Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-08-25
Rich VALLEY, Bedford Co., Tenn.
August 18th, 1860.

Rich VALLEY, Bedford Co., Tenn,
August 18th, 1860.
EDITORS PATRIOT = Believing that the
friends of the Union are entitled TO all the
evidences accommodating over our country. of
the increasing interest confidence and zeal
that animate the friends of Bell and Everett,
and that they should serG to each other
words of greeting, have felt moved to give
them a brief report Though imperfect it may
be,) of discussion had the pleasure of list
ening to to-day, between Robt. Matthews,
Breckenridge delegate to Charleston and Bal
timore, and Col. Matt. Martin, bot Of Bed
ford county, but at Charity, in he demo-
cratic county of old Lincoln. Mr.. Mat
thews. though not accustomed 10 public
speaking, seems impelled, by the distracted
condition of his party, to rush to the rescue.
The .:unterrified' are having their apprehen-
sions aroused that mutIny must be abroad in
their camps, otherwise, the plain. sober old
men of the party would not attempt 20 play
the orator, and turn stump speakers in their
declining years. Mr.. Matthews speech at
Charity, | think, was his second effort and as
far as earnestness of manner aud vehement
gesticulation are concerned, he is not to be
complained Of He first attempted an ex-
PLANTATION and justification of his course as a
delegate-refused secession at Charleston,
but accepted it at Baltimore. That he failed,
Notwithstanding his labOrious efforts. TO
make his democratic friends comprehend the
reasons and appreciate his consistency, could
be read in every countenance.
After his failure in this, he commenced a
general onslaught upon Mr.. Bell; deprecated
in the most bewailing manner the divisions
in the South, and rendered to the Opposition
the simple and absurd advice to abandon
Bell aud Everett and unite en- Breckenridge
and Lane as the panacea for all our ills. His
appeals for union contrasted badly with his
account of the disruption of the great Ma
tional Democratic party; and the dependent
looks of his friends seemed to indicate the
idea that it is hopeless to expect union from
the Opposition, when we have sacrificed
union among ourselves for barren abstrac-
ton.
Col. Martin took the stand, and seeing that
the democrats had listened to Mr.. Matthews
more from courtesy, and a sort of sympathy
for his agoniZing manner, than for cOnvincing
argument and satisfactory explanations, pro-
ceeded at once to charge, prove and demon
strate that the clue to the disruption of the
democratic party was to be found in the fact,
t1at ultra-radical and reckless men had
wrought it for the purpose of dissolving our
glorious Union.
Col. Martin submitted such an ar
| ray of circumstances, facts and arguments,
Snd patriotic strain, that the audience
seemed to be held spell-bound. For full two
hours he had the most undivided and re-
spectful attention ever saw paid an Oppo-
sition speaker in Lincoln county. 1t was ev-
ident that Col. Martin was showing and
proving to the democracy of Lincoln what
they had expected Mr. Matthews to do-the
causes that had broken up their once great
party. Mr.. Matthews explanation or excuse
for it seemed to excite pity and despair,
while Col. Martins calculation of the sub
ject excited establishment and indignation.
Among the disunion sayings, doings and
documents, Col. Martin read the letter of
John Mitchell, the Irish exile, recommending
his fellow countrymen to favor and support
the sectional parties of their respective Sec
tons, that the end for which he had labored
so long might be accomplishments: dis
union. Mr.. Matthews (who is also an Irish
MANI seemed, l hope l may say, NOR
tilted, at this evidence of disunion from his
Irish brother; and while, no doubt, he hon.
estly condemns the sentiment of his brother,
it is much to be regretted that he is treading
the path laid down in that letter to effect so
direful a purpose.
L am satisfied that much good was done,
and that old Lincoln, the home of honest G..
W. Jones, who did not approve of the seces-
sion at Charleston and Baltimore, will give a
vastly different report of herself than hereto
fore. FELIX.