Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-08-31


doomed, among ether disasters Of the
war, to witness the degrading specta-
cic Of millions Of semi .barbsrians ele-
waited TO the dignity Of citizenship,
and their ignorance and vice given free
access 10 the ballot hoxasan additional
counterpoise to the integrity and in
teliect, without which, every effort at
free and honest government must
prove q aignal failtlre.
The Herald, in view Of allthe facts,
announces as probable result that
was inevitable from the beginning, and
the entire North will yet deplore a
curse intended solely for the South.
which retributiye justice will hurl
back upon IFS authors with crushing
force, The State that should madly.
convert its pcnitentiary into a legisla
tive hall, with representatives chosen
only by urics, wouldact about as wisely
aud patriotically az the Radical party
has done in giving accuB4latcd ignor-
anee and vice the preponderancc in
the ballot box. Political privileges
conferred upon those who cannot dis
criminste between liberty and liceni.
business, are anything but a boon to
them and nothing but curse to the
government which tries the hazardous,
but not doubtful experiment.
II il already known TO our readers.
that the Convention of the 2lst, nom
mated Gen. Cheathan az a candidate
for Congress, from the State at large,
and Hon. Jos s. Fowler. as Elcctor
for the State at large. Candor conpels
us to say that Gen. Chatham was not
our choice before the Convention, but
being the choice Of that body, we ac-
eept, and shall support him, in good
faith. We did not prefer him, be-
cause it il our hottest conviction that
the preference for soldiers has been
pushed too far, and that in the effort
to re establish civil over military gov
ernment, it is a grave mistake 70 make
law giyers Of military men whose want
of experience in civil policy and camp
training render them, as in the case Of
Grant, unsafe repositories Of civil au
thority We apprehendcd, moreover,
that the basis Of the Generals strength
with his conservative friends, will
prove the ground of his weakness with
that class Of our population whose
strength il not TO be dcSpised in this
contest. And opposed, as he is, by
such man as Andrew Johnson
the Moses Of the eolored receive an
ticipate an excited contest, with defeat
perhaps, and a disastrous division a.
the result Of the Convention action
| To make a Successful fight, it is indis.
pcnsible that we appreciate, and
strengthen, our own weak points. II
will be admitted that Gen. Cheatham'
skill and ability as q military leader
| will not win for him, the support Of
the negro, the Radical, or the Liberal
Republican who thinks his party has
been sighted in the apportionmcnt o.
Offices. 1t is equally true that there
is a growing disposition among tbs
people, to bolt Conventions, which
they charge with uaurp.ng popular
rights and bctraying popular conf.
dence Erroneous as this conviction
is, il is extensively felt, and We appre
bend from it, a large detection ofthost
who ought 10 support Gen Cheathan
with all their might. Andrew John
son : ingenuity, stimulated by his ha
tired Of all who do not second his IN
ordinate ambition VIII not.tail to max,
the most Of every circumstance tina
can, in the slightest degree, be mad,
available in dividing the conscryatiy,
vote His love Of Democracyand tn
way he manifested it, as militar.
/. Governor, is fresh in the memory o
! all, and the facility with which he dis
! carded HE Democracy, in the hour o
! trial, and put on the Radical livery
leaves W no room to doubt his willing
ness 10 sacriiice il again, on the alta
, Of selfish ambition, and PROSTATE tn
party and its principles before the foo
, stool Of Radical power lie was ar
parently, as earnest a Democrat befor
] the war, "a he seems to be now, h
1 turned traitor then, trust him not now
1 lie hates the conservative element j
/ Tennessee because it has not eonhde
e TO him, its leadership, and KNOWN
y his skill a. a demagogue, and how lit
s he will be controlled by precedent (
!. principle, We warn the friends
J. Cheatham against him, under the col
If wilton that, without ceaseless viz
Y lance aud uutiring effort, he will be d
a ieated and the conservative party
/ the State become hopelessly demora
80 lied There are many indications
lc such result and, We regret to say
in the people are themselves, the though
"a less originators, and will be the vi
al ting, of the train Of evils growing 0
Mt of a want OF organization and the N
G. ~ II promotes ." |fa....
es The indications are painfully d
be tinct, that the conservatives of Te