Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-18
THE CANVASS.
The Candidates for Goveruor AT
f.k ara KNOXVILLE.

The Candidates for Governor at
Knoxville.
From the Knoxville Press and Herald. Oct. ID.
Our people, yesterday, had an opportu.
nifty of seeing and hearing the candidates
for Governor. The discussion took Mace
IN the Court room and was listened to by 3
very attentive audience. As we have else
where given sketch of the encounter we
will only briefly refer to it editorially.
Mr.. Freeman, as Legislator, displayed
fair abilities, and having sought the posi-
ton of Gubernatorial candidate, at the
hands Of bis party, with little more than
ordinary eagerness, we had expected him
to at least justify his aspirations by bis
forensic performances before the people.
We had certainly anticipated he would sat-
isfy his own party with his candidacy.
We must say that we have been disappoint-
ed. Beyond a courteous bearing and
moderately pleasing address, there was but
little in his performance to impress either
friends or foes with sense of his peculiar
fitness either for the position he holds, or
the one he seeks. There was absolutely
nothing original or forcible In his speeches,
His attempt to aIraign the Governor, upon
his administration, was forcibly feeble,
though perhaps as successful as any of his
party associates could have made. Mr..
Freeman is not responsible for the lack of
facts to warrant him in his assault upon
our State Government. We will eharitably
allow that he would do better under more
favorable circumstances. He, possibly, had
been led to believe, before he entered the
field, that much of the ridiculous stuff that
makes up the greater part of his complaint,
could be sustained by the record, but hay
ing found out his grievous error, he floun-
dered along like school-boy performing
an unpleasant and poorly studied duty. AS
politica disputant he is below the line of
mediocrisy, and as an assailant of Gov.
Browns administration, lamentable fail
ure.
Gov. Brown wins golden opinions from
men Of all parties. His manly bearing "a
vorably impresses every one, and the hon.
esty that beams from his countenance gives
to his utterances the sanction of truth it,
self. As a speaker he is bold, clear and
forcible. The dry details of finance he
makes interesting to every listener by the
clearness and facility with which he han
dies and presents them. He shrinks from
no charge, lodges no point. lie deals in
no unfairness, and captivates his audience
by the unvarying courtesy and good humOr
with which he conducts his discussions.
His vindicstion of his administration, yes
terday, from all possible charges against it,
was mastery and overwhelming. The
with which he understands
the various interests of the State, and COM
prehends the needs of the present and the
future, in our State policy, deeply impress
ed all who heard him. In the matters of
keen sally and repartee-the spice Of the
was but as a toy in bis
hands, at whose expense be relieved the te-
dunn of the hour, as often IS he supposed
The comfort of the audience required. The
Governors friends were proud of him as a
man and as their Chief MAGISTRATE.
Mr.. Freeman was evidently stranger to
his partisans heTeabouts, until yesterday.
That he was their nominee, they had
known, but what had been his political his
,ory they did not know. The exposure of
MS record, therefore, by Gov. Brown had a
most damaging effect among the Radical
listeners. When they found that their
champion had been delegate to the Dem
'crstic Convention at Philadelphia, in
1865, for the resuscitation of the party; that
le had been one of the "bolters" from
3rownlow's Legislature; that he had sup
'orted Emerson Etheridge against Brown
ow in 1867 that he had supported Sey-
nour and Blair against U. S. Grant In
1868; that he had denounced Radcalism as
foe to Republican liberty, and the author
# Nnegro upremscy"-when they learned
III these things for the first time, yesterday,
here were unmistakable signs of q general |
md deep-rootiDg disgust all around the
Radical board, among both white and col
red, high and low. else as.t |
They evidently had no further use for
UGH champion. The leaders make no
oncealment of their disappointment and
dissatisfaction with their candidate. They
an see no further practical purpose in his |
than to furnish Gov. Brown, |
ach day, favorable opportunity for tri- |
mphantly vindicating the present govern
lent of Tennessee.
Gov. Brown will not only get the unbro-
en- vote OF the Democrats and Conserva- |
yes in this part of the State, but many
republicans, recognizing his great personal
7orth AMI his excellence as an Execu tive |
ffcer, will give him hearty and indepen-
ent support.