The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-10-17

county of Lawrence by the candidates,
Mr.. Nixon calls meeting of the party
to assemble at Lawrenceburg to appoint
delegates to the Congressional conven-
ton. This was violation of the rea-
son fixing the 25th of September as the
day for deciding it. Delegates were Sc
lected on the 1st day of August in some
of the districts of this county, by what
authority / don't know. In the lst
(Wayland's) delegates opposed to me
were selected when some of my friends
were acting as judges of the general
elections, and could not therefore par
ticipate in the meeting. At the general
meeting called to act upon the LIST Mon
day in August, my friends stood ready
to protest, and in view of their posi-
ton the time and manner of selecting
delegates was changed. Yet an inhar-
monious feeling was begot, for which L
or my friends have no responsibility.
learn that majority of the Democrat
ic votes of the said first district are for
me, and to nothing that was done in
Lawrence did accept or object; on the
contrary, always advised submission,
Second. According to rny information
in the county of Wayne, owing to the
mode in which it was attempted to hold
the first meeting, difficulties occurred
which led to adjournment without ac-
ton, upon learning which / wrote to
my friends to yield to any terms to Sc
cure harmony TO the party in Wayne
that harmony to them was worth more
than my value.
Third. In the county of Lewis, to
which L will refer more at length ,hereaf-
mo call having been issuedor talked OF
prior to the time we spoke at Newburg,
my friends were then impressed with the
belief that delegates might be selected
without full notice to them, and hence
instructed them to be vigilant and
watchful. Before leaving that place
learned that the first Monday in Sep
ember had been designated by the COM
mitteemen as the time and Newburg as
the place for selecting delegates for that
county. | urged my friends to turn
out. Upon that day l was in Pulaski,
and before leaving Giles county l
learned that Lewis county had selected
her two delegates, one for j. III. Moore
and one for myself; and although L be-
lieved large majority of her citizens
preferred me, L was content. Some
days passed off. From Giles county
went into Williamson, where the can
vass closed upon the 18th. l reached
nay home that night, and next day
learned that a new deal had been made
in Lewis-the friends of Col. Moore not
being satisfied with the first-and that
upon that day the sense of the voters OF
Lewis county was being taken. 1t was
too late then for me to reach my friends.
could only rely on their watchfulness
and my faith in the people, who had al
ways been my friends. When their
county was assailed l had been their at
torney. | had stood by her people be-
fore the judicial and legislative tribu-
nails of the country. / had known them
and they had known me for years, and
when their verdict was for me l was
grateful. And when afterward she was
stricken down in her sovereignty and in
her rights, the sacrifice was again made
by my friends and myself for peace and
harmony.
Fourth. In the county of Hickman
delegates were chosen at mass meet
ing of the Democracy held at Centre
vile. They were not chosen at prima-
~ meetings, or elections hell in the
districts. They did not build from the
people, but above the people. At the
general meeting it is true the delegates
were instructed by the convention to
ascertain the sentiments of their dis
triCt. | am informed that it was not
done, except in two or three DISTRICTS
but even if it were done, you are too
familiar with such things not to know
the tremendous advantage that there is
secured in having ones friends appoint
ed TO do "the canvassing." And if there
be aught of wrong in Lewis county. she
did it in following the example of Hick-
man. This action of Hickman county
was liable to objection, yet again
cOunselled acquiescence for the sake of
harmony.
But right here allow me to say that
this call for the Hickman meeting was
brought to my attention by Jealous
friends, who said, "Here, Hickman has
set the example, let us follow it in
Maury, and we can thereby secure to
you the unanimous vote of the county.
Your opponents are claiming several
districts, it is in your power to defeat
them in this way. ! said, No, want
the people to speak; / will abide their
verdict. This course will breed dis
cord, our course must be such as 20 Sc
cure harmony. 1t is better to endure
wrong than to perpetrate it. And thus,
fellow-citizens, whilst l might have, by
following the example of Hickman, Sc
cured votes to myself, L preferred, for
peace in our party, to accept individual
loss.
Fifth. come, now, to the county of
Giles. You viii remember that under
the authority of the Executive Commit
tee only the committeeman for this
county had the right to designate time
and manner of selecting delegates to
the Congressional Convention. In the
original call for this county l noticed
that Capt. h. A. Mitchell, who alone
was authorized to make it, did not do it,
but Mr.. Il. w. Ewing, who was chair
man Of the county committee of Giles,
did it. The call vas therefore irregular
and without authority. Mr.. Ewing L
know to be opposed to me, and acting
so. Yet when first saw Capt. Mitch
ell aud talked with him about it, 1 ac-
quiesced and coLnselled acquiescence
with my friends for the sake of peace
and harmony. Again, in this county:
/ was informed that in the district meet
ing held in Pulaski, without any previ-
Gus public notice, by Authority, that a
ballot would be held, immediately upon
at the ballOt-boX was pre-
scented and tickets ready, showing that
there was concert of some kind on hand.
after the organization of this
meeting a prominent and leading Demo-
tIdl, Wtlt hnON y W VI y
w. II. McCallum-good reasons NOV
ing him thereto-moved a resolution
pledging the voters in said election to
abide the action and TO support the nOBii-
nee Of the contention 10 iebfch they 1Cere
sending delegates, This resolution was
voted down. My friends did not partic- |
pate, therefore, in the meeting. And
vet, again ] made no objection, and
would permit no exception to be taken.
might mention other Facts In the Sc
lection of delegates in the county nf |
Siles. showing great Irregularities, and /
IF which might and could have COM /
Dloined, but in each and every instance |
have and did counsel acquiescence and /
submission. | take pleasure in saying |
or Col. Bond and his immediate friends |
hat l know of nothing in their conduc:
IF this canvass of which to complain.
Now, fellow-citizens, these are the |
acts, as ! understand them, precedent
o the convention. They are facts,
which, IL true, would under ordinary
circumstances, have justified my friends
n protesting against the action of the
but, as have said, although
their truth, l yet was willing
O yield al objections and stood pre-
jared to make any sacrifice demanded
4 me for the peace and harmony of the
,arty that has honOred me for many
ears. And / stand now ready, after
on shall have heard me through, to do
nything you may say, except snrren=
pr my f,erSOu al honor and this know