The New York herald., 1872-09-25
A SIX HOURS POLITICAL DEBATE.
Andy johnson, Horace Maynard and General
Cheatham the c,ntending 0rators-Amusing
Scenes Of a Campaign for Office in the
West-Andy on Greeley and May
nard on Andy-A Trio Of Hot
and Heavy Speeches.

BRISTOL, Tenn, Sept "a, 1872.
The triumvrate OF candidates for Congressman at
Large-Andy Johnson, General Frank Cheatham and
Horace Maynard-came In by the Western train
last night and lodged themselves at the Nickes
House, on the Tennessee side Of this comical town
Of Bristol. There is better hotel fifty yards away
on the Virginia shSbut political for
bade any Of the trio from going there. 70 seek the
luxury Of better bed and breakfast on the vir-
gnia side would be fatal to the prospects Of any of
the candidates in the county, on whose Ten
nesseean soil the Nickels House stands.
CHEATHAM,
a middle-sized, jolly-looking man, with frosty
mustache, q trine like Marshal BaZaine, but more
like Colonel Stebbns, round and rubcund Of face
and pleasant Of feature; wearing his hair behind in
a reminder Of John Gilberts wig in Sir Peter Teaze
jumped Off first und went straight to the hotel with
out notice or escort.
AN AMUSING MISTAKE.
About hundred of the Bristol yeomanry, in
wide-awakes, and two of their number in antique
stOvepipes, were scattered along the platform
awaiting the candidates. but not knowing at which
end of the car to expect them, they made blind
rush forward and found themselves extending
democratic homage to that fierce Narragansett In.
dian and radical, Horace Maynard. There was no
cordial concert OF movement among the candidates.
Each dropped Off the train on his own hook.
Cheatham went ahead, without caring conti-
mental what became Of Andy, and Andy went his
way carpet-bag in hand, counting the stars and as
unconscious, to all appearance, OF the existence of
Cheatham and Maynard as the man in the moon.
ANDY
was dressed in travelstained black suit, and
looked as solemn as man about to undertake some
body's funeral. Maynard, tall and shadowy, came
along a hundred feet behind, wrapt in seraphic
thought of the presence of the flesh Of either John
son or Cheatham. There was
MIXED CROWD
OF virgnans and Tennesseeans in the office Of the
hotel. Some wore the long tailed black regulation
coat and Masonic pin. Others wore motley and re-
joiced in long, wild boards, like sunburnt prairie
grass. Andy entered the miserable little room
with the same dignity he entered the White House.
HOW THEY REGISTERED.
He went straight for the register, entered his
name and, turning round, caught sight OF Cheat
ham, who was smiling good-naturedly, and ap-
parenty prepared to say something pleasant and
friendly TO the great protector Of the constitution
Andy made use OF monosyllable or two-"Fine
night" or something Of that kind. Half dozen
of his admirers then came timidly forward and
shook hands, Andy bowling with that grace of man.
ner in which he is surpassed by none and equalled
room being then about full and the aspect Of the
place suggestive OF pool sale at Harry Hills on
the eve Of prize fight. Maynard, poor fellow,
had only few to welcome him, but he smiled on
bravely, like veteran stagcr, and looked thankful
for the smallest favor received. Frank Cheatham,
the farmer soldier and the Marshal Ney OF the
southwestern army, was the lion OF the evening,
and all his old soldiers crowded afIectlonately
around him. Soon
THE THREE CANDIDATES
were seated all alone at supper and the little con-
versation they had was as cold as the cucumbers
on the table, The supper was brief. The landlord
gave them separate beds. The crowd dispersed,
and the trio OF political gladiators went to sleep
ike boiled potatoes. This morning Andy was early
AT THE BARBERS SHOP,
and as the razor went poughlng its way over his
billowy face crowd OF about forty small boys,
white and black gathered around the door and
took the exPresident's nose In charge for most
rreverent criticism.
"Why, he amt muchr remarked one youngster:
The looks just about as straight along as an Old
shoe.n
Andy must have wished for moment he was a
schoomaster and that proiane youth one OF his
pupils. In the meantime, the Virginia and Ten
nessee hotels began to ill up with strangers from
dinerent parts. Next to o circus, nothing draws
here ike political stump duel. This affair being
o duel and half, had an extra attraction. The
morning was fine, bright and breezy, and every
with pleasurable anticipation. The
ARENA OF DISCUSSION
was pitched In Campbell's grove O hundred feet or
so WITHIN the Virginia line beautiful knoll COW
cfed with tall sycam0res and Columbia poplars
waving Ike banners IN the fresheninQ wind. In