Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-01
THE RUBzC0N PAssE 2.

hope of an adjustment of the discussions
in the Democratic ranks produced by his
candidacy is at an end, and Democrats
must now determine whether they will |
stand firmly by their organization, or assist |
in shivering It aud thus hand over to the |
keeping of Radical rulers the welfare of the |
people of Tennessee.
In May last as soon as the bill was passed
giving us an additional member of Con-
gress to be elected by the State at large
the UNION AND AMERICAN gave unmis-
taxable evidence Of its preference for Mr..
| johnson for that position. 1t was an
nounced that he would be a candidate.
Soon after it was stated that be had not
fully determined to be candidate, that he
was indisposed TO make a struggle for the
position, and that bis final determination
would be reserved until he came to Nash
vile, which it was expected be would DO in
a short time. Ia the meantime the name
of Gen. Cheatham was announced as
candidate. This increased the doubts
| in the minds of the friends of Nh. john
son as TO bis becoming a candidate, as it
was now evident that it would require q
struggle to get the position. Nothing &C
Cured to remove those doubts, but con-
tinued silence tended to further increase
them.
By a resolution Of the Democrats Con
vention, of the 9th Of May, the State Ex-
ecutive Committee was authorized to Sc
lect the Democratic candidate for Congress
man for the Safe at large, in the event
the bill then pending in Congress
to give Tennessee an additional
member should pass. That bill passed,
and when the State Committee met on the
! 10Th of June, the name of Ex-President
johnson and Gen. Cheatham were before
the people, the latter certainly candidate,
the former probably. The friends of Gen.
Cheatham were in the majority on the
Committee. 1t was insisted by some that
the nomination should be made by the
| Committee in accordance with the resolu-
ton of the Convention. 1t was insisted
that If Mr.. johnson intended to be candi-.
date he wsuld not submit either to the
action of the Convention or the Commit
| tee. His friends declared that he would
acauiesce in the action of the Convention.
It was finally determined that Convention
should be called e'to meet at the Capitol in
this city on Wednesday, the 2lst of August,
for the purpose of nominating candidate
for Congress for the State at large and to
nominate an ad 1itional candidate for Pres
idential elector for the State at large"
That call was published on the morning of
the 10Th of June, two months before the
assembling of the Convention.
Time passed on and it was still unkno wn
whether be would be candidate. In his
speech at Knoxville few days before the
Convention, he declared that he was not
candidate. His friends throughout the
State could not make fight for him in the
County Conventions because they did not
know what his purposes or wishes were.
His friends who came as delegates to the
Convention could not organize and work
for him on the two days Immediately pre-
ceding the Convention because they still
did not know whether his name would be
before the convention. 1t was not gener-
ally known until the morning ofthe conven-
ton that his name would not be presented
to the body. The convention met in accor-
dance with the cali of the Executive Com
mittee, was regularly opened and organ:
lied, and Gen. Cheatham received five hun
dred and seventy-nine out of six hundred
and fifty.six votes cast, being largely over
two thirds and over two-thirds Of the whole
vote even if the convention had been full.
Under these circumstances, notwith-
standing our preference for exPresident
johnson, we fell il to be our duty to place
the name of Gen. Cheatham at the head Of
our columns as the Democratic candidate
for Congress for the State at large. It was
stated that Mr.. johnson would be candi-
date in opposition 20 the nominee. We
knew in that event there would be ruinous
dissensions in The Democratic ranks which
would inevitably lead to Radical
triumphs. While we preached organize
ton, organization, organization from day
70 day, We did not tear passion to tat.ers
nor strike wildly right and left careless of
who was hurt so somebody was hit. The
ieers and taunts of ayOwed Radicals or
equally bitter haterS Of Democracy did not
drive us from our purpose to accomplish
by every means Of Cancellation restora-
ton of good feeling between contsnding
Democrats.
We determined 10 utter no word Of irri-
tation to increase the existing disSensions. e.,
We have worked and waited and hoped for
harmony and unity, fully convinced that in
union is our strength. But it seems all in
vain. Up to Friday night we hoped that
Ex-President johnson would not be can
didate. 1t was not until late Friday night,
when we saw Col Colyar's announcement
as an independent car didate for Governor,
that we despaired OF an adjustment. EX-
President JohnsOn's speech yesterday re-
moves all doubt. The Rubicon is passed.
As Cesar said VIXEN he crossed that
little stream in his march to Rome, Jdetd
est dlea, "The die is cast" With our
views of duty TO principle, and to party as
the advocate of principle, we shall stand by
the Democratic organization, its rules, Gus
toms and usages, and give to its nominee
cordial, hearty support. We may be beat
en-, Radicalism may triumph and again
rule through our discussions, but we shall
still rally "The Old Guard" and contest
every inch Of ground in defense Of the
principles Of Constitutional government and
for the preservation ofthat party which has
so long and nobly stood up against the as
saults of Radical fanaticism. LET THE
DEMOCRACY RALLY.
THE QUESTION.
The question HOw is not who is the
ablest man upon the stump or the most