The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-10-19
Speech of Hon. w. G. Whit
thOrne.

Maury Democrat.
At the close of Col. j. G. Ballen-
tines speech at the court house,
on last Monday, the large and en-
thusiastic crowd called loudly for
speech from the Hon. w. G..
Whitthorne, their faithful represen.
tative. He soon appeared amid
round after round of deafening APP
plause, and said: That he thanked
his friends for this manifestation
of their esteem, and felt grateful for
one thing, that he could address
them at least on this occasion
without the suspicion ofselfshness.
That he was not a candidate for
any position, and felt now that he
was better democrat than at any
period sof his life; that he could
support the ticket from "end to
end''-the gallant Bate, your
nominee for governor, the biave,
true Ballentine your nominee for
congress, and your able nominees
for the legislature.
He stated that during the recent
Columbia convention he had been
willing to do anything to secure a
harmonious nomination; that he
had urged that a nomination be
made; that in no event should the
convention adjourn without provid-
ing for new one. His intimate
friends knew of his determination,
that so far as his action could con-
troll it, the new convention should
make a nomination; that they
were informed that if he was be-
hind in the ballotings, he would
withdraw, or that if he led in the
ballotings, he would not permit a
prolonged struggle or deadlock.
That he spoke in the presence of
parties who knew these facts. But
it may be asked, why did he de-
cline to let his name 60 before the
convention2 To which he would
answer, that when he saw the ma
ture of the contests for seats in the
convention, and saw the bitterness
existing, and which would necessa-
rily grow out of these contests, and
how difficult of control matters
would become possibly with hun
self as well as others, he thought it
proper for him to speak, and he did
so.
Mr.. W. then hastily alluded to
the general motive governing his
conduct; that, realizing that he had
been honored by the democracy of
this country and district as but few
men in the history of the state had
ever been, he felt that he owed too
much to become a factor of injury
to them or the principles they Iseek
to estsblish. Identified with them
in all their struggles, identified with
them in faith; grateful for their
constant support, he was proud to
day to say that in return he had
endeavored to preserve faithfully
every trust given him, to redeem
every pledge made them, and in all
his offices to be kind, courteous and
obliging to every constituent. That
he believed and frankly stated that
if his nomination had been secured
after a protracted struggle, or
that if the convention had adjourned
without nomination being made,
whatever individual success might
have followed, yet its effect would
have been injurious to the party
throughout the state, and especial
ly so he feared, in the legislative
races in this district. Believing all
this,he had urged with his latest
word that a nomination should be
made. 1t was done, and he was
gratified to say, in the selection of
a gallant and true man.
Mr.. w. then called the attention
of the large crowd present to the
Importance of the legislative con-
test in this state, upon which de-
pended the political character of the
U. S. senate; the efforts of the Ar
thur administration to debauch his
own party, destroying its liberal
and conservative elements, and .sto
prostitute the states by interference
in local and state elections. He ap
pealed to the memory of "the old
line wings" if they remembered the
burning words of Clay in his de
nunciation of Van Buren,, and the
blistering, indignant answer of
Webster to such appeals.
Mr.. w. closed by urging work and
organization as the supreme duty
of the hour with every democrat.
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