Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-09-13
cHEATHAM ON JOHNSON.

Tn the Appeal Of this morning ap-
pears a letter from General Cheatham
which shows up the fact that Andrew
johnson coquetted with the Convention
at Nashville until he saw that he had
not a majority, then he repudiated the
affair. The duplicity of Mr.. johnson is
made apparent in the following extrsct
from the letter above referred to:
At the suggestion of mutual friends,
and believing he would deal frankly and
honorably with me, went to Greene
Vile 10 see him, and asked him the ques-
ton plainly. he said he would not
determine the question until he came to
Nashville, which would be before the
meeting of the Convention. In the
meantime the counties throughout the
State were appointing delegates. 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 interviewer appeared at
Greeneville, through whom Mr.. johnson
first began TO address himself to the
public. Soon thereafter he appeared at
knoxville and made q speech. De
came on TO Nashville and made two or
three more speeches, but had not de-
clared himself a candidate. The Con-
yention was to assemble in few days.
was on the eve Of leaving the city for
INV home in Coffee county, and was nat
urally anxious to know whether or not
he would be a competitor before the
Convention, and if so whether or not he
intended to abide its action--in other
words. whether he meant fair play. De
had told me that he would determine the
question when be reached Nashville. !
accordingly addressed q polite note to
him desiring TO know whether he would
be a candidate for the nomination, and
If not nominated. whether he would
respect the action Of the Con-
yention, adding that having asked
this much, il was but due 70
him TO say that my name icoutd be before
the convention, and / icOVld abide its
decision. whether for me or against me.
This polite note was delivered TO him in
his room BY my friends, Captain W. B.
Walton and Major ]. NJ Hawkins. His
reception of it was that Of BLACKBOARD.
He said it was shallow subterfuge
and declined to give me written answer,
but stated TO these gentlemen verbally
that be had had nothing TO do with get
ting up the State Convention, and that
its action would not govern him in his
course as to being q candidate. / had,
in the meantime, left the city. ! say
that his conduct was that Of blackgusrd,
because he did not observe the courte-
sizes of q gentleman. My note was en-
tirely respectful. The information sought
was such as ] had right to ask for. Our
personal relations had never been DIS
turbed.
General Cheatham concludes his let
ter with the following scathing review Of
the Johnsonian tactics:
A fairer Convention was never held.
No man who knows me would believe
for a moment that | would have been a
party or given countenance TO any
fraud. Nearly all the counties in the
State had appointed delegates. Most Of
them were represented at Nashville.
That Mr.. johnson kept number Of the
delegates from being heard in the Con-
vsntion does not change the fact that
they were there to speak If they chose to.
They did not among the counties repre-.
scented, simply because their choice was
not the choice Of the majority. Men
OF common sense and integrity cannot
fail to see the kHavery in this whole pro
ceeding, and who inspired it. They
cannot fail TO see that the game at
tempted 10 be played was, Heads,
win; tails, you lose. They cannot fail
10 see that the one man power" and
the policy Of rule or ruin" is sought
10 be fastened on the State. They can.
not fail 10 see that Andrew johnson and
Horace Maynard are working to the same
end, the disruption Of the Democratic
party in Tennessee; in order that they
and Brownlow l. Co. may be made re.
spectacle and treason made odious.
They cannot fail to see that whatever
success the Radical party may have il
Tennessee, they will be more indebted
for il 10 Andrew Johnson than 10 Hor
ace Maynard. They cannot fail to fore
see that, in view Of the attitude in which
be has chosen TO place himself, his honor
will be their eternal shame.