The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-08-12

Hunrnnnrs COUNTY, Tsxs.,

Gen. WhllthoFnc ana Dorsey p Thomas,
HUMPHREYS COUNTY, TENN,
August 9Th, 1870. =
Editor of Columbia Herald ~ send
you letter published in the Union and
American 5th inst, over the signatpre Of
"Leonidas, /" headed, "Fvom Stewart %.
Hon. Dorsey B. 1homas," and dated at
"waverly, August 8, 1876" in which he
attempts to give an account of the speech
Of d. b. Thomas at Waverley on that
day, and in which he takes very deliber
ate and studied words to tell of the good
services Of his hero, and of his present
position. As usual the picture is turned
best side out, and not word said about
some things that were said in that
speech, which the people should know.
The letter looks well on paper and reads
well a. 1t is, and seems all fair; but if
the writer had put In very promi>
nent point attempted to be foisted in
the speech, and lodged and omitted in
the letter, it would not sound SO well.
We are not advised as to who "Leon-
idas" IL, but we think we recognize the
"cmt and dried" style; nor do we know
why It is headed "from Stescart county,"
unless it had been previously prepared
to puff Off q similar speech from same
party, that was to be made in Stewart.
d. b. Thomas said in his speech that
he was democrat, and that he was OPP
posed to third party: and said much
about his claims, and his record in the
Legislature. But he said something
else that "Leonidas' studiously fails to
notice. It could be said in the speech,
and the effect treasured, but it will not
do to print it. Thomas said that he
was opposed by Gen. w. G. Whit
thorne, who was man Of ability, and
who had been gallant soldier; but
that General Whitthorne had taken
wro step, and that it would ruin
him. That is, that Whitthorne was
put out by the Radicals and a few dis
affected Conservatives, to defeat him,
(Thomas), or words to that effect or inn
pOIts NoW, WY was tuae poIt VI INC
speech not published or alluded to z?
We think the reason is plain. Because
no one would believe it, and it would
not DO for Whitthorne and his friends
to see such charges in print. Harmony
might be disturbed, falsehoods might be
ventilated, and verbal public state
ments and Misrepresentation might be
met. There were more men present than
Leonidas, and whilst his devotion to
Thomas is as strong as his ardent ma
ture can make this interest equal to
Thomas interest, for the gallant Whit
thorne had many warm personal and po-
l;tical friends, and life long Democrats,
who knew the charge 10 be unjust.
There were men present who had slept
upon the battlefields of the South, and
shared the same fortunes, good or bad,
with Gen. Whitthorne, whilst the hero
OF "LeonidaS" tcaS aeUcr there, but was
in the Bogus Radical Tennessee Consti-
tutiOnal Convention of1S65 as member,
before Whitthorne and the other soldiers
of the South had surrendered. Who
sent Leonidas's" hero there? How
much do we Owe him for that for aid
ing in making that oppressive negro-ele-
waiting and white-man DISTINGUISHING
Constitution and laws of February 1865?
Does it come in good taste for men who
ODpOSeU tuclT IldtlNc COutn Ill war, WHO
never raised a hand to defend her, but
who, while her sons were still bleeding,
voluntarily and without authority make
one of and help forge the legal chains
that bind us, to make such charges
against lifelong democrats, public ser
wants, Confederate soldiers?
We warn you that il you and your he
70 of the Convention OF 1865 persist in
making the charge that Gen. Whitthorne
is the candidate OF the Radicals, we will
rally 10 man, and proceed to unmerci-
fully ventilate your herO's war and civil
record. 1t has become very fashionable
for those who were opposed 10 the South
in the late war, and whv have been office
holders ever since the war, and who now
want promotion again, to assume to
the erctusire ",igM to qun,"
and declare themselves, and
then if democratic Southern, soldier |
should run for the same Office, to cry |
aloud and spare not, that the said demo- |
crat and Southern soldier is 'the cdndi- |
date or tool of the Radicals" Lay on,
if that is the course you pro-
pose to pursue, you will soon see where |
you will land, for just, intelligent and |
patriotic people will not be blinded or |
gulled by such false promises. /
II you want the office, act like a man,
ccncede every mans right to run; do not |
make false charges, be just, speak the |
truth, and then you will leave General |
friends, land their name is
legion) room to support you, if from any ,
cause Gen. Whitthorne should not re-
main in the field. But if you choose to
drive all the Confederate soldiers from
your hero, then keep on making your
y. founded and unjust assertions, and it
III be an easy task for yor to take
.,&ck seat.
SOUTHERN SoLIIER AND DEMOCRAT.