Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-03

lin speech 10 which We must enter our
most emphatic dissent. He says, and says
truly, "The war is all over and the people
should be brought together, should look
upon each other as men and brethren,
without regard to the past" This was just
and proper. 1t was such language as we
would expect Mr.. Greeley to utter. 1t was
like him, and unlike Morton and Logan
and Conkling and the Grant speakers,
who are trayersing the North and harping
on the war, fighting the battles over again,
calling up the spirits of the dead, exciting
anew the wrath of TIE one legged and ons
armed, recalling the bereavements of those
who lost father, brother or SOD, and again
stirring up the seething cauldron of hate
which we had hoped the nomination of
Greeley had forever closed. If Mr.. john
son had stopped with the words which we
have above quoted what terrible rebuke
they would have been to those
Grant partisans who are striving 60 array
people against people, section against sec
ton, class against class. But he did not
stop there. He went further and with the
next sentence declared
"The war was politicians rebellion, but
the poor soldiers fight. But you never saw
any of these politicians taking the poor
soldiers to their bosom. That was no place
for him. You can fight and win laurels for
10 ya1n 70
to position, but stand off. You are but the
drudges of my will. Now that the war is
over you must continue to be my drudge.
"We, the generals, want Office, and you
must be the slaves upon whose backs will
| step into the emoluments of Office. But If
you want Office, it is a high piece of pre-
sumption; you must not aspire to any posi-
ton above your rank. 1t is all for the Cen
erals. YoI nor any civilian shall have
none Of it,
Why this attempt to excite dissensions
and animoSities among the Southern peo-
pie? Why this attempt to create p:ajl-
dice against the Southern cause in the late
war by stigmatizing it as politicians re-
beilion?" Why attempt to stir up strife
between the officers aud the privates?
Where are all the Generals in Tennessee
who have stepped "into the emoluments OF
office" upon the backs of "the slaves" Of
whom the Ex. President speaks But
two of all the Tennessee Generals
occur to US on the moment as hav-
ing been honored with Office since the
war. Mr.. johnson, in making such
assertions and appeals, is doingt the grossest
irilstice to others and TO himself, an in
Justice which, if successful, VIII bring dis
grace and infamy upon that cause on which
now rests overwhelming but still honorable
defeat. How vastly different in tone AID
temper does Gen. Cheatham speak in his
address to the people of Tennessee. He is
not and never was politician. He got up
no "politician's rebellion" For the first
time in his life he asks the people of his ma.
tive State for an Office. We have quoted
from ex-Presldent Johnson's speech. Hear
what his opponent says:
l believe that to act well is more impor.
tant and beneficial than to speak well, anc
have endeavored throughout my hte to
acs well in whatever | engage. Though moi
a professional politician, have from boy
hood taken lively Interest in puolic af-
fairs, and believe if l am elected to the
Congress of the United States, shall be al
no loss to determine what is the true inter
est of nv PEOPLE. That | will stand by
and promote your interest to the best
| nh EnnVVS IN
will question. | have heard but two
objections urged to my election; first il
is q. iected that l have been soldier
a General off ser. My countrymen, is
: there any force in this objection? Wher
| was little boy my mother put in my
hands Weems life Of Washington, and
taught me to believe that the character Ol
that great citizen soldier was model fol
T every American youth. | learned then to
, think and to feel that the highest TYPE
of citizenship was q man who would
, imperil his life in defense of his
country. In my early life it wa:
the cQstOm Of our people to meet every
Fourth Of July and pay tribute to the
memory ofour Revolutionary fathers, whose
keroism on the battlefield had achieved oU
liberty and independence. l was raised il
the shadow of the Hermitage, and wa
I taught by my father to love the mama O
Jackson-Tennessee' s greatest soldier. I'm
der such instructions, when reached man.
estate, felt it to be my duty, when my
country was involved in war, TO respond to
her call for soldiers. When, years ago, the
United States Government called for vol
unteers to carry the stars and stripes il
| triumph to the halls of the Montezumas,
for one answered the call, and l hope 81
acted in that contest as TO bring no dscredi
to nv native State. If erred in so doing
| erred ia common with Campbell an'
Trousdale and hosts OF others whom here
tofore you have delighted TO honor. IL
later years, when our country became
uuhappily involved IN civil war, ant
the State of Tennessee cllled upon her son
! to defend her rights and your homes,
again answered to the call; and, if | erre'
in that, erred in sentiment, if not in &C
ton, with vast majority of my felloW-clt
: liens. In becoming a soldier to the exten
to which have been one, was prompte'
by no ambitious motives; | sought simpl
. to do my duty as | understood ii; L aske
: and expected no reward; but will admit
1 never occurred to me that the day coul
1 ever come in'which my efforts to proteC
s the weak and defend the homes and treside
, of my countrymen and State, would b
urged as an objection to my being trustee
with civil office.
s When borne down by oVerwhelmn
a numbers, we were forced to surrender, an
the war was ended, [ accepted the situatio
upon the honor Of a soldier, and returne
7. to the pursuits of peace. l am now
: farmer, and nothing more. In my humbl
= way. have labored earnestly, from TIL
y, day to this, for peace and reconciliation
1 The great body of Confederate soldier:
d who shared with me the dangers and hart
: ships of that war, have done likewise. w
q feel that we have not dishonored OF
y mother State, and that she will not dishoI
d or us for having discharged a patriots dut
IA hrNAF ARNTEDTICENEM