Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-08-28
LET US BE GOVERNED BY REASON.


The American people have always.en-
joyed the credit ofinquiring into thereason
of things When they have meditated
taking any important step, affecting their
general prosperity, they have inquired In
to the reasons that should govern them in
taking such step. But can this be said
consistently about the people of Tennessee?
What reason can they give for many OF
their public acts in the past? What rea-
son can they now give for continuing
Gov. Brown in office for another term 2
What qualification has he shown for the
position? He Is probably a capital man to-
inaugurate and preside over social re-
ception party and knows how to make his
guests feel easy and at home. He CONVEX
ses fluently and is most pleasant com
panfon, but judging him in the light of his
past administration, what capacity has he
to 81 deal with the important
financial questions in which the State is
so deeply interested? What practical sug.
gestion has he made on any of the great
questions of the day? What has he done
to develope our natural resources? What
has he done for education orimmigration
We ask, what has he done to materially
benefit the State? Suppose we give him
the credit of an honest intention to pre-
serve peace and sustain law, has he done
it? Why, right here in an adjoining
county, just a few weeks ago. an molten
sive, industrious colored man was shot
down in the most cowardly manner, al
most in sight of the Sheriff. Through the
incapacity if not by the collision of that
officer, the murderer escaped, and is now
at large. No effort is being made, SO far
as we know to arrest him. The Cover
nor has never offered cent as a rewardn
for his apprehension.
Unless we have been greatly misinformed,
the State has lost hundreds of thousands
IN, fInfA Of Il zls
Gov. Brown may not have SO intended il,
and we do not charge that he did, but he
ought to have prevented il. No reason
can be given for his continuance in the
high office which he holds, that will salts
fy reasonable, unprejudiced man. Moth
ing short of rigid party discipline, and a.
constant application of the party lash will
keep him there. sc ,a bass .
And how is it with Gen, Cheatham, who
shasj just been nominatedifor Congress from
the State at large? Personally, he is a
clever man anda good citizen, but what
qualifications does he possess that fits him
for seat in Congress? None on earth
1t would be idle folly for his friends TO say
that he did not obtain the nomination for
the high office he seeks, on his military
record alone. If he had not been Lieut.
General in the Confederate Army and &C.
CURED contemplation as fighter in be-
half of the Lost Cause. he would never
have been mentioned in connection with
that office. But is his amilitary record a
sufficient reason to satisfy the people of his
fitness for the office? Certainly not
We might give other instances that
woulds confirm the idea above held out,
that Tennesseeans are not always gov
erned by reason, when taking important
steps. They are in the hands of a corrupt
politicalparty controlled by inscriptions
leaders, who care forIself more than coun-
try, We rejoice at the siUns Of a hODnlarc
break down of this party, and our hopes
will be fulfilled, if the people will only
stop to inquire into the reason for their ac-
tions. Nf ilu 81