Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-09-22
PROCEEDINGS
OF the Republican Cenventien at
Grccncvfllc On wednesday last.

The Republican Convention which met
at Greeneville IN Wednesday 21st. inst,
nominated Hon. R.R. Butler for Congress
unanimously by reclamation. We shall
publish the proceedings in full next week.
After the nomination was made a commit
tee waited on Mr.. Butler and informed
him of the result. He then proceeded to
the Court House and addressed the men,
bers of the Convention, thanking them
for the honor conferred and pledging him
self to stand by the Republican party of
this district through evil as well as good
report. Without going into a discussion
of the charges which have been preferred
against him, MI. Butler assured the men,
bers present that he would vindicate his
character and purge himself of every charge
that has or may in the future be brought
against him. Saying that every time he
was arrested would add FIVE hundred votes
to his majority on the day of the election,
The Convention was we'll attended, every
county except Hancock being represented.
We are well aware of the fact that ma
ny good Republicans are opposed to MIR.
Butler on account of the charges that
have been brought against him by the De-
partment at Washington, and also on ac-
count of his connection with the sales of ca
'detships which was investigated and acted
upon by the House of Representatives
last winter. The facts in all these cases
have been laid before the people from
time to time as they occurred, and they
have doubtless already made up their YER
dict and settled the question in their own
minds as to whether or not they will support
him in the coming campaign. Whatever
opinion they may lave formed in regard
to the matter there is 10 denying the fact
that Mr.. Butler is now the nominee of a
regular Convention, called together by the
proper authority and conducted in every
way in accordance with the usages of de-
Lucrative bodies. So far as the action of
the Convention is concerned it is as bind
ing upon the different members of the par
ty as that of any Convention can be; and
while we do not claim that a convention
has the right to assume a guardianship
over any mans conscience or to require
him to vote contrary to his convictions of
right and justice, there is One stubborn
fact that must be looked squarely in the
face, and that is, Mr.. Buffers claims are
entitled to every consideration that the
unanimous nomination of a regular Conven-
ton can give them, and any departure
from the usual course III such matters may
result in the election of a Democrat. If
they consider the election of Mr.. Butler
an evil not to be tolerated under ordinary
circumstances, they have to choose be-
tween that and the election of q Demo-
GRAFT and settle in their own minds the i'm
portant question which will be the greater
evil of the two. Every man is reponsi-
BILE for his vote as for every other act of
his life, and we would be false to our duty
as public journalists did We use unfair or
untruthful arguments to influence the cast
ing of n single ballot for which the vo-
ter is alone responsible. 1t is our duty
to state facts and place the subject be-
fore our readers in as clear a light as pos
sible to enable the voter to exercise his
right of suffrage Understandings and with
a view to promoting the best interests of
the country. When we have done this
we have discharged the duty incumbent
upon us, AMI the country must rest salts
fled with whatever decision the intelligent
voters of this district sec proper to render
at the ballot box in November next.