Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-16
The GubernatOrfaI Election.

EDITORS OF THE PATRIoT-I am glad to
see the noble stand you are taking for the
reelection OF Governor Harris. 1t was Just
the course that was expected from your able
and patriotic journal. Surely this is not the
time to ''give up to party what was meant
for mankiRd;" but we should sink the par
tisan in the patriot and act alone for our
country.
The writer has no wish to dsparage the
character or career of Mr.. Polk, nor to criti-
else his past political record. He places the
claims of Gov. Harris upon higher grounds
than that Tennessee, under his administra-
ton, has taken her position among the Con-
federate States by an unexampled majority.
1t will not be denied that by his forecast, his
energy and ability, and his untiring devotion
TO the cause, he has greatly contributed to
that result. He has in almost an incredibly
short time been able to bring out the resour-
ces of the State, both in men and money, to
sustain her in that position, and she is re-
garded with admiration by her sisters in the
Confederacy, for the efforts she has made to
sustain the cause of Southern independence.
All this has been accomplished under the
lead of Gov. Harris, aided, to be sure, by
able and patriotic men; and the whole coun-
try reposes with confidence upon his wisdom
and yigOr, that SO far as Tennessee is con-
cerned and the Executive has the power, sue
cess will crown her efforts. When the sky
is calm and there is an unruffle ed sea, take if
you will an inexperienced helmsman; but
when the heavens are black and the storm
RACES and the ship is tossing upon the bill
lows, take the old captain to pilot the ship
in safety. What would be thought of that
of the enemy, would remove gallant officer
that never lost battle and in whom his
troops had confidence that he would lead
them to victory? And yet that is the policy
that would now strike down Gov. Harris at
the very time when his services are most
needed by the country.
Every objection that has been made to
Gov. Harris has been met and answered by
able writers, and need not be here referred
to. He is constitutionally eligible to the Of
fee; the country demands his services and
that is enough.
The writer, as you are aware, has never
been supporter of Gov. Harris; but look
ing alone to the interests of Tennessee and
the success of this great Southern movement
with which Gov. Harris is thoroughly iden-
titled, to his superior administrative ability,
his tried patriotism, his enlarged experience,
bis thorough knowledge of all the duties of
his Office and the interests of the State, and
his general efficiency and vigor. he feels it
now to be high and patriotic duty not to
withhold his support, feeble as it is.
Gov. Harris is more bated as well as feared
by that arch traitor, Andrew johnson, and
his co-conspirators and the whole Lincoln
Government than any other man in Tennes-
see; and while his failure would weaken the
cause of Southern independence, his success
would give strength to it and show to the
world that Tennessee had taken her stand in
the Southern Confederacy upon principle,
never to be driven from it till our indepen-
dence is established and we have become one
of the nations of the earth.
Gallatin, 18th July, 1861.