Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-05
THE CHANCELLORSHIP.
speech Of Judge Cooper on Accepting
the Nomination for Chancellor be-
fore the Democratic and COnserya.
tive Comfy COnuenffou

speech Of Judge Cooper on Aeeepting
the Nomination for Chancellor be.
fore the Democratic and COnserya.
tive County Convention.
Fellow-citizens and Gentlemen of the
Convention: Although my life has been
passed in making speeches, yet the charae-
Ter OF this convention, and the honor Of pc
ing its first choice, has induced me &c do
What my Oldest friends amongst you have
never known me to do before, and thai is
to make an address other than profess ional
to public audience. The circumstances
are, think, sufficient excuse, if one is
needed, for this innovation ON my habits.
When L acceptad, nearly two years ago, the
appointment by the Governor to the office
of Chancellor, did so with the expressed
intention Of continuing TO discharge its
duties if 1t were the wish Of the bar and
the will of the people. The first call upon
me to continue in the office, came from nv
brother lawyers, fOur-fifths of them Joining
in the call. The unanimity OF the bar was
far more flattering and gratifying than even
the very kind language in which they were
pleased to communicate their wishes.
accepted their call, but, in anticipation of
some such action as the present, with the
declaration ON the face of the acceptance
that it was subject to the will of the people
in any mode they might see proper to ex-
press it. The call Of my professional breth-
rem was followed by that of several hundred
Ofthe citizens Of the county from all parts
Of it. representing every trade, ayOcalIOn
and employment, and, am happy to add,
every shade of politics. In accepting these
calls, knew that the duties of the Office,
which was then and am now daily dis
charging, would prevent me from entering
into an active canvass. But l did not
think, as many of my friends did, that snch
canvass was necessary. 1 felt, after 50
many years spent here in their midst in the
steady practice Of my profession, that the
people Of this county would know me well
enough not to require me to neglect my
judicial duties for such a purpose. was
satisfied that the best guarantee could
give them for the proper discharge of the
Office in the future, would be the faithful
performance Of its duties now. continued,
therefore, the even tenor of my way, leaving
my name and fate to the good people of the
county. This convention and its action in
the matter of the ChancellOrship have fully
justified my reliance upon them. But l
would be wanting in proper sensibility if l
did not fully appreciate the high honor con
ferred by the action Of the people and by
you, their delegates, in the nomination you
have made, and openly express that appre-
citation. 1t is an honor of which l am
justly proud, and which / can only repay
by continued devotion to the ardGOus and
responsible duties of the high Office of
Chancellor, if your nomination should be
endorsed at the polls. Rest assured, gen
tlemen, that no effort on my part shall be
wanting to deserve, as | shall always PRO
foundly appreciate, the endorsement Of
yourselves and the body of citizens whom
you represent. But / must rely upon your
giving. me something more than an ap-
prOyal by your nomination. 1t will be out
of my power to see the voters in person.
May | not ask you to crown your work by
giving me your active aid in the canvass
and at the polls? EmbOldened also by your
approval, hereby present myself as a can
didate to the citizens at large, and solicit
their suffrages.
Allow me to close these brief remarks
by assuring you that nothing in my life has
ever afforded me as much pleasure as the
manifestation this day given me, by your
action, Of the approval and confidence of
the people Of a county in which l have
spent all Of my active life.