Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-18
MoN. 8. :. nnNRY.

L
Declines in Favor Of GEN. CheafIlaIn.
10 the Editor Of the Union and American:
GAINESVILLE, TENN., June 16, 1S72.A
In your valuable paper of the 18th inst,
observe call upon me by ''many voters OF
| all parties " to become candidate for Con-
gress for the State at large. A call so urg
emit and complimentary demands from me a
prompt and cand reply. gtAa
If anything could induce me to exchange
The quiet Of my present retirement for the
| excitement of canvass for Congress, and
in case of success, the still more exciting
scenes of public life in Washington, it
would be the hope that l might somewhat
contribute to the restoration of harmony to
the citizens Of all parties in the State, now
too long separated in hostile array, a hOstil-
ity as / think, engendered by a mistaken
policy Of the Government, which unfortun-
ately made men enemies who had the
strongest motives in the world to
be friends. A consummation of this
kind so devoutly to be wished
for, would open field so inviting, hardly
know how could refuse to enter it, if it
were not for the fact Gen. Frank Cheatham
is candidate for the State at large. l am for
him, cannot get my own consent to oppose
him for any Office to which he may aspire;
have too long admired his self-sacrifsing
patriotism to throw myself in the way Of his
advancement, to say nothing of the ties of
private friendship which shall never be sew
cred by me. For long years have watch
ed his course, and have found him in the
front ranks of volunteers when
the bugle called him to defend
the national 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 honorable 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 be
has met, death face to face on a hundred
fields, he has received no token of the love
or appreciation of the people of his own be-
loved Tennessee, the land Of his birth. Dur
ing the war l was in a position to
know the high appreciation put up
on his services by the Government
ofthe Confederate States and the comman-
ders of the armies in which he served. He
was regarded as the great division COM
mander to whom all looked to for support
in the trying hour of danger, and whose
cool courage and generalship often turned
the tide Of many a battle. The people of
Tennessee owe him debt of gratitude and
now is the time to pay it. The great
body of the people 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 falter to bear him TO victory. / have
heard it said Cheatham is no speaker.
True, he is no orator as Brutus was, but
he has clear head and an unerring judg-
ment, which are qualities far superior
to the gift of oratOry-which by the
way, is a dangerous gift to the
man who possesses it, and very
often improbable to the people
The history of our own country proves the
most valuable public servants are not those
most gifted in the graces and charms of Or
atory. Jefferson was no orator, and old
Nathanial Macon, long the NestOr Of Con-
gress, hardly ever spoke and never
longer than half an hour, but was all the
time the peoples champion and the conf
dental adviser of Presidents and statesmen.
Though he was in no sense an orator, none
were more useful as a representative of the
people in Congress. Meaning to dis
the claims of any to the
Frank Cheatham has claims on the public
which ought not to be post
poned one hour longer, in favor of any
man in the State.
Acting upon this sentiment myself,
most respectfully decline to accept the
honor rendered me by "Msny Citizens of
all Parties"
Very truly your friend and obedient SER .
want, G. a. HENRY.