Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-09-03
HON. G. A. HENRY.
From the Memphis Appeal


Messrs. A. II. Douglas, r. f. Iooney,
II. ID. Baugh, q. p. Foute, w. T.
Avery, Thomas b. Norment: Gen-
Hemcn-Your letter of Aug. l was
duly received, and deserved an imme-
diate response; but had not then
sufficiently recovered from my ex-
treme illness to undergo the fatigue of
writing even short letter.
You state ''efforts are being made
to persuade those who have hereto-
fore been associated with the old-line
Wing party, that 1t Is their duty to
withdraw from active cooperation
with the Democrats, and reOrganize
a separate party" You further do
me honor to ask my opinion "as to
the course the old-line Wings should
pursue in the present and approach
Ing crisis" y .sfL , "a
The point presented Is one of un-
common interest to me, as 1t involves
the honor of the old Wing party, as
well as the safety of the country.
sincerly hope all such efforts will sig
nally fail. They ought to fail, for II
successful, they will bring ruin to our
cause. 1t can have no other effect
than to divide and weaken the con-
servative strength in Tennessee, and
would speedily hand over the State
to the tender mercies of the Radicals
and their allies, the negroes. If, In
an evil hour, the Wings should be Sc
duced to adopt any such policy, what
good could be accomplished by it?-
Would such separate organization be
strong enough to elect a Governor OF
II na, s,,1 os,
mer of Congress, or a President In
1872? Or rather, would 1t not secure
the triumph of the Radicals in the
State and national elections? If the
old-line Wings don't cooperate with
the Democrats, with what party will
they act? and in the language Of
Daniel Webster "where will they g0?"
Surely not to the Radicals. Un-
doubtedly, however, the very agita-
tiOn of the question about the separ-
alton of the old. line Wings, with a
view to withdraw from cooperation
with the Democrats has given aid
and comfort to the enemy. But the
other day saw an article from the
Repblican, Radical paper In Men,
phis, on the subject of nominating n
Republican candidate for Governor,
In which the following language is
employed: "Our enemies believe
themselves perfectly safe, and believ-
ing they have a large majority In the
State, will soon be demoraliZed.-
They have already commenced to di-
vide. Old-linc Whigs do not feel them
selves at home in such o camp, they
see around them still the old signs OF
disunion, and over them the old flag
of secession, called States rights
Though they say there il nothing in
name, still there Is something In
the kind OF associates one has, and we
seldom select for our companions,
those with whom we have always
been at war. So 1t is with old-line
Wings and Democrats. Sooner or la
ter the former elements Will find It,
selfin the Republican ranks.
"Already the division shows itself;
for, whenever you find q Democrat
against him, and the time Is certain
! ly not for distant when the elements
viii effectually separate"
/ commend the serious purtisal of
this extract to every Old-line Whiy i'm
Tennessee and ask him to ponder
well the fact that the Radicals only
hope for success on the idea that the
old-line Wings will not cooperate
with the Democrats, and that they
will sooner or later be found in the
Republican ranks. 1t lis an infamous
charge against the honor and fidelity
of the old-line Wings, and l pro-
nounce it slander. 1t ought, how
ever, tn put all who are making Of
forts to effect a separate organization
upon their guard, and make them re-
view the ground on which they stand,
and honestly reconsider what they
owe to themselves and to their coun-
try.
In my humble Judgment the sue
cess of republican freedom depends
upon the overthrow of the Radical
party. 10 effect that object the
Wings and Democrats are called upon
by the highest and most patriotic con-
siderations, to form close and faith
full alliance; and invite to their sup
port all the elements of opposition to
Radicalism--all men of whatever
name, who desire to see the Govern
ment restored to the hands of honest
men; who are sincerely attached "a
the republican intftutions founded by
our fathers, and on which they erected
the fabric of our liberty. AS you
know, l was an Old Line Whig, and
was proud toaacknowldge Clay and
Webster as the leaders of the Whig
party. 1t Is, however, true that that
party has had no separate political
existence since 1850. IL we could re-
animate it now in Tennessee il could
accomplish no good, because 1t would
be without support elsewhere, and
and would weaken the Conservative
element at home. On the other
hand, the Democratic party has all
the time maintained strong party
organization atthe North, and Is now
straining every nerve to expel the
Radical Cloths and Vandals from the
Capitol. The only practical question
then Is, Shall the Old-line Wings MD
them In effectingsthis consummation
devoutly to be wished for, or will
they paralize their patriotic efforts to
redeem the country from Radical mis-.
rule, 10y Withdrawing from the con-
flict and folding their arms i'm sep
arate organization, which will not
have strength enough to carry single
State; and like Achilles around the
walls of Troy, suffer their swords Ia
rust In their scabbards, while oui
friends are fighting the battle for us,
and bleeding at every pore? Iwould,
therefore, advise the 0ld-line Wings
If they will permit me do SO, to make
common cause with Conservatives
and Democrats, till we rescue ouI
abused and suffering country from
the plunder aud despotism Of the
n