Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-09
TO THE EDITOR OF THE BANNER.

the ticket and support it for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency" Y FITT =
l must express my regret that Won sbould
complain of the course which have
thought proper to adopt for the yindica-
uon OF my character against charge
winch, If true, ought to have consigned my
name to lasting infamy. You say, on this
point, HE will pardon us, however, for
the suggestion, that it would have been in
better taste, perhaps, to have made the re-
quest OF US in person, rather than through
the columns Of another newspaper" /
confess that this does a little surprise me.
since it must have been known 10 Won at
the time of writing it, that Immediately on
my learning ofthe existence of tbecalumny.
l went to your Office, in company with the
gentleman on whose authority this arrange
rumor had been put in circulation, for the
purpose of courteously demanding that ex-
PLANTATION at your hands to which / felt my
self entitled. ] found you absent aud
could not learn when you would get home.
therefore lost no time in endeayoring. as
far az l could, without your aid, TO defend
my own reputation. In regard 10 the
charge Of my having violated the rules
of good taste" in this affair. I shall
only say that | have no inclination 10
dispute with the editor Of the Bonner in
reference to a mere matter of taste: de oilsti-
bus non disputdndum est ; when | heard of
this tlagitious accusation l did not have
recourse TO Alison, to Blair, or Burke for
the purpose of ascertaining how far the
course which contemplated taking would
be IN accordance with Lhe principles of
esthetiCs. | determined to do Justice at
once to my own character as a man of sim
certify and truth, and did not choose to be
the subject of censure and ridicule all over
the city, until the editor of the Banner
might chance to return to this vicinage,
and himself refute the SANDER to which /
had been subjected. Ny conduct on this
occasion has been at least in accordance
with my previous life have at no time,
for political or for other purposes, unjustly
accused any man. If on any occasion, i
have found fault with political friend, /
have done it TO his face and in his hearing,
and not clandestinely, behind his back /;
and it has been my rule in life to permit
no man Of respectable standing in society
TO reproach me unjustly, without bringing
him TO immediate responsibility, precisely
in such form as my own judgment dictated
to be most proper.
That / had some reason TO regard this
matter in serious light, you may infer
from the deep feeling of Indignation which
it awakened among my friends, az well as
from the import of the following letter,
which for several days past has been in my
possession .
NASHVILLE, Tenn, ---, 1865
Albert Roberts, ESQ, stated to me in pri-
vate conversation, in the editorial rooms of
the Banner office, at No. q Deaderick
street, up stairs, that Gov. FOote had asked
that the name of Grant and Colfax be put
at the head Of the Banner. .t
C. SCOTT SYMMEs.
Your denial Of the main charge against
me is full and satisfactory. What you
have thought proper to suggest in regard
to a certain interview which your suppose
me to have had with Mr.. Watterson,
though, perhaps, not designed to do me in
justice, if not responded to, might possibly
have that effect. You say: "Some time
previous to the nomination Of Grant and
COlfax, however, how long since we do
not remember, but believe it was when
Grant was Secretary of War, I'D IN
ter6R, Governor Foote did suggest to a
former editor Of this paper-now managing
editor of the Louisville Journal, with whom
Gov. FOOte enjoyed closer and more init
mate relations than with the present edi-
torial staff of the Banner, the propriety of
placing the name of Gen. Grant at the
head of his paper az a candidate for the
Presidency. This statement is made upon
the authority of our late associate, and is
in substance, we believe, what Gov. Foote
himself admits" To which | respond az
follows / wrote a letter some three years
ago. suggesting Gen. Grant for the Presi-
dency and Gen. Lee for the Vice Presiden-
cy. When | returned to this city, about
fifteen months since, from St. Louis, | stated
to Mr.. Watterson, Mr.. Colyar and Others,
that the information which | had received
whilst sojourning in that city, induced me
TO believe that Gen. Grant, (then supposed
to be good Democrat, inflexibly opposed
to Radicalism and in favor of universal
might be found, in the per-
picked condition of the country.
the best and most available candidate |
whom we could select for the Presidency.
This continued to be nay view of the case,
Ter until the General fell into the hands of |
the Radicals. Ii has been, think, about |
a year, since Col. Colyar visited New York. |
Whilst there, he, taking the same view of |
The matter that ! had done, wrote and pub |
Iished a very manly and patriotic letter 10
favor of taking up Grant for the Presiden- |
ey. On his return TO this city, as be will |
| mentioned to him in his Office. |
IN presence, AZ ! believe, of Mr.. Waiter
ION, that | thought his letter little too
4 a l. -
rad gone over 10 the Radicals. This is the
ull extent Of my offending in this matter,
mi this, | am sure, Mr.. Watterson will
confirm.
For what purpose this circumstance
hOuld have been referred to at all, in your
with Mr.. Symmes, am certainly
Il a loss to determine. lam by no means
lshamed TO acknowledge that two years
go, or perhaps a year ago, should have
voted for General Grant upon a
Democratic platform, as | cannot doubt
very man Of sense in Tennessee would
ave done "If this be treason, make the
most of it,"
Allow me, before concluding, TO express
ly gratitude 10 you for saying: Person
lily, as a venerable and respected citizen,
Re (meaning me) has always had and will
yer have our Warmest regard" This gen
rous declaration of personal. friendship |
nd esteem, more than cOmpensates for the
iatement which precedes it, that / have
ot the good fortune Of enjoying your
confidence in regard to political affairs"
ndeed-though can hardly perceive the
eceasity Of making known so emphatically
} the public that ] do not possess your po-
tical COntdence-yet, well knowing the
auses wniCh led TO your present dislrllst,
fnd it quite possible to submit to this de-
rivation patiently. l CHANGED to be an
ivocate for the revival of the Democratic
rganization about seven or eight months
go, when the Banner opposed it. | ven
lred to urge the nomination Of Mr.. Pendle-
N for the Presidency, aud the adoption
the greenback policy, when the Banner
pposed both. When the Banasr was
rging that Andrew johnson should be
ken up IA a Presidential candidate. by
opular reclamation, and without requiring I
i'm 10 stand upona Democratic platform,
sternly opposed this, for reasons which |
lall never be ashamed to state. When
le Banner was, few months since. pub
shing articles in favor OF Mr.. Chase, | I
lblicly disapprOved It's conduct When
4 al. u