Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-09-03
TUESDAY. September 8 1872.
RESISTANCE TO GREELEY
rs OBEDIENCE TO GRANT.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
What shall we De!

the Nashville Convention, and have
appealed to the people who are the
prime source of authority Mr..
Johnson has agreed to accept the
issue. and there comes before us the
grave question, whether the action is
justifcable under the circumstances.
We maintain that Conventions are
very intellectual means of represent
ing the popular will. For, in proper
ton, as we reduce the repositories of
power, we approach the despotic and
corrupt exercise Of it. A Conven-
ton can be corrupted and bribed,
when the people could not. Even
the election of judicial and other Off
GERS, by the Legislatures of the
States, has proven an abortive at
tempt to elevate the standard of Sc
lection. We know by bitter expert.
cnce, that such bodies are bought
and sold in the market. In order to
preserve the integrity of party.
and to secure a party triumph Con-
ventions, it has been wisely agreed,
are proper and necessary. But only
in the face of paramount danger, can
the convention system be sustained.
Even then, the greatest vigilance and
the utmost fairness, are necessary to
their success, and the preservation of
their authority. liz no ere1et is any
party to q convention, bound by, or
committed to it, until the time of its
assemblage, and then after its con-
stitutional elements and its organiza-
ton, have proven TO be satisfactory.
For if when a Convention has been
assembled it be found that through
chicanery, fraud or force. the popu>
lar will be not represented therein,
the right to withdraw prior to a nOm-
nation, cannot be questioned. We
are not without instances. which 60
to prove the fact, that the dcspotism
of Conventions can be worse aud
more intolcrant, than a party defeat.
Tried by the principles, we have
laid down. as above, we cannot be-
lieve that the Convention, which
was held at Nashville and nominated
Gen. Cheatham, has any binding az
MOrity whatever. On the contrary,
We believe that those who refused to
90 into it. are far more numerous.
and together form a body more au-
thoritativc, than those who COM
posed it.
OF the ninty-One Counties of the
State, but thirty nine and a half vO>
ted for Cheatham. The Editor of
the Greenville SeetiReL was present
at the Convention, and here is his
atatement:
FORTY EIGHT counties, out of NINETY
ONE, voted, thirty-nine and ODc-half of these
voting for Cheatham. Several of these
were instructed for Mr.. Johnston, whose
name WAS not before the Convention, whilst
a large number we're packed and misrepre-
scented the wishes of the people therein. Ex-
=. IL. 81 hat han
that we're otherwise instructed, and his
strength, after packing, was about thirty
five counties. Again, at least,, a dozen
counties were voted by proxies that were in
htructed for Mr.. Johnston, and, as his name
Was not before the Convention, no one had
any authority 20 vote them Mt all, so that the
fact, is not more than thirty-six counties
were legitimately voted in the Convention,
and a large number of these packed at that,
viii any one state that Sullivan
county is no: for johnson Certain
Iy not. Sullivan county appointed a
proxy to vote for Johnston. That
proxy was not recognized and Sulli-
van was not heard. Will any one
contend that Sullivan is 5onnd by the
nomination of Cheatham? Can
391 Counties bind 5lI Counties?-I
Can the less contain the greater?
There are if possible, still lOftier
grounds which the friends of Mr..
Johnson can occupy. Let us pro-
coed to get upon them, for there is
coming toward us in this canvass, a
deluge of bitter waters, Stagnant from
the cess pools of unholy personal
ambition-ambition which recogni-
ses no restraints but those of safety.
We are engaged in a campaign
whose chief corner stone, is the alii-
Gnce of democracy and liberal re-
publicanism. Shall we proclaim TO
the world that this alliance is bind. |
ing on the liberal republicans, but !
not on as? Shall we appeal to Penn
sylvania and Indiana TO divide with !
us. while we take all in Tennessee
We have both branches of the Lesis-
lature. the Supreme Court. the Execu'
tive department, and will elect from
every District but one rebel. Shall |
we disfranchise Mr.. johnson, who |
however hostile to us in war, has
been magnanimous and merciful in
peace? Never let it be SO said. i
Again, we need in the Federal Leg |
stature, the towering intellect and
sterling courage of Mr.. Johnson
We are without great leaders in that /
body. Cooper has been useless in
the Senate, a mere left hand cipher
to that hideous and distorted moral
i