Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-17
TO THE VOTERS OF DAVIDSON
COUNTY.
Facts From the Record of Edward
HI. Ensf.

a '
Facts From the Record of EdwaI
s..sff III. East.
Edward n. East is now a candidate +,
re- election as Chancellor of the Davidso
Chancery Court. He is an able lawye
and q courteous gentleman. Coneedin
this the folloging facts may be interestin
to this community, in view of his bein
an sspirant for public position. Yet n
censorious or vindictive spirit actuates tn
publication of part of Mr.. East's record
However, simple justice demands tn
reasons for this publication. They are a
follows: M -
! l. Some of the supporters of Mr. Eas
deny that he has ever been Republican
or been connected in any way with tina
party. 1al va
q It is rumored that Mr. East himssl
denies all such past party affiliation, ant
now claims always TO have been q gooC
Conservative. 500 EEF
8. It is claimed that to Mr.. East alone
belongs the honor of saving the corporation
Of Nashville from financial ruin. N
Now let usse how thisis let facts speak
for themselves. The following correspond
ence, taken from the official files OF the
Daily Press and Times (the Republican
organ in Nashville at that time) of April
IL, 1859, explains itself We give extracts
therefrom as follows:
NASHVILLE, TENN, April 10, 1869.
Hon. Edward 81. East:-Sir: As your
name is before the public as a
candidate for Chancellor, we the I'M
dersigned colored men, Emembers of the
Republican party, now address you for the
purpose of learning your views on CUES
tons which we feel are closely connected
with the future progress Of our race. 1t has
been stated that you sympathized with the
Democracy, political organization which
we regard as unfriendly to our rights, and
that you have no sympathy with the Re.
publican party which nominated and cleo
ted Grant and Colfax, and is pledged to
uphold the equality of all men before the
laws
The above communication was signed by
many Of the members of the Republican
party. To said letter of inquiry Mr. East
replied, upon the same day. The following
extract from his letter in reply explains
itself:
'GENTs-Yours of this day is before me.
Il
myself ready to answer, whether made to
me as citizen or a candidate. Since the
close Of the war have confined myself ex-
clusively to my profession 1 have not
sought partisan political utilization, or even
SO much as attended political meeting, of
any character, as member or participant
Neither before or since the sodr. did I eUer
cast Democrat cote i; all tie notes I haze
cast s5rce the aodr haze been for Rep1l6li-
cans; nor was conscious of the fact that
any portion of my fellow. citizens ever sus-
pected me of being Democrat in fact, in
or In G7ly other nag"
On the 22d Of April, 1869, q card headed
Republican endorsement of Edward II.
East for Chancellor, appeared in the Press
md Tunes, signed by all of the prominent
of Nashville, among whom
we're d. W. Peabody, Henry Stone, A V.
5. Lindsey, S. @. Mercer and Horace II.
Harrison
The following paragraph from this en-
doTsement will show its purport: ''The
members of the Republican
party, feeling deep interest in the pros
perity of the country, and securing an able
judiciary at the coming election for Judges,
but earnestly recommend
Edward II. East for the office of Chancel-
Tor, at Nashville. Mr.. East opposed the
ordinance of secession when he represent
ed this county in the Legislature in 1861.
He was from the beginning Of the war an
and consistent Union man.
lie is a Republican By instinct and edltcG-
ton; he could not be anything slse." As
proof conclusive that Mr.. East is Re-
publican, the citizens of Davidson county
are referred to the fact that lately when an
important Office was to be filed in the Fed
oral Court by Judge Trigg, among all the
citizens Of Nashville, Mr.. East selected
and recommended for that Office, the most
active, persistent, and leading Republican
Of the city; namely, Mr.. J. P. Rexford.
This recommendation, shows at least, what
Mr.. East's politics are.
Then what do the above facts show
Clearly, that Mr.. East is a Republican by
his own admission. In fact, when a can
didate for Chancellor in April, 1869, he
was so strong in the Republican faith that,
TO use his own words, che was not con-
scious that any one ever suspected him of
being Democrat, in fact, in sympathy,
Or in GHy other lCay." Now, at the time
Mr.. East wrote the letter containing the
sentiments set forth as above, the word
Democrat or Democracy did not signify
what it did before the war 1t meant sim
ply opposition to the Brownlow proscrip-
i've policy. It meant simply union Of
all good men in opposition to a political
1espotism which was crushing US to the
earth, and was preying vampire-like upon
III our political privileges. Yet at such
ime Mr.. East denied all utilization with
Democracy, Gin fact, in sympathy, or in |
ing other tCay," and boldly declared him |
elf a Republican. Why should Mr.. East, |
IT any Of his friends, non attempt to deny |
his part Of his record? Why should Mr.. |
Cast claim to be Conservative this late in /
he day? Does he deem Conservatism and |
Conservative voters, to be nOlO in the as |
,endancy? Has he become Democrat in |
,rder to secure Democratic votes in the |
,nming election for ChanoellorI
Further, it is claimed for Mr. East, that |
lie, as Chancellor, proved himself to be
asst friend of the corporation of Nashville,
md by his decision, saved the city from |
financial ruin This is a strange claim of |
merit Mr.. East simply refused to undo |
What another Chancellor, the Hon. @. G.
smith had already done. The act of Judge |
Cast was q RegatiUe one entirely, there |
vas nothing affirmative about it. To |
Judge Smith belongs the honor now ac-
orded to Mr.. East; for Judge Smith de-
ided the case, while Judge East simply /
,cquiesced therein. So Judge East's deci-
ion, in nut shell, toGS negdti0s Gcquies-
ence IN the decision of another Chancellor.
But after all, was Mr.. East the devoted |
riend of the corporation? The following /
of facts does not show it. In
be fall of 1867, just after the annual
municipal election, bill was fled against
Alden and the Aldermen and the City |
Jouncil elect, individually, to enjoin them
rom induction into office. Mark you, the
nit was against them as iRdiUidaEGIs, and
ot as corporate officers. Judge East came
o the relief of Alden and the other city
Ulcers elect, and made a speech in their
ehalf against the citizens and the corpo-
alton of Nashville. He himself made the |
oint, which was conclusive of the case,
amely: The corporation was not party
D the suit. So, by the very efforts Of Mr..
asst, Alden and his co-sdjutors were in
ucted into Office. After this he took from
hese officials Of the city government one
thousand dollars Of the peoples money
4 payment Of his fee. That is to say,
q took check on the corporation from
hem in Daymenk for attention to a suit |