Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-07-24
TmE CONVENTION QUESTION.

nominate d Democratic candidate for
the Legislature. Such step we, re-
gard as not only unnecessary, but inn
polite and miscellaneous, and we sin
corcIy trust that the thinking, dispas-
sionato men OF our county will reflect
sobcrly uIom the subject before inau-
gorntiBg such n movement. There
arc so many reasons against II 80 few
In favor Of it.-tlat in the view we
take NJ II, tho question scarcely adj
mits OF an nrgumont. There IA class
Of mon TO he deeply Injured by such
step, who should make themselves
felt mt this juncttTc against 1t. We.
aIludc ~ tIIc rebel soldier who IL not,
and cannot DO onfranelliscd as the law
now stands. 10 admit him TO the
iallot-box, the law must disappear
from the statute book for as long as
the Law remains In force, the ballot
box II sealed Ia him and he can not
cxerctyo the right Of u freeman. The
very best mems possible, which will
lead 10 q repeal Of the law should ut
once lie adopted ut all hazards, re-
gardlca3 Of the aspirations, or even
prcjudiccs Of any man. This Is not
the time for men TO clamor for parti-
van candidates TO represent us IN the
Legislature. Two years ago this sui
oidal policy was adopted. Certain
men got together in u, convention at
Nashville and resolved that they
would inaugurate II campaign that
would result In the entire freedom of
tho disfranchised aud bury the Radi-
cil party beyond the hope Of resilr-
rcction. Many rejecting men among
the DISTINGUISHED protested against
this policy, pointed out its evil results,
and earnestly insisted that the Con-
scrvativcs should run no candidate for
Governor. But deaf ear was turned
% those circumstances, and Mr.. Eth
cridge was nominated on u platform
that would attract to its support all
Africa, Ii not the rest of the WORLD
Mark tho consequences. Brownlow
was elected. The Legislature was
filled with u set Of narrow-minded
and vcnomous reptiles that Missed
thor defiance and spit their poison ut
the honest Taxpayers of the country
during their whole term of Office
Every proposition that came up I'm
the Legislature for the relief of the
people was received with scorn and
rejected with contempt. Smarting
from the morciless castigation received
Mt the hands of Etherldge, the Radi-
cal monster gathered all its strength
and drove it, deadly fangs deep into
tho very vitals of the State. The
cords with which we were bound were
tightcnoI. The lash Of persecution
whizzed like the hiss of liend rs 1t
fell upon the backs Of the people, and
tho thumb screws of oppression
glowcd with fcrvcnt heat under the
eager maulpulations of Radical ven-
geancc. A lawless militia strutted in
the uniform of the United States sol
dicrs aud plundcred and murdered our
citizens. Brownlow retired TO Knox
Villc, and from his mountain fastness
glarcd like an Infatuated tiger in his
den, while inferior devils throughout
the state did the work ordered by
their chief. Such was the result, the
hittcr fruits of the Ethcridge cam
paign. our people saw that they had
made u great mistakc--that II they
hod preserved n mastery inactivity
aud listened 10 reason, their enemies
would have divided aud their bur
thel become lighter. Hence, when
the present Gubernatorial and I.egis-
Iltivc campaign was about to open, ms
if ~ general consent, il was resolved
10y the Democrats or Conservatives ia
Iuu No candidates, but leave the en-
tire Held To the Radicals. The good
effect Of this wise policy was soon APP
parent. our enemies soon showed
signs ~ discord aud disintegrntion,
which grow lntoaspllt through which
the daylight could be seen. Under
u1r silence the disagreement has en-
larycd until the public heart begins
tu swell with the hopo of tsvedom ant
dcliycnncc. Just at this time-whel
the wisdom Of our policy Is becoming
apparent oven 10 u blind man-w'
Had some, we arc sorry 10 say, VIII,
an, clnmoring for convention &
nominate a Democrat, The fable O
the dog that saw the shadow of th,
lone la hls mouth, as he swan tn
strrau,, and dropped the 3pne 10 catcl
the shadow, hut feebly illustrates tn
folly 30 such course, Our advice 4
the people nf Montgomery county l.
ID there b. moderate Republican Il
thc county who can hc trusted ON th
FuWrhi-o question, Support hla am
lyt Nous Democratic candidates alone
a. any man Wishv, ln push himse
forward nr utllyc aud lor the sake ,
EUttpms hs miserable amh,tio
Noull iuiur thr sacrvd cau,e q
Wb,,bUr hsht namely, the free,loI
al thy uutl s1ld.or cat oN his com
Nud NJeG,uoir hsspags, that lao ma
uthus,. r.ul m vain parade boloI
tI. ,UHirl rvli suvh a ouv, "Si
~ hs,y something ta accomplish /
u,au,ates $50 htalnyo you and ~,
putN amId,,ou that yuu ap not Nj
80. W,m thp bvifht ga which "