Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-09-03
ADDRESS FROM GEN. BROWN
His Views on the situation.

To the People OF tennessee:
A number OF the leading journals
of Tennessee having announced me
as their choice for Governor of the
State at its ensuing November elec-
ton, hope l will be pardoned for
relieving myself in this authorita-
tive manner from unjust impressions
which have been engendered against
me in certain localities. On my re-
turn from q visit to East Tennessee,
| am surprised to learn that doubts
exist as to whether / will submit my
claims to the nominating convention
called by the Executive Committee
of the State, and that doubts are also
entertained of my precise political
affiliations. lam unwilling tn achieve
success on an equivocal platform, and
/ have, therefore,. no hesitation in
declaring my sentiments upon these
questions, as have already done on
many previous occasions to the peo-
pie, both i'm East and West Tennes-
see. The political parties as they
formerly existed in the Southern
States perished with the late war, and
their names as well as their creeds
belong now to history. There are
now but two national parties, the one
the Radical Republican party; lati--
tudinarian In principle, wasteful and
martial in its disposition of the public
domain, reckless in its expenditures
of the peoples money, partisan and
proscriptive in its legislation, and
utterly regardless of the safeguards
of the Constitution. The other the
national Democratic party, battling
for constitutional rights, economy In
the administration of the Govern
ment, the reduction of taxes, and the
restoration of the Government to its
ancient landmarks, and Is composed
of all meli--by whatever names here
tofore known who seek to wrest the
country from the dominant power,
and save It from utter ruin. With
one of these parties every man IN
Tennessee who would cast his vote
and contribute his influence In the
direction of his political faith must
unite. No middle ground can be oc-
cupied, and neutrality at this juno
ture would, i'm my opinion, be crimi-
nal. Entertaining such sentiments
IL il scarcely necessary for me to add,
that / am in full accord with the
National Democratic Party, and
stand in political faith where did
in June, 1868, when had the honor
as chairman of the committee to re-
port resolutions to the State COnven.
ton then sitting at Nashville; and
shall earnestly labor I'm the ranks oi
elsewhere in the great battle which
is being fought by that party for the
principles of constitutional liberty.
The Convention which will soon
assemble In Nashville will be largely
composed of the intelligence of the
State, and its deliberations will
doubtless be characterized by moder'
alton and patriotism. The Execu'
tive Committee have invited all the
elements opposed to Radicalism to be
represented; aud / am confident Its
deliberations will give harmony to
our ranks and produce n unity both
of purpose and action, that while II
will be irresistible, will restore oul
State to tranquility and repose, and
while Iunhesitating'y announce my
SELF a Democrat, yet to this conven-
ton of the people submit my claims
and doubt not its wisdom will find
u way to harmoniZe the action of all
the true lovers of constitutional free
dom, and will abide its action, believ'
ing, as do, that the basis or organi
zation and political faith must and
will be antagonistic to the Radical
despotism now In power. In my
opinion the political sentiments en-
unciated in the platform of princi'
Piles adopted by the Ohio Democracy
to which public attention In the State
has been recently directed, are in the
main a platform upon which we car
and will unite. That platform,
might add, might probably bespecifiC
in declaring that the $40 bonds should
and must be paid in the lawful cur
rency Of the United States. This Is
both in consonance with the act o
Congress authorizing their issue and
just to an overtaXed people. These
are questions of State and national
policy, that the limits of this com
munication will not allow n Response
to, but which at the proper time
will cheerfully discuss before the
people. Respectfully,
JOHN &. BROWN.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. 26, 1870