Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-10-01
MR. IOHNSOA's SPEECH.
Ladies' and Gentlemen

in the Congress of the United States
1t may be well enough to preface
with the remark that | fear [ shall
not be able, that | have not strength
of voice, to be heard. [ don't know
that it will be necessary for me t
make any explanation how | or M
competitor, Gen Cheatham are be
fore you. | imagine the people are
prepared to judge of our fitness anC
qualifications as well as those whC
compose the cliques and rings ant
pseudo conventions of the day
Whether am competent or not to be
your representative. you are the judg'
es. 1t is high time the people were
emancipated-cliques and rings bro
ken up, and the people free. Gen.
| Cheatham claims to have been sent
before you by a convention. He
calls it a democratic convention. The
name democratic may sound famil-
lar, but so great has been the change
and transmutation of parties that we
can't tell which is which-which right
and which wrong. The Convention
at Cincinnati nominated Greeley, the
one at Philadelphia, Grant. At Bal
timore they confirmed or rc>nOmina-
ted Greeley. The Louisville COnven
vention assuming to be democratic
nominated O'Connor ard Adams.
Hence We see it is a little difficult to
keep the run of conventions. When
gotten up properly there has been no
objection. proFided the people were
suited. But conventions, cliqGcs and
rings have arrOGated control from the
highest office to the lowest, l imag-
inc it is Of little importance that my
competitor claims 4 nomination. \
convention adds nothing to him and
takes nothing from me. 1t adds
nothing to his fitness TO represent the
people that a pseudo packed conven-
ton has sent him here. How much
better would | be with. or without it
to represent you in The Congress Of
United States? Are you no. compe-
sent 10 decide On my qualifications?
I is time for the people to think and
chose for themselves. Conventions
are at best generally managed more
by intrigue and CORRUPTION than by
talent and integrity. The kin and
friends Of aspirants use them TO di-
vide out the Offices. Have we come
to the point that the people are not
competent to select their representa-
tivcs: l served you for long term
Of years in the Congress Of the Uni
ted States, aud YOU chose ME. l was
not before conventions and never in.
tended 10 be [ have been nCmina-
led in conventions and acquiesced.
but from my advent into public life
until the present, [ have opposed
packing men on the country. In 1925
when in the Legislature, | opposed
them. Last spring, in letter to the
young men at Pittsburg, / took
decided ground against conventions
as managed in modern times. In
Nav last as my competitor has
reported one of the fullest cOnven-
tions ever he'd in the State, nOmina
ted a candidate for Governor, among
other things, n resolution was offered
providing for an Elk Central Commits
tee, An amendment was offered pro
viding for the nomination of cam
ddate for the State at large in an
ticipation of the action of Congress.
Gen. Cheatham was to be nominated.
The amendment was voted down and
the resolution passed giving the En-
Committee power TO nominate or
practically to appoint a congressman
for the State at large. The commit
tee met. never authorized any one
TO put my name before it. The claims
of various candidates were discussed.
Gen. Cheatham was there, His
claims were discussed. They would
not do The committee rejected
him. The matter was postponed.
Can any man say [ sought nomina-
ton? He can't be found. | was
asked and refused to so before con-
vention. / wanted the people 10 Sc
lect their candidate, not me, The
convention was called. Not more
than thirty-aight counties were rep.
resented. No county represented by
proxy was alIosved more than one
vote. They contriyed to get two be-
fore the convention so that. by the
failure of either to get a two-thirds
vote. one of their Own clique. one OF
their favorites could become the nom
inee. never intended to go before
that convention. | was asked. | said
no, that its action would neither pre-
clude nor conclude my action in refe
renee to the matter. Does Gen.
Cheatham's nomination thus qualify
him for the position? What does it
amount to that he is sent before you
by a trickstering, quibbling cOnven-
ventiOn. The people know me as
we'll as they know Gen. Cheatham.
[ put myself before the country. My
competitor tried three times TO get a
and won once out OF the
three efforts. Things have come TO
a pretty pass. that a man must ask to
come labelled. | want no stamp on
me to tell you who or how | am. The
way things are now carried on and
the people are reduced {"
slavery. They must ask rings and
cliques whom to vote for. The peo-
pie are not going to hurt themselves
if they are allowed a chance. 1t
they should make bad choice once |
they win learn to correct it. Then