The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-09-01
Is he right, OF is he wrong 2-Let him

Is he right, OF is he wrong 2-Let him
Speak.
ME. EDTon: The question Of representa-
ton has been much bruited Of fate. Il is
generally the opinion now that every one
who pretends to political freedom must come
cut and give his neighbor the truth as to his
position. It is my intention to give you my
full aud free expression For years the two
wings Of this country futtered against each
other to the detriment of both That wing
who kept the Flag conquered; the other &C
knowledged It's defeat and the members of
the latter, accepting the terms offered came
home and have ever since been acting in
good faith to carry out their plighted word.
The returned Confederate soldiers can pre-
sent an unparalleled record of true faith
kept under the most aggravating circum-
stances and they can appeal with confidence
to the gentlemen of the Union portion of
our fellow citizens to prove this. As the late
rebels keep faith they desire that they at
least be allowed the protection Of their late
antagonists by being represented by the sen
sible, worthy members of their party How
is it now in this county Is the person now
pretending to be representative from this
county worthy of holding the position2 has
his course been such as to merit the conf
dence Of the Union men or to allay the just
fears of the helpless returned Confederates
He said himself that he was sent to the
Legislature by a small number of soldiers
ho1o -,
ment, Col Hurst commanding; that they
were the only Union element in this county
who could give expression to their senti-
ments at the time he was elected 1t being
in revolutionary times, their action may be
overlooked-but what excuse can this man
give for holding his office after peace returned
! and when every Union man could vote and
express his opinion without fear or hinder
ment ?-can he claim to be the choice of the
conservative gentlemen of Hardeman who
have always been the true friends Of the T.
S. Government? By what right does he
claim to be more worthy than those who
were born here to represent US in our State
deliberative body? Is the fact that he is Of
alien birth, not known to any number Of our
people, sufficient to make him the most proper
man in Hardeman, or does he think because
he played fast and loose until the strongest
side was patent, entities him to be the fit rep
! resentatiye of Hardeman' s Union gentlemen
1t is enough to stir the Indignation of all
! conservatives to see this person, unknown to
! the citizens of the county, without any tai
1oG.
the Union party composed of such meI, as
| Harriss, Crawford, McCarley and others VTor-
! thy to be trusted, and known by all people.
How long are the gentlemen of the Govern
ment going to submit to this misrepresenta-
ton? If we are never more to have the
privilege of voice in the choice of our
county representative, at least let one of the
men whose loyalty is without reproach, take
the Office IF Is or IA soldiers of a regiment
now out of service, could elect legislator,
certainly the hundreds of conservative Union
men can sec that he does his duty or quits
his place. His vote against the passage of
the odious Franchis Law was only a catch,
because his whole course of action, all his
words before this vote, goes to prove he was
in favor of it. He cannot convince people of
his conservatism when he stands forward as
the mouth-piece of radicalism and is the ia
vorite of the organs whose leaders display
more treason than ever did the most ultra
sheet in South Carolina IF he wishes to
prove that he is Patriotic, let him resign his
seat and come before the people like fear
less man; if they elect him there viii be no
doubt as to his position; if they repudiate
him, there will still be a certainty, and he
will only have to return to that position OF
insignifcance that he occupied before the
rebellion, and from which he was raised by
the fortuitous Giro umstance of being associ
ated with Union men who were brave enough
to fight for themselves and him too
If General W. J. Smith is the man he pre-
tends to be, let him come before the people
and submit to their decision. BY the PEG
pie, we mean those who are now, and have
ever been, unwayering in their adhesion
to the Government G.