Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-05-29
Important Letter from the General
10 his Late Comrades and Friends.

The following letter, dated Nash
vile, May Is, is printed in the Mem
phis Avalanche, of the Goth instant
An influence is at work i'm this
State, as l have discovered since my
recent departure from Memphis, to
preclude any participation by the late
Confederate. soldiers in the coming
convention of the Democracy of Ten
ncssee, to be held at Nashville on the
9th of June, and in the National
Democratic Convention, to be held in
New York on the 4th of July.
1t does not amount to purpose to
arbitrarily do this thing but is felt in
efforts to induce every one who took
any part in the struggle of the Con
federacy for independence, to decline
attending at these assemblies, upon
pretended grounds of eXpediency, and
TO submit the representation of Ten
nessee at New York to men who were
known to be for the Union. Is
Upon consultation with many of
my late associates in the war, have
concluded to advise against any fur
ther emasculation of ourselves in the
"
We are already sufficiently proscrib-
ed in the conStitution and statutes
which now govern the State, against
our consent, the prescription of which
have, through the mendacious hOstil-
ity of our legislative enemies, been
added to time and again, until now
we barely live under the accumulated
weight of Acknowledgement and OPP
preston. Shall we super-add, by our
own action, to those prescriptions and
eXorcisms of ourselves from all par
ticipations in the assemblies of the
State and National Democracy, and
publish to the world that we are too
unworthy to intrude ourselves into
the councils of the party? The Ma
L,tional Democratic party, through its
committee, has invited US to take
part in the convention which is to as.
semble at New York on the 4th of
July. 1t prescribes no test Oaths, nc
qualifications dependent upon the
part we have taken in the late war
but, like true constitutional party
ii opens its doors and invites all who
may choose TO come, without refer
ence to the past. To suggest then in
answer to so catholic an invitation
that we who are the true representa-.
tivcs of the greaterportion of the con
stitutiOnal men of the State feel our
selves unworthy to soil the delibera
tions of that convention with our pres
ence, would exhibit usi in an attitude O.
servile degradation, that | trust W,
have not reached yet. In this view o
the ease, then, it Is my advice (giver
Of It.t,
reluctance which is avcrse to any per
sonal display of myself in matter OF
this kind to all my comrades to par
ticlpate in the county meetings, ant
TO send up full delegations to Nash
willie on the 9th of June, composed OF
good and true men, without referenc,
to the divisions which We're made b,
the war.
The only hope of a restoration of
good government in this country is II
the success of the National Democra
Icy in the next Presidential campaign
trust my late comrades will not
from eXpediency or other motives, alb
sent themselves from participation
; In the political exercises which are {,
result in choice of standard bearers
made with view to SO patriotic an,
desirable an end. So far rs | am per
sonally concerned, have no desire I,
take part in politics, nor TO occup,
. any political position whatever; bu
| do not wish To see my State repre-
sented by men whose only claim {,
public favor is the dextority witt
which they took either side of tn
: question in the late war, as interes
, dictated, and who bank upon it a
, their only capital for popular support
n. B. FORREST.