The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-11-03

charged the duty imposed on me by the
convention which nominated me. The
banner which was placed in my hands
on August last has been carried by me
all over this Statc-from the mountains
which divide us from our mother State
to the banks of that great river which
laves our western shores and bears our
commerce to the sea. Its fair folds
have not been permitted to trail in the
dust, and it has received no attack
which has not been repealed. now re-
turn it to those who confidad it to my
hands pure, unspotted and unsullied as
when | received it. | have proclaimed
the time-honored principles Of Democrat
cy on the mountains and in the valleys
Of East Tennessee, and defended them
on every plain in the middle and west
ern portion of our beloved State.
Unhappily, | fear we are living in
Tennessee in day of moral and politi
cal cowardice. Men who are aspiring
to high places seem willing to sacritic,
the honor and interests of the State in
order to crafty their individual ambi
ton. Well may we recur to the history
of an ancient republic and say, Caesar
has his party and Brutus his" but alas
poor Rome she has no party.
Poor Tennessee In the midst Of {
great conflict, in which your honor ano
the honor of the great men who founded
our institutions is involved, are you tc
be ignored and given up in order tc
crafty the selfish ambition Of men whc
are afraid to espouse your cause?
If have committed errors they have
been errors of the head and not Of the
heart. l have cndeavored to offend
none, "extenuating nothing and naught
set down in malice" | have not bent
the supple hinges of the knee that thrift
might follow fawning.
sincerely believe the principles which
| have advocated on the State and Ma
tional questions to be right, and that on
theirsuccess depends, ina great measure,
the honor, the happiness, and the pros,
perity of our beloved State. These prin.
ciples have the full and most hearty ap,
prevail Of my judgment, as well as Of
my heart and conscience,
If in the providence of Almighty God
victory shall crown my labors and re-
ward my sacrifices, | shall, indeed feel
proud Of having been the chosen instru-
ment in the hands of great and noble
party of vindicating sound principle,
IL principle which saves our once honor
ed and beloved State from the twin po-
litical hcresies of Radicalism and Rcpu-
diation. But on the other hand, if the
flag under which have fought so long
and so faithfully and earnestly, shall 90
down. to defeat, ! am more than willing
to go down with it, enshrincd within its
pure and stainless folds.
ale never dies who falls in a great
cause. His bones may sodden in the
sun, his head be hung on city gates and
castle walls, but yet his spirit walks
abroad"
Conscious of having performed my
duty, | shall return to my humble
home, where dwell the loved and cher
ishcd idols Of my heart, and | shall re-
turn to them with the proud satisfaction
that | carry with me the confidence, the
respect, and the esteem Of the honest
men, women and children of this, my
native land and beloved State, over
whose prosperity and happiness shall
ever rejoice, and whose shame and dis
grace, if, unhappily, it shall ever come,
will fill my heart with the deepest gricI
and modification.