Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-09-28
DESPERATE STRAITS OF CONSERVATIVE
UNION MEN


The editor of the Chattanooga Times
was an officer of "A colored regiment in the
United states army. Since the war he has
been one of the bitterest Democrats in Ten
nessee. He reported very fully and fairly
the proceedings of the Congressional Con-
vention, for the Sd District, which met at
McMinnville, last Friday. In that Con-
vention, Col. Combs, of White county,
declared that he was a rebel and honfed
God for IT, He said he was no Radical,
no Conservative, but he was a rebel Demo
crot Capt. Duffey, in nominating Col.
Garrett, the present candidate, said Il
urge the Convention to vote for Col. A. Il.
Garrett, man who wore the blue and
fought me during the war, but who since
the war has worn the gray IN his heart,
and who, I believe, is now as good q rebel
as ,cas" This endorsement from Dufiey
won the prize for Garrett.
These speeches were too much for even
the editor of the Times. AS witness, what
he says in yesterdays edition. In speak
ing of Duffey's speech endorsing Garrett,
he says:
Capt Dufley Of the Carthage Vidette stated
| that Col. Garrett was rebel at heart. Making
all necessary allowances for Dutfeys Bourbon
| ism which is of the EXTREMIST kind we presume
| he meant merely to say that Col. Garrett was q
friend to the Southern people We irish he hao
| been little more careful ~ no language We
| do uut thiE any Federal sOiu4cr oaght to Stpttt'
! IN iyvTh ny saying that he was wrong during
the war, and we certainly do not eXpcc rcbe
soldier to make a similar confession
The Union men of the South, and the
Northern soldiers who have sold out t.
such Democrats as Combs and Duffy, thu
editor Of the Times thinks, have not acteC
from selfish motives. He explains thei
sentiments rs follows:
We hut express their discrimination when W
declare that nothing can now drive them iron
the Democratic party. But we also speak thel
| sentiments when we say that such language a
that of Mr.. Combs and Capt Duffy, is catcutdt
cd to cast drc'drd da'nper upon their enthus
asn in support the party We hope re sha
hear no more 0t II.
We hope they will, though, and we hop
Combs and Duffy will hold their noses
the grindstone until they are made to fee
their slarcry. The editor of the Times an
his associates in Democracy who once wol
the blue, ought to be treated just as the
now are. They ought to be domineere
, over by Just such men as Combs and Dun.
for they deserve II. They are nothing bl
? tools in the hands of the men who no
: have control of the Democratic party.
: Tennessee, and the sooner they find
q out the better. They do we'll enough
edit papers and vote for their masters, b
!, whenever they raise their heads to peep f
= office or favors they are given plainly
ii understand that their disabilities hare a
II net been remoued. When they are ready
e swear they never wore the blue, and tn
V they are "rebels at heart" as Duffy did
Col. Garrett, their claims will be entcrtdi
ed, and not before. But the best proof tn
the good old days of 1861" have col
back again is that even such hardened ii
o. ners as Andy Johnson and ally Gate
. are becoming alarmed and disguise
IL When the grey is too prominent in pal
e. matters to suit them we think it time
il. Union men Of the country were on tn
n guard.