Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-23


Gen. Frank Cheatham and Gov. Brown
are now the declared candidates for the
nexs Governorship OF Tennes .ee, subject.
however, to the decision of the nominating
convention. Between the aspirants. we
have little difficulty in making a choice.
Gov. Brown has been an able and efficient
executive officer. His administration bias
been characterized by a uniform will to ex-
ecute the laws, to sustain the credit of the
y State, to tighten taxes, as far as consistent
with. financial safety and integrity, and TO
promote and foster the development of all
classes Of industry within our borders.
So faultless has it been that a Radical
Senator, at banquet given the members
of the Legislature at Nashville, declared
that Gov. Brown was the hardest man his
party had to fight, for he had done nothing
to condemn. With such a record in the
past as a recommendation and guarantee
for the future, we need no other reason
than that given by his known probity of
character, ability and craftsmanship, to en-
list us in bis support. We declare for and
favor his nomination.
The frieRds of Gen. Cheatham, in West
Tennessee, In order TO give him OppOrtuni-
ty to canvass his claims for nomination, pro-
test against the time Of holding the State
Convention, and urge a postponement from
the 9th day of May till fall. If the time
for holding the Convention is to be made
dependent upon the interests Of individual
aSpirants to gubernatoTial honOrs. we. fear
the event Of any convention, at all, viii be
as remote, contingent and uncertain as the
time fixed for the payment of his creditors
by Charles Fox, the English statesmen. He
owed the Jews, admitted it, but avoided
"a oil inn or 10
ment. "Well, well, Fox, you have always
admitted you owed us money, but protested
against the time. We will give you your
own time, only just tx some final day for
- cur repayment" "Ah, my dear Moses"
replied Fox, snow this is friendly. l viii
take you at your word, will fix day, and
as it's to be a final day, what would you
think Of the day of Judgment" ''That
viii be too busy day with u.s." Well,
well, in order to accommodate all parties,
let US settle the day after" So if the State
Executive Committee, in whom the right
TO call a convention rests admit the princi-
pie that it should be called TO suit the wish
es of everybody, in order to accommodate
all parties aspirant, let them postpone the
convention from the 9th Of May, and call
ameeting the day after the general judy
1lelt.
From the Gallatin Examiner, April 20.
We very greatly regret to see the card of
Gen. Cheatham announcing himself as a
candidate for Governor and requesting the
postponement of the State Convention for
several months to allow him time to canvass
the State. Of course the meaning of this
is that he wishes time to try and persuade
the people of Tennessee that Gov. Brown
ought not to be elected again, but ought to
IL
point upon which We believe that an over
WIDENING majority Of The Democrats of the
State agree, with the greatest unanimity, it
is that Gov. Brown, having filed the execu-
tive chair, but a portion of the term Of two
years, and having performed its duties faith
fully, that he is fairly entitled, by past usa-
ges Of our people TO another term. From
the first division Of parties in 1886, down
to the present year, we believe there is no
exception to the usage that an incumbent
of the gUbernatOrial chair, who had met the
just expectations Of his party, was entitled
as q matter of course, to a denomination.
The opposite rule would clearly amount to
want of confidence, and we see no good
reason why Gov. Brown should be the first
to whom it should be applied. We are
very sure that his friends would have Just
ground to complain if he were set aside in
this summary manner without the
least shortening on his part in the dis
charge Of his political duties.
Now in regard to the claims of Gen.
Cheatham, we have the right to speak of
him with every freedom, as he has been our
lifelong friend, and we yield to none in our
respect for his sterling qualities as a man,
and his services as a soldier. Our people
owe him a debt Of gratitude, and would be
glad to show their sense of it, but, as two
wrongs cannot make one right, they will
not be within 10 Lumiliate one good soldier
and patriot, o elevate another, and
more especially, when thc- can and
will be glad to discharge theu obligations
TO each. And we appeal to that fine sense
of soldierly honor that we know Gen.
CheaUham possesses in q high degree, to de-
termine, whether it is not more just as well
as more graceful, to yield the race now to
Gov. Brown. We are very certain that his
best friends would so advise.
In regard to the postpOnement Of The
Convention, while we are Of the opinion
that the call for its meeting was premature
for many good reasons, we would think it
unwise now to defer it. We only hope
that it will have the prudence and wisdom
merely to nominate a candidate for Gov
ernOr, select good and able electors, and 90
home. If its members 90 TO dabbling VII h
platforms, and Conventions for the Presi-
dency, they may do something very foolish.
Our people are not SO ignorant That they
must be told, periodically, by convention
of politicians what Democratic principles
are. They are sufficiently educated to vote
right without being told how to vote by
ambitious platform builders.
From the Fayetteville News, April 70.
We know that none but the
disafiected are indispOsed to the reelection
of Gov. Brown. We know that none
others would hazard the country's dearest
interests at this critical mOmeul, by encour-
aEiug personal scramble for Office among
sliding Democrats or by other means Of
Weakening the strength Of the only cOnsii-
tutional party in the country. The i'm
patience Of the American people is the
dread enemy Of the times TO true republi-
canlsm. The impotence of our people TO
get rid of Grant, without regard to the
means of accomplishing that end, is one Of
the dark harbingers Of evil that we
discover OTerhanging the political
horizon. Hence the necessity Of
clinging the closer TO the Demo-
cratic party; the necessity Of extreme eau
ton and prudence in departing from the
y ususal customs Of the party. If an unu-
sual step is to be taken or a new coalition
10 be formed by the party, let it be the re-
suit of harmonious counsel and calm de-
Liberation. Hence we say tbat Of all times in
our history, the present is the most unprO-
pitious for a scramble among individuals
for office upon mere personal considerations.
1t is no time for discOrd on any account.
The individual who is not prepared to make
sacrifices in the way Of Withholding his per
sonal claims, or otherwise has a different
view of patriotism to that we entertain. We
submit that it would be much greater sac
rifice on the part of Gov. Brown
and and his friends for him to have to
Weld the race - which We know
he would do, iftbe convention were TO so
decide-,han for any other ofthe many dis
tinguished gentlemen Of the party, who nave
been spoken of, to Withhold his claims for
the present. Such has never been the Gus
tom Of the party. But upon the contrary
II has always been the custom to re-elect,
when the incumbent has acquitted himself
4 H,4rg a n