Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-06-25
THE GUBERSAroRrAL CONTEST


Letter from Gen. w. A. Quarles.
Editors Memphis Appeal lin
your is.~ue of the 4th inst, you refer
to me us one "whose name Is often
spoken Of in connection with the next
0ubernatorial contest" and express
desire that I, together with the hon
ored gentleman whose name you as
sociate with mine, should make
known our views In regard to "Con-
ventions to Democracy" etc.
IT had been my purpose to say moth
ing through the public journals, but
silently to await the action of the
people, and to govern my own con-
duct and future relations with the
next State canvass by the indications
derived therefrom. The great object
i've point being harmony of action,
rather than the advancement of per-
sonal ends, or personal preferences,
the question as to who shall be the
candidate is one of secondary impor-
tance. Is he true and faithful man
Is his record one of stainless honor
and unimpeachable integrity? II
these questions can be atfirmatively
answered, so far as 1t regards the mere
personnel of the candidacy the quail
ification Is sufficient. If, however,
mere personal preference is made the
test, harmony of action can never be
obtained, and defeat is inevitable
But beyond and above this, there is
safe ground upon which all of us can
stand and defy at once all fractions
elements and the disciplined and un-
broken front of our opponents; and
that is the ground of principle-not
mere shadowy theories of govern
ment, but wei matured, well defined
principles, eliminated from the expe-
rience of the past, and wisely adjust
ed to the exigencies of the present.
Heretofore-I mean from 1865, the
people and the public men of Tennes-
see have, from the very necessity Of
the case, been compelled tn be gov.
erned by policy; to advance step by
step i'm the direction of right rule and
right legislation, until we have ari-
we'd at point when policy must sink
and principle assume its ancient sway
and authority in the land.
A difference of opinion between
members of the same party may well
be tolerated as to mere policy, but @
difference of opinion as to principle
will as inevitably result in demorali.
zatiOn and defeat as that such a diff
ference exists. A proposition so pal
paple as this needs but moments
reflection to obtain the assent of every
mind. A party Is a union of men
holding the same elementary prin
ciples of government, and organized
for the purpose Of carrying these
principles into the legislation of the
country. A difference of principle,
would, therefore, not only result In
want of party harmony, but still NOR,
fatally in want of harmony of legis
latiOn.
From this view of the matter, ]
readily reach the conclusion that it Il
now time that we should organize
our party upon principle, and, IL
making this organization, any differ
ence of opinion as to mere policy
which may have obtained in the pc
riod of our exodus, should not infer
fere in the least, or be made a test.
But what shall this organization
be? Shall it be a mere State organ
ization? ? or one placing us In line witt
an organization already existing, bat
tling for principles similar to those
we entertain, and coextensive will
the Union? 1t seems to me that the
question answers ITSELF We know
that the only relief to be had from
national grievances is through ma.
tiOnal legislation, our State author
ity Is helpless-emasculated. Ther
every Individual we add to the ma
tional organization Is that much sup
port given to the mighty arm of jus.
tice and truth, already appraised tC
strike off our chains and unbind oul
bonds. In every State North, in al
most every State South, this organi
ZatiOn exists-exists, not In waning
and dropping condition, but In all thu
freshness and vigor of perennial
youth. In the two last State elec
tions North-in New York and Con
necticut-with defiant shouts and in
vincible determination, this organi
zation has placed its victorious ban
ners upon the very battlements of til,
, foe; and Ohio, the young giant q
the West, has echoed the "war cry,
and is even now marching on to th'
front. Shall we, for whom this bat
tie is mainly fought, for whom thes
noble armies are to-day In the field
be ACKNOWLEDGEMENT when the fra,
grows warm and the hour grows re,
with the fury of the fight?
+, Then let us place ourselves In lint
with the great National Democratic
party, and push OH the fight till tn
f, victory be won, and the brotherhood
of the people again restored. Wha
} other national or even State organi
zation now exists? None save tn
Republican. Need i say that If tn
, old Whig organization had survives
the war and that Of the party +
which we have both ever belonged
: been lost or absorbed, how proud.
and gladly we would have place'
ourselves In its line and fought unde
its flag? Would we be ashamed q
e the leadership of the great men wh'
illustrated its purity and its patriot
ism, and whose names are the brigh
: jewels of the treasure house Of ou
I national fame? Would their grea
leader Clay, and their great eXpoun
der, Webster, have stood idly by a
, such q crisis? Rather would the on,
have sounded the rally with the clar
ion notes of his eloquence and gath
cred the clans from the mountain
and valleys of the South, to the res
cue OF the other, who ere this woul'
have taken up the sword and put ol
all the mighty armor (which Achil
les alone could bear" in defense OF |
, Constitution he illuminated with tn
brightness of his intellect and defend
ed with the matchless strength of hi