Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-23
An ENEMY no THE CAUSE.

An LO GAL 81
The legislative canvass is rather
quiet, but possesses one gratifying
feature, namely, the scarcity Of indie
pendent candidates. This is the more
remarkable, in view Of the bitter strug-
GLE waging for the Federal Senator
ship. In 1872, with no such disturb
ing element, Independent aspirants for
legislative honor were more numerous
than nominees, but the people have
learned the folly of frittering away
their strength on personal divisions,
and are resolved, this year, to stand
by each other for something more profit
able to themselves than the mere pro-
motion to Office of this or that man.
In the Second Senatorial District,
however, composed of Sullivan, Haw-
kins, Hamblen, Hancock and Clai-
borne counties, we notice from the last
issue of the MorristoiVR Gazette that
Col John Blevins has declared himself
an independent candidate. This course
on the part of the Colonel causes the
more surprise as he entered the Demo-
cratic convention recently and bound
himself in honor to abide its action.
TIE regular nominee, ]. c. Hodges,
publishes a mild-tempered card, the
points of which are all the more poig-
nant fer being calmly put. Mn Hodges
states that Blevins, in the
last Legislature voted twenty times
for L. G. Houk, Republican, for
Speaker; and before the war he was a
negro trader. Thus neither Democrat
nor Republican can consistently vote
for him, and to cap the climax, Mr..
Hodges says of Blevins:
Besides all this he was corrupt enough
to attempt to buy me off the track by
an offer of motley, thus showing his
willingness to obtain, by corruption,
the high trust which his people refused
to confer on him. / submit that he has
shown himself by this conduct, I'M
worthy of the support of the honest
men of any party.
The MorristolCu Gazette is not slow
to take position on behalf of honor and
organization. In fact, the one sure
and safe way is for the people to pass
by those Independents who care more
of themselves than the general welfare.
Concerning Blevins' course, the Gazette
says: Nothing in lifetime has aston
ished rs more than the candidacy of
Col. Blevins. His action is inexplica-
bic, inasmnch as there is not the ghost
of a chance for his election, a fact
that he certainly knows well. His
violating his pledges, and his offer of
$50 to Capt. Hodges towithdraw from
the contest and give him the field, so
surprises us that we don't know what
to say, or where to commence saying it,
But-This action, we are confident,
Will only arouse the friends Of Capt.
Hodges torenewed effort and insure him
much larger majority. The position
of Col. Blevins is so pitiable, so forlorn,
so hopelessl His standing as a man, who
has for years had, to some extent, the
confidence of the people, Is now gone
and gone forever. We cannot more
appropriately close than by quoting
the closing paragraph of the circular
of the Democratic State Executive
Committee: AN candidates who run
against the regular nominee of the
party, and who are endeavoring to di-
vide our forces in these times Of
trouble, should be regarded as enemies
of our cause, and treated according
ly.'"