Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-30
Gov. JohnsOn,s speeeh-A MissPprehen.
sTen Corrected.

In his speech on Broad street on Thursday night
Gov JOHNSON referred to the mistakes of the lead
ers of the Democratic party as the cause of the
dissension and division of the party at Charleston
and Baltimore. He condemned the secession at
Charleston, and proclaimed that no man could say
that he responsible for it, At the same time be
declared his cordial concurrence with the platform
relative to the doctrine of Congressional protection
to property in the Territories when necessary, and
enforced the claims of BRECKENRIDGE and LANE upon
the Democracy Of Tennessee with all the arguments
and eloquenee of which he is master declaring that
ninetenths Of the Democracy of the State are their
supporters Gov. Johnson said that it was for the
people to heal up the divisions and rectify the mis-
takes of the leaders, and he emphatcally indicated
that the way to do this was to cast their surages
for BRECKENRIDGE and LANE-the nominees of the
seeding delegates. The Governor indicated his
uniform and unchanging confidence in the people at
all times to do right and in that connection made
some general remarks about the traps sometimes
set by leaders, which he said he always managed to
turn upon those who used them.
This language of Gov. JOHNSON has been construed
by of the Opposition to be assault upon the
action of the Tennessee delegation at Charleston and
Baltimore. We did not so construe it and do not
now believe that such an assault was designed.
Col PEYTON in the discussion on Friday, so con-
strued it. though he spoke from report and charae-
terZed it as chastisement or castigation, by the
Governor, of Tennessee delegates. Our reasons for
not so regarding it l. That theTennessee delegates
did not secede from the Convention at Charleston,
where Gov. JOHNSON says they might best have eff
fected their object by remaining in the Convention
2. That Gov ]. did not express any opinion to the
propriety Of the secession at Baltimore when the
Tennessee delegates did withdraw, that we remenl-
Der, merely remarng, in passing that the secession
then was caused by question of organization or
detail And s. Governor JOHNSON heartily, cordial
ly and actively supports the action of the seeding
delegates. PLATFORM candidates and all, and is now
making an active canvass for the purpose of adyanc
ing the cause advocated by the Tennessee delegates,
and Of supporting the platform and electng the
candidates put forth by them.
At the time Gov. JOHNSON made his speech we did
not dream that he designed to cast any imputaton
upon those with whom he snow Identified cordially
in sentiment and in action and that we think he
ndulgng only in remarks preudicia to party leaders
generally and with view to declare his disapprOba-
ton of the secession from the Convention at Charles
ton. To suppose otherwise is to do violence to the
the well-known position of the Governor in the
present canvass, and to impute tc him desire to
cast censure upon gentlemen covertly and Joy innu-
endo, with whose sentiments he concurs and whose
platform and candidates he is supporting, rather
than to attack their action in open, manly and
direct manner. Gov. JoHNsoN's whole history
proves, that when he wishes to assa1 he dees so
directly and not indirectly. Hence never, for a
moment, supposed any such 'castigadOn," as has
been charged. until it suggested by the Cover
nor's and the Tennessee Delegates common political
enemy and gloried in by them. And we do nOtnoW
believe that such is just liberal construction,
and never shall until he so declares himself.