Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-09-13
CHEATHAM.
How he was Nominated, and How the
Great COmmOner Nominated Him
self-A Statement that cannot
be COatrOTerted.


NASHVILLE, September 6, lSI2.
Thomas G. Lowe, Esq, Memphis, Tennessee:
Ny DEAR IR-ParaOn me for any seeming
delay in answering your very kind letter. !
fully appreciate the embarrassmentS yen Sug-
gest, and as am but a plain farmer, unused
% public speaking, l am but poorly prepared
TO encounter them. have the satisfaction Of
knowing, however, that l am in no name
To blame for the defeat which threatens the
democratic ticket in many portions OF the
state, for want Of harmony and organization.
Let me briedyfrecOunt TO yOu the history OF
my connection with this Congressional race.
As you are aware, J nave never been an
ofice-seeker. Recently, a number OF my
riends have brought my name before the
public. When our state Convention assem-
bIed, TO appoint delegates to Baltimore and
nominate a candidate Tor Governor, a bin was
pending in Congress which, II II became a
law, woul give to Tennessee a Congressman
10 be elected by the state al Large. l was not
present at that convention. Some persons
bought while the convention was m
il would be better TO nominate for our party
than 10 90 to the rOubl Of calling another
convention. Some too partial friend put my
name forward. A friend Of andrew Johnson,
ibut without mentioning his namel, opposed
"A nomination at that time as premature
Thereupon the convention passed q resolution
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
4 CANDIDATE.
Colonel John C.. Burch, was made the Chair
man of that convention. The Bill spoken OF
did pass Congress, and at the urgent request O
friends, ] became "a candidate. A number OF
gentleman, better qualified than myself, wert
called on in different portions OF the State
most Of whom did me the honor 10 decline in
my favor. The Democratic Central Commit
tee, in the meanwhile, having been empOw'
cred by the convention to select a candidate
was called 10 meet al Nashville at a given
time by It's Chairman Colonel Burch. 1t did
meet, when IL was aScertained that oil OF
TO the nomination Of Andrew John
son. whose name in the meantime was
being mOOted in that connection. Therefore
IL was proposed, as q sure means of avoiding
al ground % complaint and having perfect
harmony, hat another State Convention
should be held, giving the people ample time
to consider the relative merits OF different
aspirants, and Of appointing delegates who
would reflect their wishes. This was unani-
mously agreed on l am told, however, by
members OF the committee, that the question
was mOOted at the time, as 70 whether Mr..
Johnson would abide the action Of the con-
vention, and every friend he had on the COM
mittee expressed their entire confidence that
be would Having all my life been aconSist-
enL party man, and believing organization
necessary 20 harmony and success, and un-
willing for any personal qualification to en-
barrass my friends or endangeF our common
cause, ] promptly announced through the
papers thai 1 would abide the action OF the
convention. II was not known that johnson
would be a candidate. i had, in times past,
been one Of his warmest~ supporters. AT the
suggestion Of mutual friends, and believing
be would deal frankly u dhOnOrabIy with me,
went TO GreenevIIe 70 see him, and asked him
the question 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 appoint
ing delegates. some counties were expressing
themselves in favor Of Mr.. Johnson, some for
me, some for Others, and some made no eX-
preston Of a preference. In "A short time an
Interviews appeared at Greeneville through
whom Mr.. johnson first began TO address him-
self 10 the public. soon thereafter he APP
peared at Knoxville and made a speech. He
came on % Nashville and made two or three
more speeches but had not declared himself a
THE CONVENTION
was 70 assemble in a few days. I was on the
eve OF leaving the city for my home in Coffee
county, and was naturally anxious to know
whether OF not he would be competitor before
the convention, and If SO whether OF not he
10 abide It's action-in other words
whether he meant fair play. He had told me
mat ne would determine the question when
he reached Nashville. / accordingly addressed
a polite note % him desiring to know
whether he would be acandidate for the nomi-
nation. andm not nominated whether he would
the action Of the convention, adding
thai havsug asked thus much. Il was but due
him 10 say that my name Mould be before the
convention, and \ Mould abide its decision,
whether for me or against me. This polite
note was delivered TO him in his room BY my
friends, Captain W-R Walton and Major j.
N. Hawkins. His reception of fl WAS that Of a
BLACKBOARD. He said IL was a ashailOw snb-
terfuge," and declined 70 give me a written
nsWer, but stated TO these gentlemen YER
bsliy that ne had had nothing 70 do with get
ting up The state Convention, and that its ac-
ton would not govern him in his course as TO
being a candidate / had, in the meantime,
the city. Isay that his conduct was that
Of a BLACKBOARD, because he did not observe
the cOurtesies Of a gentleman. Ny note was
entirely respectful The information sought
such asI had a right TO ask for. Our per-
relations had never been disturbed.
Colonel Burch, the Chairman of the Demo-
cratic Central Committee, had called a meet
nag Of the committee at their rooms the day
previous 10 the assembling Of the State
Convention. / am informed by mem
bers Of the committee that after the
business was disposed Of, the member
from Warren Colonel Tom Murray suggested
mat as that committee were specially
charged with the work Of
ORGANIZING AND HARMONIZING
ne party, and to that end a called asfate
s~ohfeAll0n Of the party to nominate candi-
80 III OOlIgress % nasmuch a. trouble
va threatened by rumors upon the street
mat one Of the prominent agDiranfs was ike
~ ~ gFcone a d~isoTganizer by refusing to
80 Iet-on q the convention unless Il
taf1LaDle 70 him, he therefore proposed
a resolution t-nstructinR the Cbafrrasn "a -
committee 70 address q polite mote - eeeh- *
ne asplLaAls asking them whether or not
lney would abide the action On ne conven-
ton Colonel Murray was himseISa SSoIanato
from warren county, tnstrucfed ~
: edn - - ne his burmese
10 dosll ne was before IL subject IL IL
passage OF the resolution was va-r1iHon
posed by JOhnson's friends on the oooHz.1P
and was finally withdrawn, with ~ naaistSeei
that he would not oppose M =
ton Of the convention. "e ae-
The night previous to the convention most
Of the delegates arrived. The frie15s -
All parties were very active In trvsn9
70 ascertain who would likely get me-
mos foles ~ was well ascertained thai
JOhnsOn's friends were ia the minorifv 49,
he could not be nominated. me only
doubt expressed by my friends was whether /
could get IL in the event the two-tbFr5s - |