Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-10

II -~ASA~-CAN'~AS
everything seemed to point TO the success
Of the Wings, and when the way was paved
for the admission of Henry Clay; but the
| convention threw him overheard, and de-
feat was the result. Corruption has been
going on, constitutional violations of most
dangerous character openly avowed, advo-
Gated and practiced, and shameless and
squanGering administration has been dis
gushing the people. They were ripe for a
change. Everything was favorable TO the
Democratic battle, and in the face Of all, a
man is selected whom Summer prefers
because he is more Republican than
GRANT AND SUMNER,
the consolidationist. He will be Secretary
of State. When they see everything going
to rot, so to speak, the Republican party
| will rally around Greeley and he will be-
come their man, and then where is your
triumph? Mr.. Johnson emphasized the
words, and | thought at the moment that
he was talking TO the representative genius
of Democracy, and moved uneasily In my
chair, because my slender shoulders were
never meant to wear such a mantle, and
If they were, my unsteady legs could not
carry me long under such weight OF glory.
| felt, however, entranced at the rapid and
easy flow of patriotic eloquence from the
lips of a man whom esteem as the great
est living exponent of Democratic principles,
After this directed my conversation, with
out being impertinent or propounding rude
questions, to the prospects Of the Demo-
cratic party in the event of the election of
Mr.. Greeley, and also to ascertain, if pos
sible, what were Mr.. Johnson's views of
THE. COMING CONTEST.
He said he expected Greeley would be
elected. He did not seem to entertain apy
doubt upon that point, and then rehectiYely |
he added, by way Of qualifying or explain |
ing what went before, thei "neW departure |
was the first weakened sin of the Democ- |
racy; it had a demoraliziDg effect. The
Cincinnati Convention followed, and the |
party was left in such a fix that it would be |
difficult for it to adopt any other than the |
course it had pursued. He suggested one |
thing they might have done at Baltimore.
They might ha e made up their platform
with solemnity and deliberation, put it be-
fore the people, held their election for State
electors, and then left those electors to cast
their votes according as expediency dicta-
ted or the exigencies Of the hour required.
They would in that case have preserved
their PRINCIPLES and party intact, have their
of Congress q strong, perhaps an
phalanx in the councils of the
nation, and might be in a condition to WELD
the destinies Of the republic. That would
have been
A WISE COURSE TO PURSUE
in this peculiar crisis. Our dignity and our
party would have remained without the
shadow Of compromise, and our success
might have been great. What was the atti-
tude of Greeley? After the Cincinnati
and during the interval that
elapsed before that great and solid body met
in Baltimore, the threat went forth that IN
less the Democracy accepted Greeley be
would withdraw aud go for Grant. How
loes that look? A man is accepted who
would prefer Grant TO a Democrat! You
see the position? Suppose you were to
run such a man in your local contests.
what would be his fate? Let us be logical,
But, mind you, am not TO be understood
IS saying T0oo that anything better can be
lone. merely wish it understood in the
'uture, when storms assail, and the wind
and the hail aud the thunder-cloud
threaten
THE CONSTITUTION
sfresh, that l was not of those who believed
Greeley the man to save the country. Here
vas an atmosphere pure of malaria, noxious
7apOrs, disease, death. Our political life
was threatened; the people remove it;
'acuum occurs; and if Greeley is the fresh
Ind wholesome air that is to rush in and
AXE its place, welcome; but l am willing to
axe my chances on any sort of air coming
n TO ill the vacuum which the removal of
he deadly vapor produces. We must take
our chances now" Mr.. johnson conceded
Il the opinion that if the Democratic party
Fas to be pseserVed, it would be by the
men who were sent to Congress. | re-
marked TO him that we were in the midst |
# such peculiar political circumstances at
PRESENT the people We're anxious all over
he State to send men to Congress who
would at least bring back portion of
TENSESSEE'S LEGISLATIVE RENOWN.
The people were anxious TO send men in
With Greeley who would work effectually
n carrying out the great principles of the
PLATFORM. EYES," said Mr.. johnson, elf
ireeley does right; if not, men
will be wanted there who will ;
It least let the country know it, !
nd who, in any event, will not allow the ;
mighty Democratic party to be Greeley
sed." He referred to Summers letter to [
he cOlored people, and read extracts from {
t, showing that he, Sumner, took Greeley |
n preference to Grant because the former
vas the better Republican of the two. I ;
to him that Mr.. Sumner, being
man of brains and culture, could not,
'erhaps, bear any longer to follow a man
Il Grants stamp, person without brains,
md who did not understand even the ma
ure of our republican government. Mr..
ohnson seemed to acquiesce in this view,
ut he gave no opinion on it. He de-
.ounced Grant in the strongest terms, but
Without bitterness. Indeed, he spoke all, I
trough like 8
a PHILOSOPHER
On the destinies of the coun- '
y rather than as one who took active {
art in the greatest events that ever trans I
ired in the government, lie said that /
olitics was the profession Of statesmen, L
nd in as much as there must be human c
for carrying on the government, S
here must be offices and people to fill l
ZEN, revenue collected, army and navy 7
apartments, judiciary and all that. Off s
srs and places of emolument come in as l
But here and in late DAYS the t
depraved has the profession
craftsmanship become-the offices and
polls are the primary objects, and the gov
rnment secondary consideration. Here L
the root and cause of all our misfortunes. !
/ is 6
A GIGANTIC SCRAMBLE FOR OFFICE, =
nd principles, honestly held and heartily n
are strangers in the land. =
Twas profoundly moved as Mr.. johnson .
tered those words Of solemn truth in a =
nd and deprecating tone, as if in regret for 4
ne departed glories of the Republic. Our y
ovenment, lie said, was only young one. q
Institutions that are destined TO last must i
e of SLOW growth. The Republic has not o
ct crystalized into anything like solid and Il
form. II ought to be the aim of r
ne politicians, profound, learned, solid, =
onest and just thinking men, and not low, :,
ettifogging, self-seeking men of no stabili- 4
: nor reputation, to solidify the govern
lent, preserving all its benefcent features,
nd guaranteeing to the people that en- Fl
rged measure ofKliberty contemplated by n
ne founders and the doctrinal Z .
FATHERS OF THE REPUBLIC. q
lie said he was not of those who thought Y
ne constitution ought not to be amended, a
no of tho rIirorar UbO NVrulH oil | @