Tri-weekly union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-186?, 1866-10-27
VOLUME XXXIII
THE DUTY OF Davidson COUNTY
CONSERVATIVES.

often reminded Of their duty to beshr them
selves. and see that their candidate is sup
ported by the full Conservative strength.
The factions minority are alert and enter
prisinp. and adroit withal. They intend to
omit no effort to reduce the Conservative
majority, and, If possible, through the apathy
of the majority, born Of overweening conh-
dence. to secure his election. We do not
imagine for a moment the possibility OF this
last result, but every thing is to be gained
by vigilance and zeal, while something OF
importance might be sacrificed by supine-
ness and Indifference Several Of the sur
rounding counties have, in the past few
weeks, afforded ample warning in relation
to this matter. The security felt by the
Conservatives Of Bedford in the strength OF
their candidate, permitted the election
to lapse in favor Of the Radical can
! didate-a large number of the registered
Conservatives having failed to vote. The
same result, and from a similar cause, is pre-
scented from Smith county. In franklin
county, we learn that the Radical candidate
is preparing TO contest the seat Of Mr..
LoUGHnLLER, the Conservative Represen-
tatiye elect, on the grounds Of informality in
the qualification Of election officers in a ma
iOrity Of the districts. All these flow from
a negligence and apathy on the part Of Con-
seryatives, which, under the circumstances,
is little short of criminality. There is no
excuse for the failure to perform so obvious
duty as that Of voting to secure the cleo
ton Of sound and reliable Conservatives to
the Legislature of Tennessee. Every mem
Der gained gives that much hope
Of restraining the torrent of run-mad
radicalism which threatens to destroy
every imminent of constitutional liberty.
If men, whose dearest interests are involved,
become dispirited, and conclude to waive
further contest for the restoration Of con-
servative government, and remit them to
the rule of men incompetent to guide wisely
the conduct of affairs, it is not difficult to
prognosticate the future. Things will soon
reach an extremity from which there may
be no rescue but revolution, for men are but
men, and when they are brought face to face
with unbearable evils, they will seek to ex-
tricate themselves at any cost. This is a
result which no good man can look forward
to with composure, but which every wise
man must see is not improbable, the course
Of events is not altered. We. earnestly dep
recate il, and shall counsel no step to pre-
cipitate it. 1t is the object Of the conserva-
tive movement to avoid the consequences of
the misrule now paramount in the State
Government The lawful and proper mode
Of accomplishing this, is for every citizen
who discerns the danger and desires to avert
it, to vote into public offices men Of like
mind with himself, and TO give freely of his
time and attention to his political duties.
One vote at one election cannot be expected
to reform at once the mischief which has
come upon us, and is gradually encroaching.
We did not drift so far from the true course in
a single gale. We cannot expect to right
up and regain il by single effort, and should
not lose heart and lay down the oars be-
cause we do not On the contrary, the very
peril which lies ahead and in sight, should
nerve US TO constant and unrelaxing exer-
ton. We trust that if there is voter who
has suffered himself to become Indifferent Va
Respondent in regard to political matters,
or to regard his active personal participa-
ton in the coming election, as useless, he
will dismiss such thoughts and address him
self vigorously and manfully to the duty be-
fore him.
These suggestions are applicable wherever
there is an election pending, but in the out
set they were more specially intended for
this county. We caution every election
officer to qualify himself under the strict
letter of the law, and leave no room to cavil.
Radical artifce has constructed a number Of
pitfalls in the Franchise Law to involve
the people in doubts, and loopholes through
which TO escape their judgment, and defeat
their will. Let them all be watched, and
let every man Fote pump wa NiAN MUMMY
who represents conservatism. No amount
of personal worthiness is sufficient to com
mend man to a conservative voter, who has
the smell Of radicalism on his garments, or
de6les himself with the adoption of a po-
ltics so destructive to the best interests of
society. In the person of JNo. LELLYErT, the
candidate in this county, we have a man
against whom nothing can be urged on
the score Of competency, integrity or true
devotion to conservative principles. His
Unionisra in war, in peace, in clouds and
and in sunshine, has ever been the same
thing-a steadfast belief in the doctrines Of
the Constitution. uamixed with the baser
matter which allays the latter-day "loyalty"
Of those whose records frequently show that
when it required mettle to uphold the cause
Of the Union, they equivocated, If they did
not like the recreant PETER, deny it alto
gether. In his demeanor he has never
shown rancor to those who differed with him,
as he does notseeSn know to stigmatize them with
epithets, and prescribe them with dishonor-
ing and oppressive exactions. He is true
reflector Of conservatism, and in his legisla
tiv,, cargpr will iusifv all that Is said of him