The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-08-29
Is there A Military Ring ?

10 that distinctive and honorable
tile by nothing save a bare asser-
ton. undertakes to review and es-
tahlish the claims of Andrew John
son - the confidence and support
Of the people Of Tennessee, and
takes occasion to animadvert with
some severity upon what he chooses
to cali the military ring, headed
ny Gen. Brown, Gen. Cheatham,
Gen. Quarles, etc. His article to
the casual reader appears plausible,
and to the blind admirer Of Mr..
johnson even logical, but when
properly sifted and stripped of lis
bare assumptions, vain boastings
and thin sophistry, by an unpreju-
diced reader, it is exceedingly weak.
The democrat who would never
Lave been recognized as such from
anything in his article, except the
assertion with which he labels him
self, 81 am a democrat" assumes
That the military ring" or Inspiring
politicians had the late convention
packed for Cheatham, notKithstand-
ing "the whole Of +. Tennessee,
save one county. was n unit for
J'hnson, and the masses, especially
the laboring classes, of Middle Ten
ncssee were for him" Now there
a'e not less than five unsupported
rnd unsuPl'ortable assumptions in
this position, which forms the oasis
of this boosted democrats arti-
Gle.
First, there is no ''military ring
in behalf of-anyBody in the State.
Second, the men who compose
this imaginary ring nre not "aspir-
ing politicians" but representatives
Of the masses, who recognize in
them honesty, ability and sterling
worth-mcn who were selected in
time Of war FOR their recognized val
or, integrity and ability to lead our
a"mics, and having performed all
duties entrusted to them molly and
Naliently, the people naturally turn
IA, them now as men in whom they
t-an trust TO Conduct the affairs of
the State, not because they are
military men, however. On THE
contrary, their military titles and
their military fame are due TO rec
ognized ability in other pursuits be-
fore the war. They were not pro-
f.ssional men of arms, but on the
contrary were OF the people, and Sc
lected as "lcaders" then from the
private and civil walks Of life solely
upon their merits. Then Why are
they less qualified to dead now,
and why shOHld they be tauntingly
Fua succringly styled the military
ring because after having passed
through the fire OF war as volunteer
suidiers, they choose as the repre-
sentative men of the State 60 exer-
Else the right OF opposing that arch
cQnspirator, Andrew Johnson, in
his unholy and wicked aspirations
Tor place aud power.
HI. The convention was not
packed for Gen Cheatham, and the
charge Is only subteriuge, made
in the face Of the well known fact
THAI there was no organization oil
the Cheatham men mp to the day Of
the Convection, and that the Chair
man Of the Executive Committee
who called and engineered the Con.
vontion, was himself a johnson
man.
4th. The assumption that the
aspiring politicians" we're foI
Chcatham and against Johnson is
simply absurd, in the face OF the no
tnrious fact that Cheatham is one
at the people himself, as distin.
guishcd from the aspiring politi-
clans, and that for weeks and months
his name has echoed from mountain
top to valley, and from river TO Tiv-
Cr h, the farmers and mechanics,
from one end OF the State TO the
other, while the 'itrick" cards have
all been played by the politicians
in the interest of Mr., johnson.
5th. II will need q reader pen
than a Democrats" to explain how
it is that Andrew johnson, being
the favorite Of the people in Middle
Tennessee and the unanimous
choice Of East Tennessee, developed
"a little strength in the Convention
when it is we'll known that foJ weeks
he and his friends were moving
heavens and earth to create some
interest in his behalf
The fact is Mr.. johnson possess
Cs no strength with the people
They have not forgotten his @mili
tArN" record in this State, and they
are disguised with his attempted
ostracism OF Brown and Cheatham
and Bate and QuarIes, because they
were Confederate Generals. rhC
people arc not in favor Of promoting
these men because they were Gener
rls, hut because they we're Gonoral'
aud lel a iorlorn hope in behalf o
Southern manhood, and came our
with honors wrcathed about theii
hrowS while towards and traitor
either refused TO Rght or took TIA,
other side. Is 30 reason Why the,
should he ostTscised or laid on ia,
shelf lay such men as Andrew John
Ron. who possesses no virtue eithe