Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-06
CHEATHAM, JOHNSON & MAY.
EARD.
The Speaking at winchester.

To the Editor OF the Union and American:
WINCHESTER, Oct. i, 1S72.-The advent
of the candidates for Congress from the
State at large, into Middle Tennessee is at
tended with significant import. Gen.
Chatham reached here on Wednesday
night, and Gen. johnson put in his appear
ance on yesterday. Mr.. Maynard is on
hand this morning, evidently in a good
humor with himself and the rest Of man
kind.
The first note of the contest, however.
was a serenade to Gen. Cheatham last
night, al the residence of Mr.. Ransom,
where the General was staying, a number
of the Young Guard, hastily gathered
around improvising an elegant musical
treat. The General, after repeated calls,
app. a-ed on the balcony, and expressed his
thallS for the kind demonstration. When
he retired Mr.. Doak was called on for a
speech, which, for au impromptu effort,
was one Of the most creditable we have
ever listened te; full of lofty thoughts. hap
lily expressed. An eX-Federal captain pres
ent pronounced it the finest effort he had
listened TO since the war.
TIE speaking was in the Courthouse
Square, to one of the largest audiences, If
not the very largest, that has come together
since the late unpleasantRess. Gen. John
son led eli in the discussion. bat how diff.
ferent from the receptions Of Gov. johnson
of the oldsn time. Here IN the very citadel
of Democracy, where the'OId Guard never
gaVeFed in The fercess political contests,
did the eX- Governor, ex85eler2l and ex-
Presi1eut mount the rostrum, without one
word OF cheer--nOt voice broke the still
ness that was almost painful. Three years
ago Wnel the same speaker solicited the at
tentiOn Of Franklin ceunty's yeomanry,
The greeting was cordial. But why the
change? Tie sun never shone more kind
", nor the birds warbied sweeter; all the
surroundings were cheerful; yet the man
whose measure of ambition has so long
been full stood there, grand, gloomy and
more peculiar than usual, gazing over the
vast cadence, dOubtful and evidently dis
cole lJed, hesitating on a plan of attack
tina. must differ from an East Tennessee
camp ign, and still more widely diverge
from The Gallatin blunder. The scowl on
the gents ccHntenance developed into
broader and deeper lines. as be here for the
first time, perhaps, contemplated the neces-
sitv Of descending that political Jacobs lad
der, whore the wreaths lie witbered at the
foot. The speech did ultimately come, but
met with no response. Through ever two
hours of labcriOus effort without single
mQEmur of applause, did the ambitious
G58eral deal in negatives.
IT'S said the last note of the diving swan
is always sweetest, and so with this politi-
cal gladiator is this, the last speech he will
make in Franklin county, less acrimonious
than any which has preceded it. His star is
dropping behind the horizon; he feels It, he
shows it. With a lingering scowl of de-
fiance on his chagrinei countenance in re-
ply to cheers for Cheatham, retired the
Mephistopbeles of the Democratic party.
After repeated cheers for Gen. Cheatham,
MAYNARD stepped forward, and for an hour
and a half in. his usual sarcastic msnner,paid
his attentions to the ex- President, diyersi-
fed with an ingenious defense of President
Grant, and well told anecdotes. The an
uouncement that the train would presently
leave for Fayetteville, where the candidates
speak tomorrow, interrupted Mr.. Maynard's
speech which was Immediately terminated,
not however without displaying cavalier
courtesy to Gen. Cheatham, it may have
been in Difference to the largely predomi-
mating element in favor of the regular NOM
inee; at ell events Maynard made q favo-
rable impression.
Amid dcafening cheers, the farmer soldier
bowed himself forward; as the train was
waiting, there was no time for speaking.
After few brief remarks and rounds of
hearty applause the General descended
from the stand with bis arms full of bou-
quets that the ladies had sent him, evident
ly the worst nonplused person on the
ground ia knowing what TO do with the
flowers.
You may count on Franklin county poll
ing a vote for Chatham of four to one
over the combined vote of johnson and
Maynard; the vote for each viii be about
the same, say 200, and Cheatham you can
set down from 1900 to 1900. CheatiiSm
should u,l up $4,000 majority In Middle
Ter over the independent caDdi-
dat -p at work, Orga Dize, and al viii
be .... OCCASIONAL,