Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-01-31
We arc sometimes asked, who is

We are sometimes asked, who is
our candidate for the Presidency.
Were we "cullud gemman," there
would be an entire fitness in the ques-
ton; but as we are only" poor white
trash" and without vote, it smacks
of sarcasm. Nevertheless as there is
no law, yet, against entertaining a
preference, we do not hesitate to say
ours is for Pendleton first and all the
time. Because he is statesman Of
large experience in public affairs and
/ enlarged views of the constitutional
rights of States and individuals,
with ability to discern the truth aud
integrity and moral courage to enforce
its teachings. In addition to these
high qualities and qualifications, he
is civilian.
The country is disguised with
shoulder straps and we look in vain
for one who wears them that has quail
iications higher than those which fit
them to play the part Of petty tyrants
and willing butchers of their fellow
men. West Point is not the school
for training statesmen, and if Han
cock he an exception, he is the only
one, and while we accord to him high
merit as soldier and patriot, we can
not forget that the camp is not the
nursery of wisdom and humanity,
liberty and political justice. A man.
feelings and opinions are, more or
less, determined by his vocation, and
he that is trained under the rigid
requirements of martial law, is apt
O. to believe that this discipline should
be enforced in the administration of
civil government, and to look upon
constitutions and laws that guarantee
the largest liberty compatible with
the enforcement Of law and order, as
Z licences for disorder and disobedience.
Besides tlfe bias given to the views
and feelings of the soldier, by his
training, his scholastic studies are not
of the kind to fit him for the bighel
duties of the citizen and the admin
istrator of civil government He
studies man as machine, rather than
n moral and intellectual being, as a
locomotive to he propelled By the ar
bitrary will of a superior officer, than
rs n man to be controlled by enlight-
cned views of his social and political
obligations to himself, his country
aud his neighbor. The people have
had enough Of the military, with its
iron dcspotism and demoralizing in
Aucnccs They want man skilled in
all that pertains to the successful ad-
ministration of our government as it
was framed by its founders and inter-
preted by Chief Justice Marshall, with
virtue and frmncss to enforce the
right, Such man is Mr.. Pendleton
and Therefore our preference,
We believe that every gentleman in
Tennessee will most cordially endorse
him, and all of that class, who can
vote will support him. And in order
that all such may have the opportu.
nifty to show their preference by their
votes the democrats of Tennessee,
should Immediately provide for their
representation in the National Con.
vention, organize thoroughly in the
State, with view to the concentra.
ton of their strength for an active
campaign, There must be nucleus
around which the disaffected and the
Disguised of the revolutionary party
may gather, and the more compact
the organization, the greater its pow
crs of attraction, as we'll as its efiici-
cncy for direct iuroads into the enc
my's country.