The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-11-26

To THk ErIgcg OF THE COLUMBIA
HERALD The subjoined extract from
a communication over the signature of
TIERS ETAT," taken from the Ban
ner of the 10th inst, SO fully and ably
expresses the views, which, / believe,
will meet a hearty endorsement by the
people of Maury County, that I take
the liberty of asking you to publish the
same in your valuable paper.
In that communication the writer
recommends such men as Judge Nc
KINNEY, of East Tennessee, Judge
WRIGHT, of West Tennessee, and
F. B. FoGG, Esq, and Col. James +.
BAILEY, of Middle Tennessee, all per
sons of the highest order of intellect,
and occupying the first rank among
the Constitutional lawyers of this or
any other State.
Would not the Hon. A. o. P. NIGH
OLSON and Hon. JAMES II. THOMAS,
be the proper persons to represent the
people of this County and this Floate-
nal District in the Convention? Meth
er of these gentlemen has superior i'm
the qualifications required by the great
interests which will come before the
Convention. These thoughts are re-
specially presented for the calm con
sideration of our people, by
ONE OF THEM.
To the Editor of the Banner:
Inasmuch as the Legislature has at
last agreed upon the one measure for
which they were elected-a Convention
it is desirable that the public attention
should be directed to suitable ralresen-
tative men, who are qualified by age, ed
ucation and capacity to perform the
work designed for the people in remod-
cling the Staue Government. The think
ing masses do not want the repose OF
society or the well being of the State
imperiled by any rash or ill-advised ex-
periments set on foot by the prentice
hands - of partisans or demagogues, but
the cool and clear headed action of states
men and constitutional lawyers is Imper
atiyelv demanded by the necessities vi
the times. The Convention must be
composed of reformers of the established
order of things, who, from the materials
already fashioned by the hand of pro-
scIiption and inexperience, will construct
a temple without the sound of "a hammer,
in whose spacious and splendid proper
tions posterity may rejoice. That Con-
vention must not be formed of the "ar-
chItects of ruin" but of approved master
workmen, whose skilled hands may so
lay the "corner stones" OF constitutional
nj rrA ahntl firm
enough and broad enough to sustain the
splendid edifice which the prosperity,
the intelligence and the patriotism of the
future will rear upon it. The highest Ca
pacitv, linked with the most supreme
honesty and diSintereStedneSS, should:
if possible, be secured for the great work.
No narrow or partisan view OF the re-
quirements of the hourshouid be suffered
10 mar it, No demagogue DESTROYS to
make a +" record " tor future personal use
should be allowed to prostitute TIE de-
alterations of this Convention TO his un-
hailowed uses. In fact, our opinion is
that this will be no place for the ambi-
tious aspirant for future political promo
ton to air his crude vaporings, or fill the
arena with the din OF conflict. Men
ought to be- chosen who have no person
al ambition to crafty, and who, elevated
by either age or intellect above the desire
to be popular, will look alone to the
great interests committed to their hands.
AS greatly desired as has been this great
engine of reform, as sincerely as we all
rejoice that the ak is about to be laid AT
the foot of the tree, still if the sovereign
power of the people should summon as
with the voice of a trumpet, those hon
ored and tried intellects of the land, who
in the better days agone served their
country, and served b well. Such men
as Mckinney, of East Tennessee, Fogg,
of Middle and Wright, of West Ten
nessee, the people should ask to come out
once again from the dignity of intellect
ual retirement, and lend the ripe wisdom
and the spotless integrity and the sound
legal judgment of their age to guide the
reforming councils of the State. 1t is
matter of profound congratulation that
they are still spared us in this supreme
hour of or need, to leave last and fit
ting monument of their wisdom in the
laws of the State. 1t is, perhaps, still
further a matter of congratulation that
a fitting arena is, in the fulness of their
life, offered them upon which to perform
last honorable act.
TIERS-ETAr