Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-07-19
CL A r X SVILIE.
Friday, July 18th, 1851.


that the rivalry is calling forth so many
manifestations of the heated partizanship
of other days. Could we see in the histO-
~ of Col. Polk satisfactory assurances of
superior intellectual capacity, and of an
integrity proof against the temptations of
favoritism and past political afinities-did
we believe him as conversant as Gov. Har-
ris with the progress of the revolution and
better qualified to direct the complex
movements so essential to ultimate success,
we would urge his election as public ne
cessity. But possessing DO such assuran-
ces, we are disinclined to an experiment at
tended with imminent hazards and holding
out no reliable promise of change for
the better. And superadded to these rea-
sons why the present incumbent should not
be superseded by his only competitor, we
insist that nothing can be mere detrimen-
tai to the public interests, at this juncture,
than the want of harmony consequent up
on the contest between rival parties.
It is true the friends of Col. Polk argue
that harmony eau only be secured by the
defeat of Gov. Harris, and that his success
viii effectually ALLEVIATE East Tennessee
The force of such logic we can not appre
ciate, nor can we Suppose that the people
of that end of the State possess so little
madness of spirit and purpose as to suf-
fer their policy to be determined by so tri-
vial 4 circumstance as the election of this
or that man The ground of their discon-
tentis devotion to the old Union--a pref
cronce for the abolitionized government at
Washington, over a union with the Con
federate States and do the friends of Col
Polk propose to conciliate them by holding
out the idea that his election promises a
reconstruction of the Union If this is
not the idea, why harp upon the Union ma
iority of February? If this is not the
idea, how else can the election of Col. Polk
conciliate East Tennessee? Oh, he is pop
ular there, and Gov. Harris is not This
NAV be true but if the determination of
East Tennessee to resist the will of the ma
jority is based upon principle, it matters
not TO the people of that section who may
be elected Governor, whilst it is of vital
Importance to Middle and West Tennessee
that they look to their own interests, East
Tennessee voted upon the question of sep
aratidn, and, in doing so, bound itself in
honor to submit to the decision of the ma
jority; but that decision being adverse to
its wishes, the implied pledge of honor ia
is called upon to reward such Punic faith
by seeking means Of Cancellation instead OF
looking to the great interests involved in
the struggle for independence
viii the election of Col. Polk carry the
Union? If so, we can see a motive for an
attempt at the revival of the Union party
and a reversal of the late act Of separation
and the Cancellation of that party in East
Tennessee. But if his election can have
no such effect it is grossly illogical to con
tend that it can concliate East Tennessee
and very unwise to make such an assump
ton the basis Of action at a time when SC
much may be lost aud So little gained /
the people of East Tennessee are honest il
their rebellion against the viii of the ma
jorty, nothing less can satisfy them thar
the return Of the whole State to its allogi
ance to Lincoln, or the erection of that sec
ton into separate State Will the friend
Of Col. Polk concede the former and i
not can they produce satisfactory assuran
ces that the East Teunessceans will forog,
the latter, provided Col Polk is not elect
ed? Upon this point turns the who'll
question Of cancellation aud we shout,
eoutcmn the opponents of Gov. Harris di,
we believe them capable of contemplltin,
such concession as much as we would de
spise the ilust Tcnncs,ccms could they b.
bought oG hy SO smil consideration n
the choice between thc two candidates 70
Governor But the whole controversy. 81
this point, is ia bad tu~e--uuworthy at In
propDc and the occasion Let East Ten
nossee alone Patriotism /, not cxtiuc
there, aud tho teachings of Andy Johuso
will yield 10 wiser couusels and more en-
lightencd views when a sober second tho
succeeds the tempest Of passion aroused b
the few ambitious traitors who have hccI