The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1867-04-27
Emerson Etheridge for Governor.

emerson Ether10ge Tor Governor.
The people Of Tennessee, and, indeed, of
the whole country, are so familiar with the
name and fame of the distinguished Con
servative nominee for GopernOr, that it Is
unnecessary to do more than announce the
fact that he has been made the standard
bearer, to give assurance, that IN this con-
test for the restoration of republican gov
ernmeDt they have a capital worthy of the
cause-One who viii valiantiy maintain it
on every feld-one, who IN political combat,
neither begs through fear, nor comedies
througI favor-One whose vigOr of attack
leaves defense out of the question-whO Is
aggressive eminentlv-a real COIT de LION
of debate. When his name, as the cham
pion of the Constitution and conservatism,
shall strike the ear of the chief official des-
pot of Tennessee at his home IN Knoxville,
he wilquake with fear and rage, as did the
guilty Richard when Stanley smOte him
with the message" Richmond IS on the
seas" He viii feel it as a prestige of his
doom, and though it may nerve him to des-
peration and inspire his cohorts to a terrible
struggle, they will enter the lists knowing
that, with all the odds that an almost COM
plete equipment Of tyranny gives them,
they Will encounter loeman, triple-mailed
in truth, an5 host within himself They
know his power and mis- first cry of onset
will tame the audacity of their boldest and
spread doubt and dread through all their
ranks
Mr.. Etheridge is, we believe, a native of
North Carolina, though his whole life from
/ from youth, has been spent in this State, and
in that section where ne now resides. He
first entered public life as member of the
Legislature In l845, defeating the candidate
Of the opposition party IN the face of an
Overwhelming majority. He even then gave
evidence of the force of character and tai
entWhich has since matured him into one
of the most deXterous and powerful political
disputants that has ever appeared upon the
hustlngs IN this country In 1858 he was
elected to Congress and held the position
for two terms, during which time he
achieved a national reputation as one of the
most thoroughly informed public men of the
! time, and as skillful, courageous and elo-
quent DICTATOR He was one of the few mem
bers who always commanded the attention
of the House, and left that great theatre an
acknowledged master of every weapon in
the forensic encouragement invective, wit
and satire In 1857, he was defeated in
contest with Hon. j. d. G. Atkins, an able
and popular gentleman, result IN great
degree attributable to the over confidence
Of his friends But, two years afterwards,
he defeated the same opponent in one of the
| mott memorable contests ever waged in this
State, characterized, however, with knight
ly courtesy on both sides, equal to its ability
and ferceness.
1t was during this term of service that
the political troubles of the country culm&
mated in the civil war Mr. Eteridge's pre-
viOus public career had been one of stead
fast opposition to both of the mischievous
sectiOnaiisms whose collision had produced
that calamity His conviction of duty led
him to expouse the cause of the govern
ment, and with his accustomed boldness he
took that position, and throughout the strug-
gle maintained it with energy and fidelity
He was made Clerk of the House of Rep
resentatives in 1861, and in Washington
! city gave his whole personal and official in
Huence to the support of the a0ar for the
! Union He never, however, in a single act,
or for moment, forgot conservatism, or
sunk the character of the earnest patriot
into that of fanatic or radical He went
| 30 war to preserve and uphold the Constitu-
ton and the Government, and not to DESTROY
| and overthrow them IN a wild crusade
! against the rights and liberties Of the people
This is the position he occupies to-day before
/ the people Of tennessee as the unanimously
/ chosen candidate of the Conservative
4 masses 3ise clear intelligence detected the
\ frst manifestations of the demoniac E{1tli-
calism now rampant In. the country, even
/ before the close of the war, and it did not
elude his well directed blows. He has struck
at it in every guise and shape that it has as
sumed since; and now in the bold and ter
rife despotismit has declared, he confronts
1t as the accredited leader of the people of
! Tennessee.
We are assured that Mr. Etheridge will
promptly enter upon thorough canvass of
the State, and continue in the field until A u
gust The feeble health of his eompetitor.
of course, forbids any prospect of discussion
! between them, much to the regret of tie.
Conservatives y
He has but one political Inspiration. aad
that IS for his country and It's oeBstitutien
He has but one desire for lis people, and
that IS for their peace harmony, liberty and
prosperity. If they should turn againsb
him, they turn against the country and
themselves. To believe it Of them in adj
vance would be to suspect them of folly
and ingratitude that would be unjust. That
he viii be triumphantly elected we devoutly
pray and most confidently believe Union
and Dispatch