Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-08-29
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer
LETTER FROM TENNESSEE.
NASHVILLE, Aug. %, 1872


THE SHADOW OF COMING EVENTS.
AS predicted in my last weeks letter to
the ENQUIRER, Andy johnson was not nomi-
mated by yesterdays convention. His friends
rallied in force, but were not of sufficient
strength to overcome the packed hosts Of
Cheatham. Consequently Mr.. johnson re-
fused to allow his name before the convention,
and is now in trim to run Independently if he
chooses, and I hazard the prediction that he
will run and be elected by thirty thousand
majority.
In order that the reader may understand
the situation, I will briefly review events in
connection with the present contest. After
Mr.. Johnson's return from the Presidency he
aspired to get an endorsement from the people
of his State by an election to the United States
Senate. The people were for him, but the
politicians conspired against him, and with
the help of thirteen Radicals in the Legisla-
ture, defeated him by three votes.
Now that Congress has given this State a
Congressman at large, the people are anxious
that Mr.. johnson should have the position,
that his voice may once again be heard at
Washington. But the same old ring that de-
feated him for the Senate are at him again,
and are using every means to slaughter him.
The convention to nominate a candidate
for the office met in this city yesterday. Mr..
johnson had been announced as candidate,
but up to the meeting hour, it was not known
whether he would allow his name before the
convention or not ; as it was plain it had been
packed in favor of General Frank Cheatham,
his opponent. His mysterious silence in re-
gard to his intentions greatly puzzled the
Cheathamites, and caused them to swear often
and take big drinks between oaths. Would
he 90 before the convention? Would he bolt
if not nominated? Would he run anyway !?
These were questions continually propounded,
but not answered. So the troubled spirits
addressed Andy note asking him if he
would be before the convention as a candi-
date, and if we would abide the nomination,
to which he replied in four words: "This is
too thin" So they did not get much out of
him.
After Mr.. johnson had carefully gone over
the list of counties and saw how the case
stood (Cheatham's friends having got every
thing satisfactorily packed) he declined to let
his name 60 before the convention, and in
structed his friends accordingly. .
The convention met and all went along we'll
until the names upon important committees
began to be called. Then the gentle bolt be-
gan. A fellow would pop up and say that for
"reasons not necessary to MENTION" he de-
clined to serve, and asked to be excused. In
this way the johnson men gradually slid out.
Bedford county bolted in a body, and the
most of Sumner county followed. There
were county bolts and district bolts and indi-
vidual bolts, until the Cheathamites were
left masters of the field.
The first ballot Cheatham got 579 votes
with seventy-six scattering. These last were
from East Tennesseeans who had not bolted,
but who would not support Cheatham. Out
side Of Hamilton county he did not get an
East Tennessee vote.
Only forty-eight out of the ninety-six coun-