Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-24
40 0POLITICAL.
Nashville Committee Wait on Greeley.
'IHE lB gI9s4 -. als'I
He viii not Come to Nashville at
- Present.
E&S s953 2& m-tsk So "


Special to tEae unlon ara AH.efican.
LoUISvrtIE, Sept. 23.-The committe,
!, Tlich vas sent to invite Mr.. Greeley +,
visit Nashville during the Fair and address
The people on that occasion, arrived her
yesterday and called on him at the Gal
House in the evening to apprise him of thu
object Of their visit. He expressed a doub
as to whether with his present engagement.
he would be able to accept the invitation
He was informed that they did not desire
him TO give definite answer then, but 4
agreeable they wished him TO tl1.nk ovel
the matter during the night and give them
an audience this morning, when he could
make known bis determination. 1t was &C
cordingly agreed that they should call on
him at O'Clock this morning TO receive lis
final answer. Promptly at that hour the
committee waited upon him when Col.
Jno. Oyerton. chairman or the committee
addressed Mr.. Greeley as follows:
Mr., Greeley: In pursuance Of resolu-
ton adopted by the Board of Directors of
the Tennessee Agricultural and Mechanical
Association, at q meeting recently held In
the city OF Nashville, as President OF that
| association it becomes my pleasing duty to
extend 10 you an invitation to attend our
annual Fair at that place, between the Tth
and 18th Of next month.
As farmers and mechanics we extend this
invitation to one vino has been an orna-
ment TO both callings. You have illus
trnted in useful life and experience what
honesty and industry can accomplish in
both, and It Is the ardent desire of those
we represent, that to the influence Of your
ilustrious example, you lend on the occasion
OF our Fair the additional stimulus of your
encouraging presence.
Our citizens are desirous of testifying
their regard for and appreciation of the
services Of one who has labored so
aSsiduouSly and unremittingly in the cause
oFthe oppressed Of every cline ard for the
moral, intellectual and material advance
ment Of bis own Country; and whila, sir, it
may he no part of our present duty to bid
you God-speed Pin your triumphal march
to the Presidency as the representative of
administrative reform and national
reconciliation, we deem 1t not
inappropriate TO allude to the fact
that it was to the city of Nashville in that
hour OF elOom and dependency which sue
ceeded the late unfortunate war, you sent
words OF sympathy and encouragement
which sustained us with the hope OF that
better day which we trust is row dawning.
Come among Us tnen and receive that
Cordial welcome which awaits you from so
many admiring TeDnesseans-see the eci-
deRces of our conservatism-see the pro-
ducts Of our fruitful sol and genial climate,
and our inexhaustive mineral wealth, our
skill in mechanism and our progress in
manufacturing. See what we are in spite
Of adversely, and what we may become un-
dera wise and bene6cent governmental
policy. -
Mr.. Greeley responded substantially as
follows:
BE had an interview with President
johnson shortly after the close Of the war
ia which the President sought his opinion
as to the best policy 10 be adopted to pacify
the South, and Tennessee was particularly
referred TO. He suggested to the President
that something was necessary TO withdraw
the attention OF the people from politics.
III, said he, a few oil wells could be sunk, a
few mines opened that would prove profit
able, that would do more to heal the wounds
the war had inflicted than almost anything
else. BE felt then as now the great Eeces-
sity of doing something TO harmonic the
differences which had brought On the late
war and which that unfortunate strife had
rather intensified. Tennessee was pecu-
lialy situated. She had furnished her
quota TO both armies; and hence the great
er the necessity for doing something that
would heal up the old sores and make the
people one in sentiment as they were in in
terest, band of brethren as they were be-
fore the war. These were the views he ex-
pressed to President johnson, and they
were the sentiments he had endeavored TO
cultivate in his intercourse with the people
both as citizen and as an editor. lie
should like to visit Tennessee,
and especially during the fair
at Nashville, and say something
in his own plain way TO the people Of that
State touching their material interests and
about establishing more manufactures, es-
pecially of cotton and wool, and of the
opening Of more blast furnaces, and of ill.,
creasing the agricultural products of the
State. He did not know that he could say
anything new on these subjects, or say it
as well as many of her own citizens could,
but coming from stranger it might i'm
press the people more forcibly and thus do
some good. But he regretted that it seem
ed out of his power TO meet his Ten
nessee friends at the time designated.
He remembered since his interview
last night, that among other engage
ments made long before his nomi-
natinn f0r proeidonf ho had nrnYniaoH
TO deliver an address before the Maryland
State Fair on the 10th day Of Octo-
Der. That would occur Just in the mid
die of the Tennessee Fair and would
prevent his going to Nashville on that
accession. But he did not despair of visit
ing Tennessee at some future time, he
could not say when, and mingling with her
noble, generous people, and seeing for him
self what they were doing for themselves
and their great State. He had many warm
friends in that State and he earnestly de-
sired to see and take them by the HIND and
utter words Of encouragement to them in
the good work they were prosecu ing, and
he meant TO do so at some time ia The near
failure.
1t was suggested that if he could visit
Nashville after his address before the
Maryland State Fair our Fair could be con-
tinued until the 14th or 10Th in order TO
give him time to come out and meet the
thousands of Tennesseeans and the people
from adjoining States who wOuld certainly
greet him on. that OCCASION; but Mr.. Gree
ley stated that with his present engage
ments which would fully tax bis energies
up to that time, he feared he would be nm
able to make the trip to Tennessee with its
attendant incidents. He regretted to have
to decline the pressing invitation.
Col. Cahill Of the committee then said TO
MIR. Greeley that he was a Northern man
and had been an officer in the Federal
army; that at the close Of the war he had
settled in Nashville, and that he had never
been better treated in his life. He could
assure him That any Northern man who de-
sire to locate in Tennessee could do so with
entire safety; that any man who did
not so conduct himself as to become obnox-