Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-30

mn. J0HNS0E,6 UNXONISM NO
GROUND OF OBJECTION 40 THE
DEM0CRATIC PAHTE. z e.
In his speech at Thompson;s Station,
Williamson county, W. j. Sykes discussed
the question to which frequent allusion has
been made in regardEt0 the Democratic
party opposing Mr.. johnson because OF bis
record during the war, and said:
"The impression is sought to be made
that the Democratic party oppose Mr.. John
son because Of bis Uunionisn. No suehis-
sue has been made. FodispneEe ..his, let US
look to undisputable facts. In 1858, after
the war was over, Democratic convention
recommended The n0mination of Mr.. John
son as a candidate for the Presidency. In
1869 majority Of the Democratic MEM
bers Of the Legislature voted for him for
Senator, The Democratic party in the
county in which live, Shelby, nominated
and elected Federal soldier to be Circuit
Judge; the same party this year placed
upon lis electoral ticket for
the State at large two Union
men; the same party nominated
Wn. 3. Carter, Union man, as candi-
date for Congress, and two years ago nom
mated aud elected Federal soldier, Gar
ret, to Congress. EaEE g. "a
The Democratic party of TENNESSEE. sup
ported Seymour and Blair, two devoted
Union men, in 1868, and il is now giving
an earnest and hearty support to Horace
Greeley and B. Gratz Brown, lifelong
friends CT the Union. All these things
show that this party is not now opposing
Mr. johnson or any other man on account
Of bis Union sentiments during the war.
It is his attempts to strip strife by asking
an endorsement of his course, and by be-
coming the leader of all the disorganiziDg
elements in the State, that has placed him
in antagonism TO the Democratic party.
He is not fair representative Of the Liber-
al Union men Of the State, and has not
been for many, many years, except short
time when be was Presidents He was not
during the war nor soon afterwards; he was
not when he caused-th withdrawal of
the Mcclellan electoral ticket In 1864;
he was not when he opposed the
election of John O. Brown in 1870 aud he
is not now when be is seeking 10 reopen the
wounds ofthe war which all but he seem
desirous Of having healed. Very few of
the prominent Union men of the State,
such as Bsilie Peyton, Ed. 81. Ewing, and
men of that character are sustaining him in
his present course. --sa * a E5et3' q
1t will not do therefore to say that con-
domination Of Andrew Johnson's present
course is condemnation of Union men.
They condemned his course as Military
Governor as much as any. man, and III fact
no man of any party can be found that
win defend Andrew Johnson's course at
that time. All that they ask is that We
may overlook if we connot forget and for
give this part of his history.
This might be done ifhe would not in
sist on making it an issue by assailing those
who differed with him, and by insisting
thai he was always right whilst others were
all wrong. This is the issue he has
very unnecessarily made and upon this he
has appealed to the people.
Notwithstanding his appeal 70 the peo-
pie, bis friends defend him by quoting
the resolution of the Democratic Conven-
ton OF 1868. That resolution does not
sanction his whole course, but merely COM
pliments him highly-perhaps too highly
for bis conduct as President in his struggle
with the Radical party.
Mr.. johnson moreover has no right to
quote this resolution Of convention. he
repudiates conventions, and is denouncing
them all over the State. 1t will not then
do for him to defend himself by a resolution
of one Of these bodies which be is now de-
rouncing. 1t will not do for him to say,
when they endorse me they are
right, but when they refuse
to nominate me they are unfair and packed.
He has rejected conventions and upon
their acts he cannot rely. If Mr.. john
son had merely asked an endorsement of
his course as President when he was con-
tending with the Radicals many who are
opposing him would have been willing to
give him that endorsement, but when hs
makes other issues and asks condemns
ton of the Southern cause then he must
expect opposition from those who believed
they were right although since the cause
has been lost they are willing to accept
in good faith the issue settled by the war
and cover with the mantle of oblivion the
bitter memories of the past.