Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-10
THE TRIANGULAR RACE-CHEAT.
HAM TIE VICTOR.

MCMINNVILLE, Oct. lit becomes
more apparent every day that this race is
between Gen. Cheatham and Mr.. Maynard.
There is danger, very great danger. BE is
not making votes in counties like this; but
bis appeals must have effect wherever there
is lu kewarm Democrat who has hereto
fore acted with that party merely through
force of public opinion. We know tha.
there are many who have acted with us
because of the moral force of discipline
and majority. They are prey for Maynard
with his honeyed phrases and soft words,
well fitted to beguile the unwary and the
lukewarm in these times of disorganiza-
ton. ---a-
The speaking here to-day was listened to
by a crowd of about six hundred. His
speech was falling off frem his former
self, and far below what we had expected.
His friends have expected that the great
johnson would create revolu-
ton in public sentiment, carry
away the crowd, and overwhelm his
enemies with confusion. He has not ex-
cited the slightest enthusiasm, or one word
of applause, nor even half the interest
created by Maynard. His speech of to-day
was received in silence, and almost without
interest.
Gen. Cheatham followed in a speech of
one hour. He had the close attention Of
his audience and was greeted with frequent
rounds of applause.
His friends say he made three hundred
votes here. he made friends know. He
replied to Mr.. Johnson's defence of the
Surratt murder and replied well, exposing
the sophistry and untruth of his defence;
that it was question of discretion as to
whether be should grant apardon or not.
Showing that although he claims to be the
only living defender Of the constitution, he
either must never have read that instru-
ment or openly violated its provision that
/ no citizen shall be tried by military court
unless actually in the land or naval service
of the United States. His defence that
his Attorney General advised him OF the
legality of that court is 'too thin" --
Gen. Cheatham defended the conven-
ton and charged home en- Mr.. johnson any
ioekying that was done in his Own interest,
and determination to rule it or break it
up.
Mr.. johnson was severe on Greeley, and
while he said he would support him, it was
not in the spirit of the liberal movement, nor
in the temper of the Greeley platform,or of
his magnificent speeches. He appeared, in
deed to be laboring indirectly for the defeat
of Greeley, by preventing lukewarm Dem
ocrats from supporting him. He read CO.
pious extracts from Greeley's past utter
ances to show that it would be very bitter
pill for any Democrat to support him, and
such extracts as would be well fitted to de-
ter many from supporting him at all.
This tallies with the position that Gen.
| Cheatham alone was the representative OF
the Liberal movement, or the Liberal plat
form. He only accords with that move
ment in perfect harmony with it, both in
his present position and in his past acts
since the war.
Mr.. Johnson's appeal to the Democracy
to remember the warmth OF Greeley's op-
position to them and strength of his utter
ances against them, seemed to be made in
his own interest, without regard to wheth-
| er or not it imperiled the national interest.
| It appears that he cannot forget nor forgive;
that Greeley's opposition to him still rankles
| in his breast, excluding all liberalism, or
genuine acceptance of Greeley or OF the
Liberal platform.
talked to-day with men from all parts
| of the county, and while johnson has some
l ~ LII lIlcuuo uCIO1 alO Au0AA4y NOh
fined to the town of McMinnville. He has
very little strength outside, except in one
corner ofthe county. All agreed that Gen.
| Cheatham's vote would be much larger in
the country, and but few doubt of his car
rying the county. This has all along been
put down as a johnson county, but the
changes here have been remarkable, and
the friends are able to point them out and
show where the changes have occu--
red. The johnson men look very much
disappointed, and have exchanged
a buoyant expectation of vic
tory for one of disappointment at the result
of to-day's speaking. Urge everybody TO
cease quarreling and pickering, and unite
on the common foe. Mr.. Johnson's friends
no longer hope for election; why should
they force the election of Maynard?
Maynard said to-day, when lady hand
| ed bouquet to Gen. Cheathsm, on the
stand: "They give my competitor the
flowers; they are reserving the fruit for me- y
l am afraid this will be so unless the fac
tious minority who appear to have adopted
rule or ruin policy, unite on the gallant
Cheatham. l believe there is yet good
sense enough to save us, and l discover as
an omen of good that the young, live and
liberal are, everywhere l have been, sup
porting Gen. Cheatham. The drill ser
geants are using the fame of johnson, and
trying to rally and coerc1 all the opponents
of liberalism, and live progressive men into
a solidr ank and file Of opposition. The
young men they can't drive nor coax into
support of the representative of issues OF
the dead, almost forgotten in past politics,
now sought to be resurrected from theiI
old charnel houses, where they bad been
laid to rest, until digged up by MIR. john