Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-08

1t is through no mere qualification of
Journalistic triumph, but with a genuine
appreciation Of the pubic interests, that we
warmly welcome the Nashville Banner in
its profered support of The regularly nomi.
mated local ticket for the Legislature. The
Bonner says of Saturdays County Conyen-
ton.
We learned, incidentally, yesterday that
there had been q Democratic Nominating
Convention in the city for Legislative
standard bearers of the Democratic organi-
cation. The rumor is confirmed by the ac-
count of it which our reporters present to
the public this morning. 1t will be discly-
cred that an unusually finelot of statesmen
are offered for our suffrages. When solid
citizens, distinguished for intellectual pre-
eminence among their fellows-strong men,
representative men--men of potent infiu-
ence in community which is proud to look
up TO such, are selected, in trying financial
period, when the exercise Of the highest
craftsmanship is demanded, we do
not, we confess frankly, well see how we
are to maintain Roadway against the
convention system, without qualifying the
objections, not SO much to the system as to
the manner with which they have, until
yesterday, been connected. But the action
of yesterday, we may be prepared TO con-
slider, disarms criticism. A majority of the
nominees have never sought nor desired
office, nor made themselves officious or
prominent in the business of parties or party
making. They have been dragged from the
quiet retirement Of private life to serve their
State, and especially local constituency
which ought to be thankful that such citi-
zens should give their time and talents to
the public service for the pitiful stipend of
four dollars per diem, As matter of
course the convention is ever infallible. Its
nomination, Of course, equivalent to an
election. The people need have no trouble
about it-unless, in the fell spirit of disor-
ganization they should reject the states
inanship and dignity which is offered them,
to vote for only ordinary and mediocre
members ofthe community, to make them
their laws.
We take this as toxic that we are to
be spared any miserable local squabble over
the legislative;t and as an assurance
that this capital county will not repeat the
folly Of our capital city 10 allowing a Radi-
cal minority to carry the elections against
an overwhelming majority of interested
taxpayers. So far, so good.
This week there is to be another conven-
ton, to nominate representative for this
capital district of the State, in the Federal
Congress. Let us hope that like harmony
viii prevail. The Democracy ale equally
honest and earnest in securing the voice OF
the people, and putting forth areally repre-
sentative candidate. Those who are bent
on finding fault, will ever find something
imperfect in every human work. Conyen-
tons are not indeed infallible; but 10
more are individuals infallfble; and self
constituted independents" are eminently
na5le to be still less infallble. Let us then
work together in unity, aiming for the best.
Let US encourage the people to take their
part in the matter Of free government,
rather than dishearten them by represent
ing all politics as sin and all conventions as
| fraud. -.-......, ------ -.... -
To our seeming, all the good qualities
which commend our county nominees to
the Banner, are to be found also in the
Democratic candidate for Congressman al
large. That Frank Cheatham is a repre-
sentative Tennesseean, ranking high in the
esteem and affections Of Tennesseeans,
cannot well be gainsaid. And he is also one Of
those who, like our county nominees, "have
never sought nor desired Office, nor made
themselves officious or prominent in the
business Of parties or party making" Like
them he has been drawn out of the retire
ment of private life by convention to
serve his State. And, if his opponents will
permit him sheer justice, he is a gentleman
of liberal education and elevated views
who has throughout life taken an active in
terest in public affairs; and this, too, with.
out ever being an ofice-seeker. This much
we say, because there are some who do not
appreciate the full stature of the man and
the unselfsh public spirit that has marked
his whole life, because, fOrsooth, he is a
man Of deeds rather than words.
And may we hope that our Nashville
contemporary at length recognizes the fact
! that the bulk of the brain and intelligence Of
Tennessee were on the losing side in the
late war; that to prescribe Ex-Rebels" is
but to continue that Radical policy against
which Liberalism is protest; that to
ostracize such men is practically denial Of
the exercise of local lf-goYernment, at
least until, as Wendell Phillips would have
it, every SOutherner of matured intellect is
forever under ground. As for " oTiginal
precipitators," there were few, very few in
Tennessee. The last time ex-President
johnson stumped this State as be is doing
now, he was advocating the election of Jno.
G. Breckenridge the extreme Southern can
didate for the Presidency in 1850. Cannot
the Banner al length concede, that ex-
Rebels and ex-Secessionist may be now just
as loyal to the future of the country as it is,
even though they honestly differ with it or
the question Of disbanding our present party
organization, in the face Of compact or,
ganized enemy ready to take advantage Of
every difference in our ranks? Or will the
Banner continue to insist that ex-RebelS
shall first admit that they "did wrong and
committed crime"
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HE ELECTIONS TODAY.