Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-11-02

calism, the blame will rest npon the
agencies which / saA fighting, and you
are as fully committed to this course
as / am"
when | committed myself, I had
not realized tire dangers of disorgani-
zatiob, nor had / suspected the selfish
motives of those with whom I prom
ised to cooperate. / now emphati-
cally declare to- you that will not be
controlled by the A. and b. clique,
nor by the johnson Maynard club
which holds its meetings upon the top
rail of the fence that divides conser-
vatism from Radicalism, with the CEN
ire of gravity inclining to the side Of
Radicalisn. It is neither morally
honest nor politically wise and patri-
otto to encourage divisions growing
out of groundlcss preiudiccs aud inor-
dinate personal ambition. AS one of
the people, | go for peoples govern
ment and will obey their will when
authoritatively expressed, but when
the Offices of that government are to
be filed upon no higher consideration
than the contemplate game of you
tickle me and I'll tickle you," ] will
look for guidance to some combina-
ton that can at least, boast of brains
and influence"
Am to understand, Mr.. G., that
you repudiate our entire Independent
tickct?"
"Ycs, Squire, I repudiate every in
dependent, or so-called, peoples can
didate."
And old Andy too?"
"Yes When I vote for the man
who so often violated that Constitu-
ton, which he now lauds as his creed
and as the Gospel of political truth ;
when vote for the man who denoun-
ces me as a traitor because | defended
my people when he deserted, betrayed
and oppressed them who declares the
grave of Gen. Robert Il. Lee to be ig-
nominious because it holds the mortal
remains of that glorious warrior, pa
triot, statesman and christian, then
you may hold me capable of voting for
Maynard, or of doing anything else
that can dishonor my State and endan-
ger its best interests"
do you mean to say, sir, that every
man is dishonest who intends to vote
for johnson p
"Oh, no! ignorance will excuse
some, and others can plead community
of interests and sympathy, but | would
rather be called political knave than
be excused under either plea. You
know Squire, that some people pos
sess the faculty Of reasoning them
selves into the belief that whatever
they desire to do is right, and that to
, do it, is honest-thcir culpability lies
back behind this point and consists
in their original moral divergence
from the path of strict rectitude.--
They are sclf-cheated and without
doing what may, Internationally, be
called dishonest, their example does
all the mischief of dishonest inten.
ton. You and all other Independent
candidates, claim to be honest; Sc
does the Radical League, and you and
| know that the johnson club embod.
les all the wisdom and patriotism Of
Clarksville. Yet only one of these
cliques seems to know that all three
are, practically, working for the same
end-thc supremacy of Radicalism in
county and State"
There is no use in arguing with
you Mr.. c., and shall only say you
will never have such another oppor.
tunity to crush conventions as thai
which now presents itself. With three
perhaps four-candidates in the field
we can so divide the vote as to ensure
the defeat of the regular nominee"
"Andwhich will bc.clected, Squire?'
THAT is not our look out, Sir"
"Then | see your game, at last-th'
object of all the independents is, nom
inally, to beat conventions, but in re
atty to elect Radicals. | was foo
enough to be cheated into dilferen
belief; but 1 am undeceived and tn,
ballot box, or Tuesday next, shall
hold no evidence of my folly, nor shall
my children hereafter have cause t,
blush because | lent myself to a part,
in league with Radicalism. Here, ou
roads diverge Squire, so good night
and take with you my parting advice
stick TO your country support thos,
who stand by the constitution b,
honest and try to reward honesty il
others; let selfish ambition alone
whether you find it in your own heart
or in the hearts OF others. If elected
it will bring you no honor and if de
tcated, the chidings of your own con
science and the cold indifference, i
not contempt of those for whom 70,
have been the tool, will cost you man,
. a sleeplcss night. Tell your neighbors
. before the election, exactly what you
are trying to do, for it is as dishonora
BILE to obtain votes, under false pre-
fences, as TO obtain money or goods b,
the same means