitched into Yancey and RheH, and occupied the
largest part of his time in denouncing them and
few others as disunionists and that they going
to break up this Government. He opposed Brock
inridge and Lane because they were supported by
such men as Yancey and were thereby in bad COM
pany he said he did not think Breckenridge and
Lane disunionsts and spoke of Lane as Honest old
Joe. But he preferred Douglas to Breckenridge,
because he was clear, straight out Union man, and
would have nothing to do with disuniOnsts and Sc
cessionists, and that the Union in great danger,
and the only way to save it is by fusion of the
Bell and Douglas parties to beat Breckenridge and
Lincoln, and further than that he did not tell the
people solitary thing that they might rely upon
or expect from Bell if elected, and wound up his
speech by telling the people what he saw, heard,
and did while in Congress.
Alexander followed, and the Democracy had some
doubts as to whether he would sustain himself.
owing to the fact that it was among his first efforts
in political speaking; yet he is good lawyer and
understands how to argue cause at the bar, but
he exceeded our expectations and to our astonish-
ment he held Stokes and Demit hot until SHUTDOWN
although e by the lateness of the evening" was cut
off from reply to Col. Dewitt, they gained nothing
off him. Alexander called upon Stokes to know
why all these professions of love for Douglas and
his party: was it because he endorsed Squatter
Sovereignty? And for him to tell the crowd his po-
stion on that question The Colonel arose and stated
that he was opposed to the doctrine, and ever had
been. Alexander then asked him to take position
upon the question of protection by the Federal Gov
ernment of slave property in the Territories. The
Colonel stated that he in favor of the interven-
ton of Congress when necessary, not to establish
rights, but to guard and protect rights which are
established, sIdUe property included But not word
did he say as to the position of John Belly Then,
said Alexander, upon what principle do you expect
to fuse with Douglas? Can you mix oil and water
Now, said Alexander, when you canvassed this Dis
trict last year with Col Savage, you proclaimed it
upon every stump in the District that his (Savages)
vote on the Compensation bin ought to beat him for
Congress; now, if it ought to beat him for Congress
as odous thing as you said it was, ought it not to
beat John Bell for the Presidency? call upon you
to explain yourself inregard to your position then
and nou Stokes seemed little excited on that ques-
ton, and said every Democrat he met was speaking
at him about that; he said he ,oas opposed to John
Bell then and also noo for his vote on the Compensa
ton bill, but that other questions, more important
than that, would cause HIM TO vote for Bell He then
labored about half an hour to prove to the people
how he had:tried to get the law repealed but the
whole thing was a poor apology for his inconsis
tency. Mr.. ALEXANDER closed by appealing to the
people not to be any longer misled by political
tricsters and to let their motto be the Union the
Constitution and the equality of the States, and to
ask nothing more than their constitutional rights
and never condesceud to submit to anything less
and if these principles maintained that we would
have the same Constitution the same Union and the
same COntederacy, so long as there are people tC
inhabit the soil
The Democracy were well pleased with Alexan.
der's effort for the tive Bell orators were evidently
deceived in the man.
Col. Dewitt followed in lengthy speech. He
made no point, raised no issue with any one but
Yancey, but occupied most of his time in trying 10
kill off the effect of Alexanders argument by tell.
ing anecdotes and thereby keeping up continual
roar of laughter at his nonsense by the Bell-ites
assure you gentlemen, that the Democracy are all
right in Macon. l never saw Democrats more uni
ted and more at work in my life. l understand
that there only four Douglas men in Macon
county-twO Of them from the Democratic
ranks, one from New York, school teacher in La
fayette and the other is from the Opposition party
That is said to be certainly the Douglas strength in
the county. and one Opposition man is for Lincoln
straight.out 1t is confidently believed that the De-
mocracy will make gain in the county.
A DEMOCRAT