Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-13
THE GALLATIN. CONVENTION.

A Card from Col. 9hos. Claiborne.
To the Union and American:
NASHVILLE, Oct. 12.--As delegate TO
the Convention which assembled at Gala
tin on Thursday, to nominate a suitable
candidate for Representative in the next
Congress from this (5th) district, and also
an elector on the Presidential ticket: and
which convention, after stirring session
all day and night, broke up with much exhi-
bition Of passion and defiant exultation, on
motion to adjourn sine die, made by Col.
Caruthers, Of Trousiale, an opposer of
Mr.. Golladay-I beg leave on behalf of N.Y.
self to say to the people of this county, and
especially to my own district (the Sth,) that
am in no wise responsible for the result.
1t is due to the public that the facts be laid
plainly before it. | will state then that, ac-
cording to my instructions, voted steadily
for 10 G. Stark, OF Robertson county; that
l voted for the two third vote as an usual
proceeding; that / demonstrated against
the use Of proxies; and that 1 urged
that every aspirant should be put
in nomination at the beginning of the con-
test, and this last from the belief | hare
entertained that sour party men generally
lie in walt to get a nomination from con-
| fOAOAOuo ODCfS OttfbUCUOttCC AlO 6dCl
to the zeal of their friends"
The convention decided to admit new
nominations as occasion suited.
/ soon saw the animus Of both the Col
laday and Stark parties, and there was
never seen more resolute will and action
among any candidates partisans than Mr..
G. exhibited. judged Col Stark's friends
would also stand by him to the bitter end.
I . 10, "a . of
ferent ballots. At length / was satisfied
that under the two-third rule neither could
get nomination, and as soon as it was
announced that Col. Guild had received ten
votes Il think) from Sumner, concluded
that consistency demanded as Stark was
being dropped, on this certain sign |
would give my vote to Golladay. did
so announce and so l acted on
two ballots and Il Mr.. Golladay's friends
could have rallied the necessary number,
for reasons stated, would still have given
Mr.. G.. my vote. But this they failed TO Sc
cure-and they demanded revocation OF
| the two-third rule which was finally re-
fused. As Mr.. G. had q majority aDdsas
! his friends believed that he had suffered
| from unjust sspersions during his canvass
! and they felt it a high duty to stahd by
| him to the end, conceded my vote to
him; yet, it was manifest, dead lock "had
taken place." Then 1 and other Of Mr..
Stark's friends thought new man must be
sought for. In the Davidson county dele
CATION the whole subject was discussed.
We offered to Mr.. GoIladay's trends the
names Of Judge j. M. Lea, Baxter Smith,
K. j. Morris, n. Burns, Mr.. Peter Phillips,
a highly esteemed working mechanic Of
Nashville, and others-snd finally as we were
authorised, offered to the Golladay dele
gates from Davidson the solid vote of Sum-
ner and Robertson counties, If they would
unite on q worthy man. We rendered
earnestly and with every appeal we could
make to the patriotism and pride Of our
delegation-the privilege Of naming any
man they might chose beside Mr.. Golladay
they refused-but it is due to Mr.. Chas.
n. Hays and T. 0. Morris, to say that they
were willing to take good man, so called,
and to Maj. Mccain, that he was willing
to accept II. Burns, and if my recollection
serves me, so was Mr.. Holleran; but every
effort failed. I desire to state plainly and
without intending the least slight to any
one that it teas in the power Of the David
son county delegation TO hare secured the
nomination Of any respectable citizen of
their choice q always except on my part old
party men, and Mr.. Golladay's friends
would not listen to any compromise, ex-
cept as above stated. washed my
hands then as / do not0 of the
whole transaction, and state that while |
admire their courageous support and fidel-
ity throughout to Mr.. Golladay, and ad-
NIT that they had a majority, and further
feel that they were vindicstiDg friend to
whom they were firmly attached, and that
1 would have aided, 1hen Stark t1Gs drop
ped, to nominate him, If they could have
rallied enough votes to do SOL disapprove
the persistent refusal Of his friends in our
delegation to have Gollsday or nobody al
the bands of the convention. All which
say respectfully, and because / viii not
take any blame on myself for the disrup
ton of the convention, have only stated
what supposed was sufficient to explain
the case. And in conclusion, 1 add that il
is well known that have not looked kindly
on conventions; l but consented to go there
to aid honestly in securing a proper nomi
nation. / never was or ever will be any
mans man and when l have tried to dc
justice to all parties / will not take upoI
myself another's responsibility.
1t will be again illustrated that the Radi
cal party has bu5 to place man on thei
ticket to secure the fifth district in Novem
Der, as Mayor was secured but the othe
day in this city.
l hope the Executive Committee vii
have the frnness to select a representa-
tive man and tender him to the people o.
this district and save us from so great