Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-15
FRANK CHEATHAN.


- kANk UHEATHAMs
! letter to a Citizen d Memphis,
81 Review Of tiie. Aefson Of the late
Etase Conyentfon.
, From the Memphis Appeal, Sept. 10.
NASHVILLE, Sept. 9, l872.--Thomas G.
| Lowe, Memphis, Tenns-My Dear Sir:
Pardonsme for any seeming delay In an.
sWering your very kind letter. l fully ap-
preciate the endorsements you suggest,
and as am but plain farmer, unused to
public speaking. Lam hut poorly prepared
to encounter them. have the satisfaction
of knowing, however, that am in no man.
ner to blame for the defeat which threatens
the Democratic ticket in many portions of
the State, for want Of harmony and organi-
cation. Let me briefly recount to you the
history of my connection with this Con.
gressional race.
As you ara aware, have never been an
Office seeker. Recently, number of my
friends have brought my name before the
public. When our State Convention as
sembled, to appoint delegates to Baltimore
and nominate candidate for Governor, a
bill was pending In Congress, which, If 1t
| became law, would give to Tennessee
| Congressman, to te elected by the State at
| large. l was not present at that eenven-
ton. Some persons thought, while the
! convention was assembled it would be bet
ter TO nominate for our party than to 20 to
| the trouble of calling another convention.
| Some too partial friend put my name for
| ward. a friend of Andrew johnson, (but
without mentioning bis name), opposed a
nomination at that time as premature.
Thereupon the convention passed resolu-
ton providing that, in the event the bill
passed Congress, the Democratic Central
Committee, composed of gentlemen from
each grand division Of the State, should
nominate ~A
- A CANDIDATE.
Col. John c. Burch was made the Chair
man Of that Committee. The bill spoken |
OF did pass Congress, and at the urgent re- |
quest of friends, became candidate. A |
number Of gentlemen, better qualified than |
myself, were called on in different portions |
Of the State, most Of whom did me the |
honor to decline in my favor. The Demo-
cratic Central Committee, in the meanwhile, |
having been empowered by the Convention
to select candidate, was called to meet at |
Nashville at given time by Its Chairman,
Col. Burch. 1t did meet, when 1t was as
certained that all of its number but two,
were opposed to the nomination Of Andrew |
johnson, whose name in the meantime |
was being mooted in that connection. /
Therefore it was proposed, as q sure means
Of avoiding all ground of complaint and
having perfect harmony, that another State
Convention should be held, giving the peo-
pie ample time TO consider the relative
merits of different aspirants and of ap-
pointing delegates who would reflect their
wishes. This was unanimously agreed on,
am told, however, by members Of the
committee, that the question was mooted
at the time, as to whether Mr.. johnson
would abide the action of the Convention,
and every friend ne had on the committee
expressed their entire confidence that he
would. Having all my life been consist
ent party man, and believing organization
necessary to harmony and success, and un-
willing for any personal qualification to en-
barrass my friends or endanger our common
cause, promptly announced through the
papers that ! would abide the action Of the
convention. 1t was not known that John
son would be q candidate. / had, in times
past, been one Of his warmest supporters.
At the suggestion of mutual friends, and
believing he would deal frankly and homer
dUlf VIII ucs L Wcub " OICcucfluo W oco
him, and asked him the question plainly
He said he would not determine this ques-
ton until he came to Nashville, which
would be before tina meeting Of the conven-
ton. In the meantime the counties
the State were appointing dele
gates. Some counties were expressing
themselves in favor of Mr.. Johnson, some
for me. some for others, and some made no
expression of preference. In short time
an sinterviewer" appeared in Greeneyille,
through whom Mr.. johnson first began to
address himself to the public. Soon there
after he appeared at Knoxville and made
speech. He came on to Nashville and made
two or three more speeches but had not \
declared himself candidate.
THE CONVENTION
was to assemble in few days. was on
The eve of leaving the city for my home In
Coffee county, and was naturally anxious
TO know whether or not he would be COM
petitor before the convention, and if so
whether or not he intended to abide its &C.
tion--in other words whether he meant fair J
play. He had told me that he would de-
termine the question when he reached
Nashville. accordingly addressed polite {
note to him desiring to know whether he !
would be candidate for the nomination,
and II not nominated, whether he
would respect the action of the
adding that having asked
this much, It was but due him
10 say that my name tcould be before the
convention, and eoouid abide its decision,
whether for me or against me. This po-
lite note wss delivered to him In his room
BY my friends, Capt. w. B. Walton and !
Mai. ]. NJ. Hawkins. His reception of it
was that of blackguard. He said it was
4 shallow subterfuge," and declined to
1--WE me a written answer, but stated TO
shese gentlemen verbally that he had had :
nothing to do with getting up the State /.
and that its action would not
govern him in his course as to being can
iidate. / had, In the meantime, left the !
city. say that his conduct was that Of
blackguard, because he did not observe the
,ourtesies Of gentleman. My note was
entirely respectful. The information
sought was such as had right to ask for. !
Our personal relations had never been dis
.urbed. ra.r
Col. Burch, the Chairman Of the Demo- !
cratic Central Committee, had called
meeting Of the committee at their rooms
he day previous to the assembling of the :
State Convention. l am informed by
members Of the committee that after the
regular business was disposed of, the men,
Der from Warren (Col. Tom Murray sug-
yested that, as that committee were spe-
cially charged with the work Of
ORGANIZING AND HARMoNIzING
he party, and to that end had called State l
of the party to nominate a can 8
iidate for Congress; and inasmuch as I
,rouble was threatened by rumors upon 8
she street that one Of the prominent aspir- '
.nts was likely to become a disorganizer by :
refusing to abide the action of the conven- .
ion unless It was favorable to him, be t
therefore proposed Q resolution instructing c
he Chairman Of the Committee to address | '
4 polite note to each of the aspirants, ask 5
ng them whether or not they would abide r
he action of the convention. Col. Murray a