Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-11-13
OUR REPRESENTATIVE


The CHRONICLE never has, nor never
will indulge in fulsome adulation of indi-
viduals. Our policy is to advocate princi-
pies and leave men to take care of them
selves. Nor do we now intend to depart
from that policy, but the circumstances
under which Col Thornburgh made the
race and gained such an overwhelming
victory in this district are of such an eX-
traordinary character that we propose to
allude to them, in a way somewhat per-
sonal to the hero of this great victory.
In the first place, tits known. that an ig@-
norant, partisan Legislature, with no high
er motive than to beat Horace Maynard,
laid out district of unsightly deformities,.
with no sort of regard to the wishes of the
people living in the district. To make it,
Democratic beyond conjecture, a popula
ton of 155, 404 was left in the district while
other Congressional Districts contained on.
ly 123, 025 inhabitants. This outrage was
perpetrated as before stated for no other rea-
son, than to insure the election of a Demo-
crat instead of Horace Maynard. AS apo-
litical measure, this bill was considered by
Senator DuBose as perfect. No one
thought of electing a delegate to Con-
gress from the Battering Ram " district,
who was not full blooded, out-and-out
Democrat. The Sparta convention met
and nominated A. Caldwell, a fit represen
tative of Tennessee Democracy. He con
sidered the nomination equivalent to an.
election, and coming home sit down, and
waited to "s see the salvation of the Lord"
The Republicans commenced looking
around for some one to lead them in u
fight against the ubiquitous acts of the.
Legislature, hardly hoping to do more than
make fight. Col. Thornburgh was Sc
lected by almost universal consent. Not
being politician, he at first did not con-
sent to take the race. Then seven hundred
workingmen added their voice to the calls
that were being made upon Col. Thorn
burgh, and he could no longer resist. He
did not wait day, but enteredthe canvass
boldly and vigorously, pushing the foe to.
the wall from the commencement. AT first
Democrats were disposed to sheer at his
prospects. But his vigorous canvass soon
changed their tunes and they were observ-
ed to shake their heads ominously at the
prospect. Then they began to admit his cleo
ton by a small majority, but none of them
were prepared to believe that his MAORI
ty over his foremost competitor would reach
four thousand votes, as it probably will.
The result has been a matter of surprise to
Thornburgh's most sanguine friends and
we are not prepared to say, that many of
those who voted against him are not graft
| fed at his election
The causes that led to this, are two-fold.
Col. Thornburgh, while firm in his politi-
cal belief, has been charitable to others.
In the discharge of his duties as Attorney
General, no man can say that he was
biased by partisan feelings. He has
been liberal, decided, progressive. Then,
the canvass of this district which was.
| most laborious and in many respects uu
propitious and uninviting, was neverthe-
less brilliant, and has given to him char
acter as a stump speaker not often attain
ed in so short time. His reward is q
very fiattering endorsement by the people
of the district. His election is a wither-
ing, scathing rebuke to the petty little.
politicians who laid out the district for
political purposes. 1t will be so taken by
all acquainted with the facts.
| Col. Thornburgh is young man and
has bright future before him. He can,
with his natural vigor and unquestioned
ability be of great service to his constitu-
| ents, and we have no doubt that his ut
most exertions will be made to that end,
and that while the people have rebuked q
partisan outrage, they have at the same
time secured faithful and efficient puo--
| lie servant.
A Story With Moral.