Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-05
DAVIDSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION.
Delegates Elected TO the State Con-
VentiOn.
ImprOmtu Speech by Ex-GOV. NELL s
Brown.

The delegates to the Democratic Con-
vention to nominate delegates from Da-
wilson county to the State Convention,
which meets in this city on the 9th instant,
having assembled in the Circuit Court
room, Courthouse, yesterday morning at
eleven O'Clock, Col. W. 3. Walton was
unanimously chosen Chairman and made
a few appropriate remarks on taking the
chair. w. 81. billiard was chosen Secretary.
On motion of Mr.. Merritt the Chair APP
pointed the following to select delegates for
the State Convention, to consist Of one
from each ward in Nashville and Edgefeld.
and one from each district in the county.
w. A. Glenn, Sam Anderson, Felix Mckee,
SQUIRE Gamble. Enoch Cunningham, John
C.. Thompson and W. r. DemOnbreun. A
motion was make that eX-GOv. Brown be
added to ehs-eeulllaittae, -but be de-
cIined from motives of delicacy and
moved that Mr.. Merritt be added to the
committee, which was carried. On motion
of Mr.. Merritt, Col, Burch was also added
TO the committee, when they retired. Dur
ing its absence Mr.. Sweeny moved that ex-
Gov. Neiu S. Brown deliver an address,
which was carried.
EX-GoV. NELL S. BROWN.
GENTLEMEN: You have taken me very
much by surprise in this call. We are here
to-day more strictly upon business mat
ter-to elect delegates to represent the
county in the State Convention, which
meets next Thursday. The Importance OF
counseling together cannot be over-esu-
mated. The country is in very peculiar
condition, as l regard it; more so than 1t
has been in its whole history before. For
one, without being actively and prom
inently engaged in politics, l have looked
at the condition of the country with
more interest, and with more anxiety L
might say with truth, than in any former
period of my life. We have before us a
national contest of the very highest magni-
tude. 1t does not involve mere party as
tendency. 1t does not involve the mere
question whether one set of men shall get
into power and another out. My belief is
that the question Of constitutional liberty
in this country is to-day on trial. And how
are we approaching that? What comblna
tions and what sacrifices of self or party are
necessary to be made l shall not undertake
on this occasion to predict. For myself a:
an individual can forget even the past o.
political alliances of any sort if it will place
this country in the position in which tht
n ,ople among whom l live can have more
slfd peace and more solid prosperity. |
for myself, in my humble way, in thi
great contest, am willing to g
with those who promise the greatest re
formation in the condition of the country
and whose action and policy are calculated
under all the circumstances, to accomplish
the most good. Some Of the men before
me have been on the battlefield, and sup
pose they never paused toinquire "does HI
who is at my right elbow or at my left Ell
bow agree with me in everything or not?
No! but locked shields when they wer
fighting for the same great object. VIVA
courts the great Democratic party of thi
country viii take, it win be for the Nationa
Convention of that party to determin
when they meet. The object to-day is no
so much the ascendency of party as it !
to preserve the government
This government is marching rapidly o
toward Capitalization, believe. None ofu
are old enough TO remember the contest {
1900, but it is a matter of history. The ter
dency was toward Capitalization and tn
contest resulted in the triumph of Thoma
Jefferson. Since that day to this the grea
shin of State, with only some slight devils
Seas, has been in the main kept in tn
,,roper current, until this administratio
has dawned upon the country. The me
In mower seem to have a fixed determine
tion that the form of this government sha
he changed. Look out and see what
going on in the South to-day. !
3 little State, one of the old thirteeI
we have some evidence Of VIII;
has been done. Look at the picture OF me
blowing in their fields with the saddles Q
their horses so as to be in readiness to
before gthe soldiery of the Government
This is matter affecting the liberties of 0
and Young, women and children. And 80
is done in the nineteenth century and u
der a government of law, with constit
ton, and it is being done to-day, seven
eight wears after the war is ended; after U
last wave of the war that broke on the d
tant beach in the spring of 1865, and here
are in 1872 still under bayon
rule II this government must be kept
gether the time has come when it must
done without bayOnets, Otherwise it cam
be preserved at all. 1t must be done und
the law and by fellowship. Thank O.
our State is again in a condition Of peaC
But that does not touch the question | q
discussing. None of the States must
made mere provinces, and l will ney
consent that any of them shall VIII
water runs and fire burns. / may
made to do it. / mean to say that
will never give my consent to Il
sort of policy that overslaughs the Lar
marks of the State; and am happy to s
leading men Of other parties who differ
with me in the past now aiding in the
storation of the proper government; gent
men who stood very high in the Republic
party. There is a sentiment in this coun
That is determined if it can to go back 9