The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-10-02
OUR KNOXVILLE LETTER.
Mr. SEVER DECLINES THE NOM
INA TON.
KNOXVILLE. Sent. 81 1873.

INA TON
KNOXVILLE. Sept. 81, 1873.
To the Editor of the Morristown Gazette:
Ere this you have seen Mr.. Sewers
letter declining the nomination for Con-
gress which was rendered him by the
late Convention in this city with
unanimity somewhat surprising. 1 say
surprising, for it was not believed only
by few that he would be nominated,
as it was quite generally understood
that he was not pronounced Democrat.
A clever gentleman, tobesure, but not
an accepted member of the Democratic
party. Nothing can be gained now by
harshly criticising the action of the
Convention that nominated him. Let
us all hope that the very best of motives
prevailed and that the good of the party
was kept in view all the time. This
eliminating and discriminating is not
calculated to do us good. We should
''dry it up" and cease at once TO i'm
pugn one another's motives. We all
can't see alike and, consequently, all
can't act alike. The delegates compo-
sing the Convention were all heightened
gentlemen, staunch Democrats and 10y
al to the Democratic party. Not one
of them, | feel assured, would deliber
ately strike blow at Democracy, and
now that Mr.. Sewer has signified his
purpose to withdraw from the contest
they will each and every one, l have no
doubt, act in the future for the best in
should all perform cheerfully and
promptly.
MR.. Wa TR-LNS HAS 4 CLEAR
FIELD.
The withdrawal OF Mr. Sewer gives a
clear and open field to Mr.. Watkins, a
result entirely acceptable, no doubt, to
tho rank and file of the Democratic par
,rougheut the district. l am salts
e., that this is the case in this city and
county. A man here and there may not
be pleased with the result, but so few
that the effect of il will scarcely be per
ceptible And inasmuch as Mr.. Wat
kins is an Independent candidate and
that there is some dissatisfaction with
Judge Houk among the Republicans,
there is no doubt but that he will re-
ceive no inconsiderablc support from
Republican sources L am Informed
that quite number of leading Republi-
cans in Jefferson county will give him
a cordial support. So of Knox and 9TH
er counties. His position on the great
questions of the day are so just and con-
servative that all parties can well afford
to vote for him. 1t is now believed that
he will beat his competitor easily. He
has developed unexpected strength eve
rywhere since he opened the canvass.
Those who thought he was an "old fos-
sill and belonged to an anterior period
have since discovered their mistake and
are now willing to admit that he lives in
the present age and that he is a man of
active and progressive ideas. In all his
speeches he is placing himself abreast
the tide of material and civil advance
ment, and wrestling with the mighty
problems of the times in which we live.
With these advanced ideas and with his
acknowledged intelligence and correct
and upright habits, 1 see no reason why
all parties may not give him a hearty
support.
LEGISLATIVE NONLNA TTONS.
These you have seen. G. w Mabry
was nominated for Representative, Mr..
Offutt, of Anderson, for Floater, and
W.. L. Ledgerwood, of Knox, for Sena-
tor Mabry is well and favorably known
in the county, having been raised in it
and frequently, in other days, before |
the people for Office and generally sue
cessful. You remember his contest |
with Thornburgh for Congress- He |
came within an ace of being elected, and |
had Knox county and this city done |
their duty, he would have been. The |
temperance folks have also endorsed |
him.
Mr. Offutt is an old railroad contrac-
tor, has been very successful as such, |
owns a fine farm in Anderson, Guilt
Yates it well and is a gentleman of intel
Iigence and of fine character. No one |
doubts his ability to make a strong and
vigorous canvass or that he will make
an efficient legislator if elected
r T,pdUarxUOOd 10 law Of
ability and stands deserved
ly high in the estimation of the Knox
vile bar, by no means an empty COM
pliment when you remember that the
members of this bar are the peers of the
ablest lawyers of the State. He is a
great favorite with his party on account
of his devotion to it, his earnest advo-
cacy of its time-hOnored principles,
his sterling honor, bis fine sense, his
wide spread popularity and his ability
to maintain the credit and dignity of
Chairman of the Knox county Execu-
tive Committee, placed there by the
voice of the party, the du-
ties of which he is discharging with en-
eFgy and fidelity. No wiser selection
could have been made. Capt. Ledger
wood is as true to his party as the nee
die to the pole. He has never failed to
to all calls made upon him to
serve the party in any capacity no mat
ter how great the sacrifice of time and
means. Had he consulted his own pri
Vate feelings he would not have consent
ed to make the race for Senator, for he
Is wholly dependent upon his profession
TOR livelihood, but he told the writer,
when he suggested to him that the par
~ needed his services, that he was too
rue a Democrat not to obey when it
demanded his services. He has always
worked with a vim wherever and
whenever wanted. We all remember
with what vigor and determination he
spread himself" in the late local cleo
ions. He was at the polls early and
ate, and during the entire canvass was
intent in season and out of season in
and directing the move
ments of the party with an eye to tri-
lmph. Had every man worked as he
not single color bearer would
nave been stricken down. Gaines, and
and Harbeson, and Smith
would have been triumphantly elected.
Who does not feel like honorlng such
nan Where is the Democrat who
loes not rejoice that we have in our
anks a man of such courage, determin-
Ltion and good sense? Let us stand by
lin and elect him by an overwhelming
majority. DEMOCRAT
LETTER FROM BUZZ,SA w
EXPLANATORY.
KNOXVILLE, TENN, Sept. %, '78.