The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-09-13
To the People of Tennessee.
. An ADDRESS from Gen. B. +.
CheathQm.
FgL1,ow CIrIzENs OF TENxEssEE:

FELLow C1rIzENs OF TENNESSEE:
At the earnest request of number Of
friends, | became a candidate for Con
cress from the State at large. Soon
thereafter the Democratic party through
its central Committee, called a conGen~
ton to nominate candidate for that
Office. This was done to secure harmony
and unity of action among people hav~
ing a common sentiment and common
interest. | announced promptly that l
would submit my claims to that conVen~
ton, abide its action and support its
nominee. After time had been allowed
for consultation and due consideration,
that convention met, and l was nominat~
ed as its candidate l believe it was
fairly organized and and expressed
honestly the prelere1 nee Of two thirds OF
the people whom it undertook to repre-
sent; otherwise l would not be before
you today.
believe that to act we'll Is more im~
portant and beneficial THAI TO speak we'll,
and | have endeavored throughout my
| life to act well in whatever | engage
! Though not a professional politician, l
have from boyhood taken a lively inter
! est IN public affairs, and | believe 1t am
! elected to the Congress OF the United
! States, shall be at no loss to determine
/ what is the true interest OF my people.
! That | will stand by and promote your
! interest to the best Of my ability, no one
/ whosknows me viii question. l have
l heard but two objections urged to my
election FIRST, it is objected that l have
been a soldier a General officer. My
countrYman, is there any force IN this
! objection When ! was little boy my
mother put in nay hands Weems Lie OF
Washington, and taught me that the
character Of that great citizen-soidler was
a model for every American youth. !
learned then to think and feel that the
highest type Of citizenship was mar
who would imperil his life in defense o.
his country. In my early life 1t was the
custom OF our people to meet eYerJ
Fourth Of July and pay tribute to the
| memory Of our Revolutionary fathers
whose hero:sm on the battle field hac
achieved our liberty and independence
! [ was raised In the shadow ofthe Hermit
ace, and was taught by my father to love
the name of Jackson-Tennessee great
est soldier. Under such instructions
when | reached mans estate, / teit 1t &
be my dHty, when my country was II
vol7ed in war, to respond to her call 10
soldiers. When, years ago, the Cnl5e'
States Government called for volunteers
TO carry the stars and stripes IN trium
10 the halls of the Montezumas, l for on
answered the call. and hope so acted II
that contest as to bring no diseredit t
nv native State If 1 erred in SO doing
I erred 10 common with Campbell an
Trousdale and hosts of others, whom
heretofore you have delighted to honor
Ia later years, when our country becam
unhappilY involved IN civil war, and tn
State of Tennessee called upon her son
to defend her rights and your homes,
| again answered to the call, and, if ere
| in that / erred in sentiment, if not IN &C
ton, with 4 vast majority of my fellow
citizens. In becoming soldier to tn
, extent to which ] have been one, va
E promoted by no ambitions motives
sought simply to do my duty as undel
stood 1t J asked aud cxpectedno rcWaT'