Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-11
TULLAHOMA.
The Gubernatorial Canvass Opens
In Middle Tennessee.
Fresh LasreIs Tor Pofter-Fresh Trib.
hIatI0hs for Maynard.

Special TO the Union aud American.
TUkLAHoMA, Tenn, Oct. 10.=Pofter
and Maynard spoke he.s Today to very
large and Intelligent audience. Porter
locked fresh and vigorous, and opened the
debate in fine style. His intelligent face,
and courtly and dignified manners, added
to his easy, captivating style of speaking,
made fine impression on his hearers, and
al once banished any apprehensions that
may have been entertained as 10 his ability
to meet his willy adversary on equal terms.
He reviewed Maynard's record with much
severity, and CHARGED him with having op-
posed every measure calculated to amelior-.
ate the condition Of the Southern people.
He alluded 10 Maynard's political course
since the wal, in defending ard supporting
the carpet-bag Governments of South Crao-
lima, Louisiana and other Southern States,
and produced the record TO show that he
had invariably supported, both with his
vote and influence, every movement which
Radical malignity had devised to oppress
and harraSs the people OF his own section.
He exposed earnestly and graphically
the hideous features Of the Civil Rights
bill, and produced the record to show that
Maynard was one of the most vehement
supporters Of that oilous measure, pro
ducing in evidence, his (Maynard's) speech
at Knoxville few weeks ago, in which he
had said he thanked God he had the cour-
age and manliness to ayow his friendship
for the bill. He alluded to his competitors
denial of the language imputed TO him and
charged when they were both at Knoxville,
and the reporter was present who had taken
down the speech, he could not prevail on
Maynard to deny It. But he had since
done so repeatedly. BE Porter believed
that Maynard had uttered the language re-
peated, his statement TO the contrary not
withstaanding. He referred TO Aayaard's
attack on Gov. Browns administration,
and repelled them in such a'clear, conelu-
sive and satisfactory manner, that the Mar
ragansett fairly WINGED under his mastery
array of facts and figures. He closed with an
eloquent appeal to the people of Tennessee,
10 reject by their ballots in November the
abominable Radical heFesles OF which his
opponent was the especial champion.
Maynard took the stand and spoke for an
hour and halt, receiving from first TO last
a patient and respectful hearing He at
tempted, in his plausible and insinuating
way, to Tefute the overwhelming arguments
of his competitor and overcome the strong
prejudiceS of the crowd. BE fought shy of
Federal politics, declared them TO be for
eign to the present canvass, and at once
launched out into TRADE against Gov.
Browns administration. After discussing
the assessment law, the penitentiary lease
and the Gibson county OutTageS in a shily-
shallying way, which proved that it was up
hill work in the face Of POrtei's previous
array of testimony, he touched upon the
Civil Rights bill. Here he so confused his
hearers with evaSions. explanations and OBJ
scuTe and incOherent constructions OF the
bill as 10 leave no doubt on theiT minds as
TO his anxiety to avoid committing himself.
He stated, however, in response to queS-
tion from gentleman present, that Senator
BrownlOw understood his (Maynsrd'sl po-
sItiOn in regard TO the meascTe, and fully
endorsed it. he also ifiiimated that Brown
low, in Withdrawing from the CongressiOn-
al race In the Second district, did so to Sc
cure the election of straight-out Radical,
and predicted that the Democratic newspa-
BcIs MOulO nuN DC UlOfC tCOuOullCdl VIII
their praise when they referred tC the Sem
ator. Concluding with a declaration that
he was the choice of the people of Ten
nessee for Governor, which excited an in
credulous laugh, he took his seat, having
failed from the first to last 10 make any
decided impression on the crowd in his IA
vOr.
Judge Porter, in his rejoindeT, was digni-
fed and severe. In response to hint from
Maynard that he had lost his temper on
previous occasion, he put in an emphatic
denial. He said that Maynard had willfully
and maliciOusly misrepresented him on the
occasion alluded to, and that he had re-
sented il at the time in the way that all
gentlemen resent a false accusation. He
then reviewed his competitors speech
in mastery style, exposed his fallacies, so
phistTies and arti6ceS, and charged that he
(AIaynard)was not a candidate for Governor.
but an aspirant for promotion at Grants
hands.
Maynard's reiOinder was feeble, and he
certainly looked cowed and disheartened.
The general opinion here is, that Porter
merits everything that has been said Of
him. He conducted himself with so much
dignity, spirit and ability, that even the
Republicans gave expression to their sur
prise. Old Coffee will roll up large ma
jOrity for him in November,
]. r. g.