Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-09-07
GENERAL u. Y. CHEATHAM.
Circular Address 10 the People OF the
State at Large.

FELLow-CITIZENs OF TENNESSEE.
At the earnest request of number of
friends, became candidate for Con-
gress from the State at large. Soon
thereafter the Democratic party
through its Central Committee, called
convention to nominate candidate
for that Office This was done to secure
harmony and unity of action, among a
people havinga common sentiment and
a common interest | announced
promptly that would submit my claims
to that convention, abide its actionan
support its nominee. After time had
been allowed for consultation, and due
consideration, that convention met
and | was nominated as its candidate,
| believe it was fairly organized and
expressed honestly the preference of
two thirds of the people whom it un-
dertOok to represent otherwise ]
would not be before you to-day.
| believe that to act well is more i'm
portant and beneficial than to speak
well, and have endeavored through
out my life to act well in whatever
engage. Though not a professional po-
| litician, | have from boyhoOd taken a
lively interest in public affairs. and
believe If | am elected TO the Congress
of the United States, | shall be at nc
loss to determine what is the true in
terest of my people. That | will stand
by and promote your interest TO the
best of my ability. no one knows me
will question. | have heard but two
objections urged to my election; first
it is objected that Ihave been a soldier
"A General officer. My countrymon
is there any force in this objection
When | was little boy my mother
put in my hands Weems' life of Wash.
ington, and taught me to believe that
! the character of that great citizen.
soldier was u model for every Amer
can youth. | learned then to think
and feel that the highest type of citi
zenship was a man who would imperi
his life in defense of his country. II
my early life it was the custom of oul
people to meet every Fourth of july
aud pay tribute to the memory of on
Revolutionary fathers, whose hcroism
on the battlefield had achieved 0ul
liberty and independence. | was raised
in the shadow Of the Hermitage, anC
was taught by my father to love tn,
name of Jackson-Tennessee's great
est soldier. Under such instructions
when | reached mans estate, | felt i
to be my duty when my country wa
involved in war. to respond to her cal
for soldiers. When, years ago, tn
United States Government called fo
volunteers, TO carry the stars an,
stripes in triumph to the halls of tn
Montezumas, for one answered tn
call, and hope so acted in that con
test as to bring no discredit to my M
! tive state. III erred in so doing,
E erred in common with Campbcll M,
| Trousdalc and hosts of others, WHOM
heretofore you have delighted to hon
or. In later years when our countr
, became unhappily involved in civ
, war, and the State Of Tennessee Gale
upon her sons 60 defend her right
and your homes. | again answered I
the call, and, if | erred in that, | 81
} red in sentiment, ifnot inaetion, wit
| vast majority Of my fellow citizens
In becoming soldier 10 the OK
tent TO which have been one,
was prompted byno ambitious motivel
p sought simply 10 do my duty as / un
dcrstood il ] asked and expected n
reward but will admit il never oC
cured 10 mo that the day could eve
comc ~ which iny efforts 10 nrotcf