Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-07
TOM. BOYERS' BOLT.
He Indignantly Repudiates the Action
Of the COlyar Clique.
A Scathing Expose Of the New Party
Conspiracy.
Manly Sentiments That Every Honest
Democratic and Conservative
Voter Will IndOrse.

Voter Will mdOrse.
GALLATIN, TENN, May 6.-I can sin
cerely say, without the least affectation,
that l have the greatest aversion to appear
in the newspapers, or to engage in public
controversy, and this reluctance is not at
all abated by my connection with the press
for many years. l may be perpetrating an
Irish ''bull' in this remark, but the fact is
none the less true.
L was induced to attend the political
meetings of various gentlemen, held at
Nashville on Monday and Tuesday last, in
response to a call from Col. A. S. Colyar,
the Chairman of the johnson State Execu-
tive Committee, for a conference
mere especially of those who
were supporters of ex-President johnson in
the hast Congressional election. What the
precise object of this conference was TO be,
was not informed, but l supposed that it
was intended to harmonic the differences
that had sprung up in our State. Certain
ly, there was no intimation that aReI1 party
was to be formed. l had been quietly &C
tive for several months previous, in trying
to pour oil over the waters that had been
dashed into foam during the last unhappy
political canvass, and l went 10 the meet
ing to help pacificate, close up and heal the
wounds Of the controversy; to fraternize
discordant members of the same family,
who, in an evil hour, fell out by the way
side and ouarreled, not over principles,
evil effects of the bitter canvass, and longed
for the restoration Of the unity of the grand
old party in which was born. l had no
reflections to make upon the patriotism of
the adherents of Gen. Cheatham, and had
no apologies to make for my ardent support
Of Mr.. johnson, whose election l advocated
with all my might, and for reasons sufficient
to myself. wanted to meet and shake
hands with thOseI had opposed, and must
say right here that the reconciliation was
fast becoming assured, and that ''Cheatham
men" met me with a candor and willing
ness that was both pleasant and encourag-
ing. A vast majority of the voters Of
either wing were in full accord as to the
necessity and wisdom of complete Obliv-
ion of the past and union against
a common antagonist. What, then,
was my surprise to find that the conference
was a war meeting, and not peace meet
ing. and that its leading members were
bent upon all sorts Of mischieyous action;
that it was designed 10 make platform TO
commit the party to opposition to the Fund
ing and Assessment laws, and make this
the test of Democratic principle. And, 10
make still greater mischief, the throat of
the Democratic party was to be cut, and
new party was to be born and baptized.
Now, considering that the conference
was merely an assemblage Of gentlemen
who were called together to confer and not
to tinker up platforms, who had no delega-
ted authority whatever from any human
being, and that the situation was made still
more glaringly absurd and inconsistent by
the fact of the body being composed wholly
of men who were conspicuous as dIlti-cOH-
rentiOR and dnti-cdUcUS men, the situation
of the gentlemen, was to say the least, an
omaloUs in the extreme. The great OBJ
iective point to be accomplished was the in
auguratiOn Of war upon the present Sta.e
Administration, and upon all who voted
for the Funding and Assessment bills.
Considering that these acts were voted for
without regard to party-by :. Cheatham
men," by johnson men, and by Radicals
what but disaster could grow out of this
wantOn attempt 10 again divide cur people
into factions? They were measures about
which the best men of the same faith could
honestly differ, as about any matter of bust
Of ar
subject of local legislation. They
stood upon the same footing as a Free
School law. a Road law, a Whisky or any
other general law. They might not be the
wisest or best laws, but they were not ques-
tions of principle that could determine tie
sOundnesSOf ones political faith. Of course,
the members who voted for or against them
were responsible individually to their con-
stituents, but not to the Democratic party,
nor to any other party, and their action
could in no wise bind their party as a party.
Now, l have no right to charge,
nor do l charge, thai the object of
those who voted for the resolutions that
were finally adopted by the meeting
was to split the party into pieces. l do
know that many who so voted had nOtsuch
intention. But do say that if any con-
siderable number of our people should,
unfortunately, fall into that way Of think
ing. il would be an evil day for us. | hope,
and believe, that all such ideas will be
chOked to death all over the State before
they fairly get to breathing. Under the
specious and deceptive pretense Of relief to
the people, there lies concealed the hideOus
monster Republication, which will soon rear
its head and strike its fangS deep into the
public as well as private credit. The pros
perity Of our State, everything, depends
upon our good name. Rob Of us that, and
we drop back into poverty and disgrace.
Whisper the fell word. and enterprise
and capital vanish from our borders. Our
vast coal and iron mountains, that now
throb with the pulSatiOnS of a new life,
will be as still as before the food. We
must keep hOnest-if not for hOnesty's
sake, for our own interest. Once unchain
the -repudiatiOn-and down top
piles all credit. Counties and corporations
would catch the cOntagiOn, and ruin would
be universal. The word should not be
even whispered.
When all these things happened, as is
recorded above, | felt like Z" boiling" but
saw it through, and l now "bOlt." | am
with my old party; and, regarding the de-
feat of the Radicals as our first duty and
chief end, desire thorough union OF our
people. That accomplished, a sweeping
victory this fall will be the result.
Pretermitting all the objections that l have
heretofore had to conventions, | favor the
most thorough organization. The emer-
gencieS of the hour demand a sinking of
personal views. and an unbrOken front in
our ranks if We would preserve our ascen-
dancy in Tennessee.
Your Obedient servant,
POI-I-uC