Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-22

sSse o,.,;c,e .o,.,,,as We
are sorry TO see a man of Mr.. Gordons
| position LEADING his Influence to dis
/ courage the only movement from which we
| may hope for immediate and efectual relief
The enemies of the South
and Southwest delight to have such writers
as Mr.. Gordon telling the world that Ten
nessee does not want immigration.
We viii be glad to furnish Mr.. Gordon some
facts and figures trhich may take the COB
tsebs of antiquity from before his eyes,"
There was nothing in my letter of the 18th
January which is new. | have advocated
al the positions there taken for at least thir-
ty years, in the newspapers of Tennessee,
and in the agricultural papers of Tennessee
and other States. nay writings have attrac-
ted so little attention that the editor of the
Enterprise may not have seen them. And
the ''facts aud figures furnished Mr.. Cor
don" by the editor have not taken 'the cob
webs of antiquity from before bis eyes"
wish to reply to the editor of the Enter
prise through the UNION IND AMERICAN.
If you want to convince the farmers of
Tennessee that l am ''giving them large
piles Of error" in my letter to the UNION
AND AMERICAN, there is but one way for
you to do it, that is publish ali your COM
mentS in the UNION AND AMERICAN,
where my letters are published, and the
readers Of mine viii also resd yours. You
cannot convince them through the Enter
prise, because very few practical farmers
who read my letters in the UNION, will
read your criticisms in the Enterprise.
do not wish to mislead the people, and
since you have charged me with doing it,
want You TO prove it to me and them if
you can; and let our farmers be the Judges.
My ruling motive, for about forty years,
has been to elevate, enlighten and improve
the agriculture of the country. And dur
ing all that time, have studiously guarded
myself against committing any grave error.
1 know am quite faIIible, and of course
must have erred unconsciously sometimes f.;
but am not aware of having inculcated any
grave error CT principle on the subject of
agricultural improvement. And / viii be
thankful to any one who will show me any
error may have committed, or may here
afoer commit. And there is no need that
any one charge me with sugar-coating error
to deceive the people. l have no induce
ment or motive to deceive them. l do
not want any Office; nor do | !
want money, thanks or applause for all
my exertions. If l can benefit our people
any at all, 1 shall be fully paid. l have de-
voted some money and much time to this
important, this vital profession, cheerfully
and cratuitously; and shall not withhold the
few days or months that may remain to me
from that inviting field. Such personal ale
cations as are in the Enterprise convince
nobody, benefit nobody, and injure nobody
but the man who resorts to such stigma
Using, in default of facts and arguments.
To gather up patches of statistics, not very
to the question, and then charge
others with being blind, or knaves and fools,
who shall not be convinced by the hetero-
genous mass of facts, will make no converts
TO any position. F. II. GORDON.
GRANT, SMITH COUNTY, TENN, Feb I6,
1872.