Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-06
FOR GOVERNOR,
ISHAM G.. HARRIS.
OF SHELBY.
our - New Auies.,,


duty, we have announced ourselves in favor
of the reelection of Gov. HARRIS to the Office
Of Governor of this State in preference to the
election of w. III. Polk. Because Of this an
nouncement we are charged, indirectly, with
an abandonment of the principles which have
heretofore governed our political course, and
with espousing the cause of our ancient pO-
-itieaI enemies. the democracy. With this
supposed change it Is also charged that, as
political journalists, We have adopted the
mode of journalistic warfare. not always the
most fair, that may have. ut one time or an-
other, characterized some of the organs of
that party. This charge also emanates from
our former political friends We are sa,is6-
ed that no personal imputatiOn against the
conductors of this Journal is intended: but
inasmuch as the tendency of such allegations
is 10 weaken the confidence OF those who have
in times past relied upon Us, and to impair
any influence which our treatment of poIiti-
cal subjects may have secured for this paper,
We deem it bat justice to ourselves and our
readers to repel these charges by brief. re-
spectfuI hut unequivocsl denial. Not i'm
modesily, we believe we have some right to
be proud of the position the Nashville PA
TRIor holds in the public estimation; but il
is source of infinitely greater qualification
that whatever confidence is reposed in it is
founded on the fact that it has endeavoFed
always TO pursue a straightforward and up
right course, neither turning to the right nor
the left, either for men or parties. Ia doing
so it has encountered the opposition, not I'M
frequently, of the most sialwart men of its
own party. 1t has not hesitated to oppose
any measure which it deemed inimical to the
best interests of the country, though such
opposition brought it in conflict with the
most distin guisbed in the list of its own lead
ers. 1t has ever looked to principles aud re-
suits, and in pursuit of honest aud sincere
convictions of duty, it bas felt strong and
proven strong. Its strength, however, was
derived from the united body of its intelli-
gent and patriotic readers and patrons, with
out which it would have been little. 1t is
now endeavoring to pursue the same line of
duty. In doing so it accords most heartily
the same right to all Others, without impugn-
ing motives, or impeachiug the honesty of
any one We stand new where we have ever
stood, nauatis n.uandls, and this we are ready
TO verify.
Immediately on the result of the Presden-
tial election in November, after struggle
worthy of more fortunate termination, we
said that parties were at an end in the South.
or ought to be. On the issue presented on
the 9th February, we enforced this idea with
all our power and we had the pleasure to
see parties in measure then abandoned, and
an overwhelming majority of the people unite
together In one view and one act. On the |
sth June, the Issues were reversed by the |
enemies of Constitutional liberty, not by our |
own people, and we still contended that par
ties were dead and buried, and the patriot |
must alone show himself at the ballot box
and We had the pleasure of seeing the action
of the State, not reversed. but by similar
majority seeking out of the Union that liberty
of which it was deprived in the Federal
Union. None were more thoroughly identi-
fed with US throughout this whole tine than
those who now bring the charges above re-
ferred to against US
We have now to elect Governor, and we
have difference. We are willing to concede,
on our part, that it is an honest difference.
So long as we were for abstract principles |
and measures, We were agreed !; but as soon
as there is an opportunity offered for men to
play an ambitious part. differences spring and
grow 1t is well for the people to consider
this fact Men are prone to go great lengths
for principle, and they often think they are
for great principles, when it may be that they
are only helping other men to Office at the
expense of principle. Ambitious leaders,
thrust forward, sometimes by their own agen-
have great deal more to do with popular
action than we often imagine. We only state
this as a general fact. But, the long and |
short of it is, that we want a Governor who
has the inclination and the ability to sustain |
the State in the position it assumed on the !
sth of June. The PATRIOT did not assume TO
dictate aeho should be the man. 1t had no
power of that sort. 1t had its preference
from the first, and that preference was neither
for Gov HARRIS, nor Mr. Polk; but we could
not arrogate to set up either or another. The
progress of events presented to US choice
between these two. That choice is known.
We shall labor from now till the election for
Gov. HARRIS, for the simple reason that we
regard him as infinitely the better man of the
two. and altogether reliable. Now, who are
our "new allies" We are with all these,
whether democrats or opposition men, who
voted with us on the 9Th June, and who be-
lieye Gov HARRIS is better agent to sustain
that vote than Mr.. Polk. If our support OF
Gov. HARRIS allies US with the democracy,
what alliance does the support of Mr. Polk
involve? Are we expected to go into the
mast political career OF Mr.. Polk who has de-
nounced the opposition to democracy in more
hitter terms perhaps than any other man in
the State, to show who are the ''new allies"
of those who support him and previously ac-
corded with US? If so, we are ready for the
task. five are not expected to do this, we
suggest that this branch of the
subject of new alliances rest. There is an
other branch of the subject to which we shall
call attention at another time. For the pres
emit we desire to state that our 'new allies"
are only those who favor the maintenance of
the perpetual independence we have assumed,
and will select such agents as are capable
a nd willing to do 30. So much for our new
allies"
T,,S FousparroSs OF THE Polk Panty
What ars thew? Demonstrations of Gov. HAIR
Rrs nv the Lincolnite demagogues and trail
tors in East Tennessee, as king HARRIS u