The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1872-09-05

Though not a professional politician, |
have from bOyhoOd taken a lively interest
in public affairs, and | believe if l am
elected to the Congress of the United
States, l 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
who knows me will question. l have
heard but two objections urged to my
election first, it is objected that l have
been a soldier General officer. My
countrymen, is thore any force in this OBJ
lection When | was a little boy my
mother put in my hands Weems' life of
Washington, and taught me to believe
that the character of that great citizen
soldier was q model for every American
youth. | learned then to think and feel
that the highest type of citizenship was a
man who would imperil bis life in de.
Tense of his country. In my early life it
was the custom of our people to meet
every Fourth of July and pay tribute to
the memory of our Revolutionary fathers,
whose heroism on the battlefield had
achieved our liberty and independence.
/ was raised in the shadow Of the Hermi.
tage, and was taught by my father to love
the name of JacksOn-Tennessee's great
est soldier. Under such instructions, when
l reached mans estate, | felt it to be my
duty, when my country was involved in
war, to respond to her call for soldiers.
When, years ago, the United States Gov
eminent called for volunteers, to carry
the stars and stripes in triumph to the
hills of the M~Ontezumas, | for one an
swered the call, and | hope so acted in
that contest as to bring no discredit to
my native State. If | erred in so doing,
| erred in common with Campbell and
TrOusdale and hosts of others, whom here
tofore you have delighted to honor. In
later years when our country became I'M
happily involved in civil war, and the
State of Tennessee called upon her sons
to defend her rights and your homes, |
again answered to the call, and, if l err.
red in that, | erred in sentiment, if not
in action, with a vast majority of my fell
low citizens. In becoming a solder to
the extent to which | have been one, |
was prompted by no ambitious motives !;
sought simply to do my duty as | under.
stood it; | asked and expected no reward;
but | will admit it never occurred to me
that the day could ever come in which
my efforts to protect the weak and defend
the homes and fresides of my countrymen
and State, would be urged as an objection
to my being trusted with a civil office.
Fellow-citizens, if l had been one of
those quasi military men who took a posi-
ton in the rear, and abused his power by
tyrannizing over helpless women and dis
armed citizens, the objection would be a
good one. But I made no war on the de-
fenseless; l never disturbed their peace,
nor wasted their property; no citizen can
raise his hand and say l ever sought to
oppose him. When borne down by over
whelming numbers, we were forced to
surrender, and the war was ended, | ac-
cepted the situation upon the honor of a
soldier, and returned to the pursuits Of
peace. / an now a farmer, and nothing
more. In my humble way, | have labor
ed earnestly, from that day to this, for
peace and reconciliation. The great body
of Confederate soldiers, who shared with
me the dangers and hardships of that war,
have done likewise. We feel that we
have not dishonoured our mother State,
and hat she will not dishOnour us for
having discharged a patriots duty be-.
sides it has been demonstrated that the
presence of a Confederate soldier in Con-
gress excites no sensation, and is not made
a cause of objection. As evidence of this,
[ will only cite you to General Lewis, of
Kentucky; General Ransom, of North
Carolina, and other distinguished soldiers
who now occupy seats in Congress.
The second, and only other objection
that has been urged against me is that a
man is wanted who, in the language Of the
objectOrs-can "make Rome howl" Fell
low.citizens, if Tennessee needs such a
man in Congress, the objection is a grave
one, for have neither the peculiar talent
nor the aspiration to become an agitator
or a political gladiator in Congress. Grim
~ination and recrimination are often the
offspring of reckless hearts impelled by
an overlapping ambition, and subserVe at
best but bad purposes.
In Legislative halls wisdom, modera-
ton, honesty and justice should bear
sway, and not ambition, envy, hatred,
malice, and all uncharitableness. But az
this juncturc Of our affairs, above all 9th.
ers. when the era of peace reconciliation,
and of good feeling seems to be approach,
ing, is it desirable that Tennessee should
be represented in Cangress by any one
whose presence might create discOrd L
think not. l do not believe in our pres
emit situation, that my State and other
Southern States can be relieved or bene-
flied in that way. l believe that a manly
but quiet policy is best for US. If l am
elected to represent you, | shall endcavor
by q manly but civil demeanor to acquire
such respect as will enable me to exert an
influence in your behalf. But If, in your
Judgment, the demands Of the times re-
quire an agitator, | am frank to say that
| would not answer your purpose. With
regard to national politics, | belong to the
great brotherhood of Conservative men
throughout the country who are combin-
ing to elect a reform candidate to tho
Presidency in the person of Horace
Greeley. r.....l
Laying aside party politics and parti-
san passions and prejudices, aud regard
ing him as the representative candidate of
the, great ideas Of peace, harmony, recon-
c%iliation and a restoration of the Union
and Constitution to the hearts affections
Of the people every where, I know Of no
man, either North or South, who could
with more propriety be pitched upon as
such q representative candidate than