Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-24
THE CANVASS.
The Candidates at g arksvIlie and
Springfield.

Springfield.
Special Correspondence Of the Union an,
1 American.
| GAINESVILLE, July % AS stated il
our dispatches large concourse o.
citizens met to hear the candidates a
GAINESVILLE, among whom were abOu
$50 colored, whereas the Suckers ex
pected one thousand.
The usual diminishing and cross firing
which has been reported all over the
State, was INDUCED il and nearly al
the crowd seemed to be on the side Of
Gen. Serter, Judging from the frequent
applause which his speech brought
forth.
Many who come to hear Mr.. Stokes,
who were not decided as TO their choice,
gave in their adhesion to the Senter plats
form, while some of the friends of Stokes
were converted from the error of their
ways.
At night meeting was called at the
courthouse, ostensibly TO give the can
didates for the legislature chance to
define their positions. The meeting was
chiefly composed of negroes, and was
addressed by their candidate for the
legislature, after which Dutchman who
served his term in the wooden
nutmeg business, in Connecticut,
and who is Stokes right bower
addressed the negroes informing them of
their rights and duties. Col. Dave Nell
son replied to him, and such an excoria-
ton as this poor, deluded fellow received
from the hands of the Colonel, has never
been seen in this country
At seven NJ. the candidates left
GAINESVILLE for Springfield.
SPRINGFIELD, July 24.-The crowd
commenced gathering early, and when
the train reached here with the candid
ates from GAINESVILLE at 10 o'clock, the
town had the appearance Of an old can
Vass day of 1910.
The speaking was at the town spring
in a beautiful grove on the hill side,
where about 1000 persons paid their
marked attention from noon to about D
p. NJ. as all seemed anxious to hear both
candidates.
Gov. Senter took the lead, and seemed
to have a drawing influence on his audi
ence from the beginning to the end
managing the Bald Eagl lie OF the Noun
tains as he would a common bird in the
cage-receiving the most rapturous ap-
plause throughout his entire speech,
seeming to fully realize the fact that
nearly all, both white and black, were on
his side.
Gov. Senter showed up the Bald
Eagles inconsistency in pretending that
he had no aspirations for guberuatorlal
honors. He showed that this flying
Dutchman from Connecticut, who is now
Stokes chief fugleman-was engaged
one year ago by Stokes to make
this canvass for Governor with
him. This shows the fhlsity of Stokes
assertion that he did not wish the office
of Governor. This aid-de-camp OF
Stokes, addresses the negro audience at
night, and does the work which his
master is too CD decent to do.
Another noticeable feature was that
a coiGred citizen, at Bakers Station wrote
letter to Gov Senter, requesting HIM
to ask Col Stokes to pay him, for stack
of fodder, which Stokes had taken from
him during the war, for which he prom
ised to pay So. Col Stokes seemed to
writhe under the colored dun, hut the
money was not paid.
One of the brilliant episodes of the
Stokes military record was reviewed
during the rejoinder by the appearance
of an old man, who wished to mount the
rostrum to ask Stokes restitution of a
mule, which he, Stokes had taken from
him during the war.
This old man related the following
conversation, which occurred between
Col. Stokes and himself at the time the
mule was taken:
Col. Stokes ordered the mule to be
taken, The old man demonstrated, and
told him it was his only animal, and that
twas very hard to bear. Stokes replied
that there were a great many hard things
to bear in this life, and drove of the
mule. lie then asked Stokes to give
him an instrument Of writing to show
that the old broken down horse he leit
in the place of the mule, was not stolen
Stokes refused to do this, and left. This
conversation was near the stand, as the
crowd would not permit him to interrupt
the speaker.
Gov. SenteT, during the debate, re-
ouested Stokes to turn his pockets wrong
side out, to see if the ears Of those mer
which had been cut off by him during
the war, would not fall out. The peck
cts were not turned, and hence the ear
were not found.
The crowd seemed well satisfied Will
the days work, and the large majorit.
left with the full conviction that the.
were one day nearer the day of deliver
ance from the political bondage which ha
oopressed us so long.