The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-06-28
HON. G. A, HENRY.
Declines in Favor Of Gen. Cheatham.

To the Editor of the Union and American:
GAINESVILLE, Tenn, June 16,
18Th your valuable paper of the
18th inst, l observe a cali upon me
by "many voters of all parties" to
become a candidate for Congress for
the State at large. A call so urgent
and complimentary demands from
me a prompt and candi4reply.
If anything could induce me to ex-
change the quiet of my present re-
tirement for the excitement of a
canvass for Congress, and in case of
success, the still more exciting scenes
of public life in Washington, it
would be the hope that l might
somewhat contribute 10 the restora-
ton of harmony to the citizens of
all parties in the State, now too long
separated in hostile array, a hostil-
ity as 1 think, engendered by mis-
taken policy Of the Government,
which unfortunately made men enc
mics who had the strongest motives
in the world to be friends. A con-
summation of this kind so dcyoutly
TO be wished for, would open a field
so inviting, l hardly know how /
could refuse to enter it, if it were
not for the fact that Gen. Frank
Cheatham is q candidate for the State
at large. l am for him, l cannot get
my own consent to oppose him for
any office to which he may aspire; ]
have too long admired his self-sacri-
Using patriotism to throw myself in
the way of his advancement, to say
nothing of the ties of private friend
ship which shall never be severed by
me. For long years / have watched
his course, and have found lin in
the front ranks of volunteers when
the bugle called him to defend the
national homer, and its flag on the
plains of Mexico, or to establish
Southern independence in the war
between the States-a sincere, earn
est and honorable man, who has
never faltered to tread the path of
duty, though it might lead to dan
ger or to death. For all these heroic
services in which he has met death
face to face On a hundred fields, he
has received no token of the
love or appreciation of the people
of his own beloved Tennessee,
the land of his birth. Dur
ing the war 1 was in position
to know the high appreciation put
upon his services by the Government
Of the Confederate States and the
commanders of the armies in which
he served. lie was regarded as the
great division commander to whom
all looked to for support in the trying
hour of danger, and whose cool cour-
age and generalship often turned the
tide of many a battle. The people
of Tennessee owe him debt of
gratitude and now is the time to pay
it. The great body Of people feel it
is incumbent upon them to discharge
the debt, and the gallant men who SO
often followed his dashing plume in
the hottest of the fight, will not now
falter to bear him to victory. l have
heard it said Cheatham is no speaker.
True, he is no orator as Brutus was,
but he has clear head and unerring
Judgment, which are qualities far SUI
perior to the gift of Oratory-which
by. the way, is a dangerous gift to the
man who possesses it, and very often
Improbable to the people. The his
tory of our own country proves the
most valuable public servants are
not those most gifted in the graces
and charms of Oratory. Jefferson
WAS no orator, and old Nathanial
Macon, long the Nestor of Congress,
hardly ever spoke and never longer
than half an hour, but was all the
time the peoples champion and the
confidential adviser of Presidents
and statesmen. Though he was in
no sense an orator, none were more
useful as representative of the peo-
pie IN Congress. Meaning to dis
parage no enc, nor to underate the
claims of any 10 the public favor, l
simply mean to say Gen. Frank
Cheatham has claims on the public
which ought not to be
postponed one hour longer, in favor
of any man in the State.
Acting upon this sentiment nv.
self, L most respectfully decline to
accept the honor rendered me by
" Many Citizens of all PARTIES"
Very truly your friend and obedi-
ent servant G. A. HENRY.