The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-09-05
GEN EItAL H.. l.. CHEATHAM.
Circular Address to the People Of
the State at Large.

pTcoS lIom nc DLdIc ~ lalSc. Oooh
thereafter the Democratic party,
through its Central Committee, called
a convention to nominate a candidate
for that office. This was done to Sc
cure harmony and unity of action
among a people having u common sen
timent and Il common interest. 1 an
nounced promptly that would submit
my claims to that convention, abide its
action and support its nominee. After
time had been allowed for consultation
and due consideration, that convention
met, and | was nominated us its candl-
date. | believe it was fairly organized
and expressed honestly tue preference
OF two'thirds Of the people whom 1t
undertook to represent otherwise l
would not be before you to-day.
! believe that to act well is more i'm
portant and beneficial than to speak
well, and | have endeavored through
out my life to act well in whatever l
engage. Though not q professional
politician, | have from boyhood taken
a lively interest in public affairs, and |
believe if | am elected to the Congress
Of the United States. | Shall be at no
loss to determine what is the true in
terest Of the people. That will stand
by and promote your interest to the
best Of my ability, no one who knows
me will question. l have heard but
two objections urged to my election :
first, it is objected that | have been q
soldier-a General officer. My coun-
trymen, is there any force to this oh
jection2 When | was q little boy my
mother put in my Hands Weems' Lille
Of Washington, and taught me to be-
lieve that the character Of that great
citizcn-sOldier was a model for every
American youth, | learned then 10
think and to feel that the highest type
Of citizenship was Il man who would
imperil his life in defence of his coun-
try. In my carly life it was the Gus
tom of our people to meet every Fourth
OF jelly and pay tribute to the memory
OF our revolutionary fathers, whose
heroism On the battlefield had achieved
our liberty aud independence. was
raised in the shadow Of the Hermitage,
and vas taught by my father to love
the name Of acknowledgements
greatest soldier Under such instruc-
tons, when | reached MAPS estate, |
feItsait to be my duty, when my country
was involved in war, to respond to her
call for soldiers. When, yeals ago,
the United States Government called
for volunteers, to carry the stars and
stripes il triumph to the halls of the
Montezumas, | for one answered the
cal, and / hope so acted in that con
test as to bring no discrcdit to my ma
tive State. If | erred in SO doing, ]
erred in common with Campbell .nd
Trousdale and hosts Of others. whom
heretofore you have delighted to non,
or. In later wears, when our country
became u%nhappily involved in civil
war, and the State Of Tennessee called
upon her som to defend her rights and
your homes, | again answered 10 TIE
call and if | erred in that, | erred in
sentiment, if not in action, with Il vast
majority Of my llcw-citizens. Ia
becoming a soldier to the extent to
which | have been one, | was prompt.
ed by no ambitious motives; sought
simply to do ny duty rs | understood
it; | asked ald expected no reward
but | will admit it never occurred to
me that the day could ever come in
which my efforts to protect the weak
and defend the homes and tiresides of
my co%untrymcn and State, would be
urged as an objection to my being
trusted with a civil office.
Fcllow-citizens, if I had been one of
those quasi military men who took II pO-
sition in the rear, and abused his power
by %tyrannizine over helpless women and
disarmed citizens, the objection would be
a good one. But | made no war on the
deiensclcss; | never disturbed their peace,
nor wasted their property; no citizen can
his hand and say | ever sought to
Cypress him. When borne down by over
whclming numbers, we were forced to
surrender. and the war was ended, | ac-
the situation upon the honor of a
and returned to the pursuits of
peace. | I'm now a farmer, and nothing
more. In my humble way, | have labored
earnestly. from that day to this, tor peace
and reconciliation. The great body Of
soldiers, who shared with me
The dangers and harlships of that war,
have done likewise. Wcfeel that we have
not dishoEored our mother State, and that
she will not dishonOr us tor having dis
Il patriots duty: besides it has
been demonstrated that the presence of Il
soldier in Congress exciteS no
sensation, and Is not made 4 cause of OBJ
ection. As evidence OF this. | will only
lite YOU to General Lewis. of Kentucky;
General Ransom. of North Carolina. and
,thcr distinguished soldier; who now oc-
,upy seats in Congress.
The second and only other other Obiec-
ion that has been urged against me is that
nan i wanted who, in the language of
he Obiectors-can make Rome howl ="
'ellow-citizens, if Tennessee needs such a
nan in Congress, the objection is grave
ne, for have neither the peculiar talent
Ior the aspiration to become an agitatOr
r a political gladiator in Congress.
elimination and rccriminatiOn are often
he offspring of reckless hearts impelled
y an overlapping ambition, and subseryc
t best but bad purposes.
In Legislative halls, wisdom. mcdera-
ion. honesty and justice should bear sway,
nd not ambition, envy, hatred, malice.
nd all uncharitablcness. But ut this
of our affairs, above all others,
hen the era of peace, reconciliation and
f good feeling seems to be approaching.
III Desirable that Tpnnrs.pp shoull hu