Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-11-02
EXTRACTS FROM A. SPEECH RY
N. 0. LOvELACE, Esq.

N. o. LOvELACE, Esq.
We publish below several extracts
from an able speech prepared by
Mr.. N. o. Lovelace, and would
have been delivered by him at the
Democratic rally at Rollow's Shop,
last Tuesday, had not the rain pre-
vented. Our limited space alone
prevents its publication in full:
FELLOW CITIZENS: do not affect |
any great surprise that 1 have been |
asked by many persons to speak on
this occasion, nor shall / attempt |
any elabOrateapology for responding
TO the request. There is this differ
ence between Esq. Slaughter and
myself: ] do not believe it is the
duty of any man to to take upon
himself any proportion of the re-
spOnsibilities of the Government,
but when any responsibility is placed
upon man by the people as their
proper representative, it is his duty
to bear such responsibility. From
my acquaintance with the denizens
of poverty Row." who are so
roundly abused by cheap politicians,
i believe them to be men of like
passions as we are, never, that /
have heard of, having protested
sanctification, and / imagine they
are tired OF bearing the brunt of
every political canvass in. this
county, only to be abused and meet
with ingratitude for their services
and while l do not offer to defend
them, who are so able to defend
themselves, still / say / have been
unable to see what they have done
TO merit lack of confidence in po-
liticai matters on the part of the
citizens of Montgomery county. 1t
! is a strange argument of the indie
pendents to use that the Democratic
canvass is manipulated by Poverty
/ Row, when it is well known that in
4 the last canvass a certain Poverty
i rowite furnished every trump played
I by the Independent party.
While | enter the political arena
with reluctance, still if | must do so
| congratulate myself that | am al
lowed to make my maiden effort
/ here on my own Threshold, sur
rounded by friends who are ready
on this or on all other occasions to
! accord to me a Willingness to dis
charge to the best of my ability any
duty that may devOlVe upon me.
1t may he well for me to here give
you my political genealogy. My
first political speech was a hurrah
which blended itself with the Victo-
rious and enthusiastic shouts of the
Democrats all over this then pros
porous land, when James X. Polk
was elected President. The old
folks were unable to decide whether
i | shouted for Polk or pork. The
historic events happening early in
my life helped to mould my charac-
ter. ] was born Democrat and
can't help being Democrat. Never
but once in my life did / fail to sup
port the regular Democratic nOmi-
nee, and that was in contest which
had no political significance, and l
would that l could blot that one de-
parture from my political record ;
for while the canvass had no politi-
cal significance, still my staunch
old Democratic conscience has often
dashed me for failing to come to the
help of the party at that time. /
promise never to do so again; and
while | cast my ballot then for a
brave soldier, a true citizen and a
faithful public officer, yet can now
see my mistake, and with humble
ness L again enlisted in the Demo-
cratic ranks, and shall expect to
live a Democrat and die a Demo
crat, believing as | do that if we
ever see a political millennium it will
be when the scar-WOrn banner of
the Democracy shall be unfolded in
every State in the Union, and which
as it waves shall scatter true Demo
cratic principles among a happy,
cOntented and prosperous people.
| now wish to introduce pOliti-
clan of another party, advocating
other principles, who claims to be a
Democrat, but who has gone off
after strange gOds-Esq. G. H.
Slaughter. If it were in my power
he should be deprived of every vote
in Montgomery county, and l say
this with no unkind feelings to-
wards him personally. He is a
friend, neighbOr, Christian gen.
tleman, but as a politician | take
none of him. His first step as a
candidate for Office was to make an
unprOvOked, uncalled-fOr and unjust
attack upon a whole class of our
fellOw-citizens, who had done moth
ing to deserve such an attack. 1t
was done to obtain the votes Of a
few who, unjust as himself, were
accustomed to abuse that class. Do
we want man who is inimical to
and prejudiced against any class of
Montgomery county's citizens to
represent us in the Legislature
Such a man would be sure to advo-
cate that which has already been
the curse of our nation, to wit: class
legislation. No; but rather we
would have man of broad heart
and broad brain, a representative of
every class and of every color.
When convention was called in
1876 to nominate a candidate for the
Legislature, Districts No. 2 and 6
were Instructed to vote for Esq.
Slaughter. He was put in nominal
ton and required TO support the
nominee, but when he saw that the
people were not impressed sufficient
~ with his fitness for legislative
hOnors to give him the nomination
he read long paper declining to be
longer a candidate for the nominal
ton. Judge Smiths nomination as
the standard-bearer of the DemOc-
racy was made unanimous, and G.
H. Slaughter was pledged to his sup
port. Did he do so? Go ask him
if he voted for Smith ask him if he
stood by his pledge; ask him if he
supported the Democratic nominee.
When thou vowest vow defer not to pay
it,.
However, Judge Smith was
elected and ably represented Mont
gomery county in the Legislature,
and that too without the help OF
this then Democrat, now Independ-
ent. But, some of Esq. Slaughter's
Independent friends say, although
Judge Smith is an able man, he
never did anything in the Legisla-
ture but elect Col. Bailey to the Sen
ate. l deny it, but, admitting that
such is the case, is there a citizen Of
/ Montgomery county here who has
suffered his love to becOmesO stepped
in ungOdly prejudice as not to feel
/ proud of Col. Bailey's record in the
United States Senate? Had any
one of you been in Washington
! when the Democrats were rejoicing
| over his manly efforts on the silver
! and Pacific Railroad bills Won WOuld