Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-06-22
HON. q. A. HENRY.


t'tfntS - EaNOE VI 0tN<- Nh''tthNfn-
From the Union and American;
CLARKsvILLE. Tenn, June lG, 1872.
in your valuable paper Of the 18th
inst, / observe a call upon me by
many voters of ali parties to become
a candidate for Congress for the State
at large. A call so urgent and compli-
meptasy demands from me prompt
and candid reply.
If anything could induce me to ex-
change the quiet Of ray present retire
lHent for the excitement of q canvass
for Congress, and in case of success,
the still more exciting scenes of pub
Tic lise in Washington, it would be the
rope that | might somewhat contrib
ute to the restoration of harmony to
the citizens of all parties in the State,
now too long separated in hostile ar
ray, a hostility as think, engendcred
by mistaken policy of the Govern
ment, which unfortunately made men
enemies who had the strongest ssotives
in the world to be friends. A consum-
nation of this kind so devoutly to be
wished for. would open field SO invit-
ing, l hardly know how | could refuse
to enter it, if it were not for the fact
Gen. Frank Chcatham is candidate
for the State at large. ! am for him, |
cannot get my own consent to oppose
him for any Office to which he may as
pire; have too long admired his self
sacrificing 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 him in the
front ranks of volunteers when the
buglc called him to defend the nation
al honor, and its flag on the plains of
Mexico, or to establish Southern indie
pendence in the war between the
States-a sincere. earnest and honora-
BILE man, who has never faltered to
tread the path of duty, though it might
lead to danger or to death. For all
these heroic services in which he has
met death face to face on a hun
dred fields, he has received no to-
ken of the love or appreciation of the
people of his own beloved Tennessee,
the land of his birth. During the war
/ was in position to know the high
; appreciation put upon his services by
the Government of the Confederate
States and the commanders of the ar
mics in which he served. He was re-
garded as the great division command
er to whom all looked for support
in the trying hour Of danger, and
whose cool courage and generalship
turned the tide Of many a battle.
The people of Tennessee owe him a
debt of gratitude and now is the time
to pay it. The great body of the peo-
pie 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 faltcr to bear him to victory.
| have heard it said Cheatham is no
speaker. True, he is no orator as Bru-
tus was, but he has clear head and
an unerring judgment, which are quail
tiles far superior to the gift of orato-
(which by the way, is dangerous
gift to the man who possesses it, and
very often improbable to the people.
The history of our 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 Ncstor of Congress, hardly ever
spoke and never longer than half an
, hour, but was all the time the people s
| 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 people in Congress. Meaning
to disparage no one nor to underate
the claims of any to the public favor
, simply mem to say Gen. Frank
, Cheatham has claims on the public APP
probation which ought not to be post
! poncd one hour longer, in favor ofany
man in the State.
Acting upon this sentiment myself
| most respectfully decline to accept
the honor rendered me by Many
Citizens of all Parties"
Very truly your friend and obcdicnt
.-nr