Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-09-11
Mr.. DAVIS AGAIN.
The GOyernOrship Of Tennessee-What
BrOWnlOW Knows about It
Sensible Comment.

/ Augusta Ca Chronicle and Sentinel
A fresh hcrror is preparing for those
| editors who came so near swoOning over
I Mr.. Davis's recent speech at White Sui
| phur Springs. The New York Tribune
has a statement that Senator Brownlow
/ has recently written old FOote, at Wash
ingtOn, to this effect:
/ / understand that some Of the Rip-Vau.
/ Wrinkle Democrats who have not vet learned
that slavery is abolished and the Democratic
party dead, desire 10 run Colonel jefferson
Davis, of Memphis for governor of Tenne>-
see. hope thay viii do so, and believe that
Davis wants TO make the race. In thai event
/ hope 70 see on take the neld as a candidate.
We doubt if there is any truth in this
statement, but IL so what is to become
nf the hysterical sisterhOod of the press ?
If a mere speech by the Ex-President of
the Coniederacy put them in a twitter,
will they not faint outright at such a
terrible piece Of impudence as his actual
candidacy For our own part, if Mr.
Davis wishes 10 become governor Of
Tennessee, and the people Of that State
desire 70 have him, we have no objec-
ton. He would No AXE faithful, COM
petent and fearless executive, and if he
wants and receives the nomination we
trust he will secure an election. The
Vice President of the Confederacy is in
congress, and we see no good reason
why his quondam superior should
not be in public life, too. If We
are, and are TO be, one people, as
We are sometimes eloquently assured,
there is no better way Of proving it than
the presence in office OF such men as the
people may see fit TO elect, irrespective
of their past record or present opinions.
With certain faults Mr.. Davis has unde-
niable public virtues. Above all, be is
true to his convictions, has always a
reason for the faith that is in him, and is
not to be argued out of his opinions by
few bright sophisms, or frightened out OF
them by few sounding words. Men of
this sort are needed in public life.
There is too much uHifOrmity-tOO much
Of that silly unanimity which makes
one sheep jump after another, until the
whole flock founders in the ditch.
Without incessant motion, the flow and
reflex of the uneasy billows, the ocean
would become q stGgnant pool. Without
the play Of the clouds and the never
ceasing drift Of the winds aud breezes,
the air would become unfit TO breathe
And so in politics, without a fearless and
ever active opposition, there Is no real
political vitality and health. Rule all
men down TO one set of opinions and
liberty departs. There must always be
some to combat, cross-questiOn, exam
inc, contrOvert and deny. In such dis
cussions great public good almost al
ways accrues. 1t is as true now as it
was in the time Of the inspired writer,
that in a multitude Of cOunsellors is safe
ty; something Jefferson had in view
when enunciating his famous sentiment
that error is never dangerous when
truth is left free to combat il, and
something still more tersely expressed
in the provefb that two heads are better
than one. Our great public curse is lack
OF individuality, a blind following of
the whole flock in the wake Of any pre-
sumptuous leader or Informed and half
digested belief. Tie advent into public
life Of every man Of abilities and OBJ
stinancy is, therefore, direct gain, and
as we have said, We doubt
the infoTmatiOn-there is any wish in
Tennessee 20 bring Mr.. Davis out Of his
retirement, we hope the purpose will
have its fruit.