Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-10-23
THE SECOND DISTRICT.
Four Days West of the Mountains.
CAPT. VAN H. ALIENS,


CAPT. VAN H. ALIENS,
SMITH COUNTY, TENN, Oct. IL, 1872.
My last was from Lafayette, the county
site OF Macon county, from whence We
came to this place yesterday evening, and
have been enjoying the princely hospitali-
ty of Capt. Van H. Allen, late of the con-
federate army. We came here at his spe-
eial invitation, and the hearty welcome re-
ceived has made our short sojourn q pleas
ant one. L have now been with the can
dldates four days. L have been gratified
at their courteous demeanor toward each
other, and with the elevated tone of their
discussions. Although they have been
pretty sharp occasionally, and occasionally
somewhat personal, they have maintained
friendly relations, lodging together at
night whenever possible, and each SEEM
ing desirous OF contributing to the others
personal comfort.
After somewhat careful survey on this
side of the mountains, am strengthened
IN former opinions as to Col. Thornburgh,s
strength. He wins the admiration and
hearty support of all his political friends
ana commands the most profound respect,
from the better class at least, of his politi-
cal enemies. He is supported with enthu-
slasm by large class of voters, which is
more than can be said of either of his OBJ
ponents. The consequence is, that he'wfil
receive much larger vote in the western
part of the district, than his opponents are
willing to admit. His bold unequivocal
way of meeting leading, vital issues, is re-
freshing in this age of political duplicity
and the people appreciate it.
disguise 1t as you will, the outrageous
gerrymandering by which this district
was laid out, gives a. Republican strength
before the people in every single county
in the district. Col. Thornburgh shows
up the contemplate partisan spirit which
GnpnnCfnI tfrn
ne does 1T effectively. The people, the
honest thinking people, never will endorse
thls open and shameless attempt to dis
franchise the people of a portion of the
State and deprive them of representation
IN Congress, for no other crime than hav-
ing selected Horace Maynard to represent
them. Men of all parties condemn the
measure, and it will give no strength to
the candidate who is the representative of
the men who did it,
Mr.. Caldwell tries sometimes to make
capital out of the present revenue laws but
Thornburgh takes the wind out of his sails
by showing that they were passed by 20
republicans and "A Democrats voting for
them i'll the House, while there were only
three adverse votes in the Senate-all Re-
publicans-and therefore, if there is any
thing odiOus in them, Democrats are
equally responsible with Republicans.
That deprives Caldwell of the greater por-
ton of his capital.
But all other political contests are over
shadowed by the race for Congress at Large
johnson, Cheaham and Maynard are all
the talk, The contest is growing bitter
johnson men are for anything to beat
Cheatham, and Ujce UersdCheatham men
are for anything to beat Johnson. l have
heard Andy DEF ounce all my life, but
never before have heard it done with so
much gusto as now. by Cheatham men.
nio
tons, and are eXbausting the vocabulary of
epithets in giving utterance to the profound
hatred of the great commander. Greeley
and Grant are lost sight of. | have heard
more than one straight out" since coming
into this locality, express his views on the
Greeley question, in language more en-
phatic than polite, but would shout him
self hoarse for Cheatham or Johnson, on
the least provocation. / have conversed
with quite number Of Republicans and
Democrats, who went to Lebanon to
hear the discussion there. They
agree with one accord, that Mr..
Maynard made mastery effort His
speech there carried conviction to the
hearts of hundreds who do not admit the
fact. have heard score of Democrats
say, that if Maynard should chance to run
in between Chatham and johnson, the
State would be represented with ability
and that nothing would be lost.
buL we WnlpperS-ln' are puSlly at
work all over this country and it is
impossible to form any correct idea of
what the final result will be-
If the people are still SPELL
bound and can be driven like dumb
cattle to the polls, Cheatham will beat
johnson two to one in all this part of the
county. The drill sergeants are plying
their vocation industriously and before the
9th of November may succeed in driving
all Democrats into the support of the regu-
lar nominees, but no one can tell now.
Upon this depends the result here and all
over the State. If the drill sergeants can
succeed in whipping all into the ranks,
Cheatham will receive an overwhelming
majority oyer johnson. If the people con-
clude to vote as they please one time the
ex-President will divide votes with him
pretty equally in the mountain counties.
w r..