The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-02-01
BUTLER AND THE SOUTH.
A Radical Change Of Sentiment Tc-
ward Massachusetts, New
Governor.
Corrospoudeuce of the Philadelphia Press.

Governor.
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Press.
LYNcHHURG, VA, Dec. 28.-The
recent prominence given to the
name of General B. +. Butler by his
election to the governorship of his
state by the democratic party
brings wildly to mind two or three
noted events in his public life,
which make his career one of the
most remarkable in the history of
the public men of this country.
General Butler came prominently to
public attention in the democratic
political convention which assem-
hl, 4 Charleston, S. c., in 1860.
tt Hon. Caleb Cushing and
General Butler were the ablest and
most conspicuous membersl from
9heir section of the Union. Mr..
Gushing was made president of the
convention without much opposi-
tion, and more able and accom-
plished presiding officer never
graced any deliberative body. Mr..
Butler was of a different order of
man and politician, but attracted
universal attention. His great
ability and genius were unquestion-
able, and cropped out, in his every
movement, while his physical ener-
gy and endurance seemed to be i'm
mense and unconquerahle. These
two men appeared to be in complete
sympathy and accord in all of their
desires and movements, and made
themselves particularly conspicu-
Gus in the convention by the anoma
lous attitude they held in their
choice of a candidate for the presi
dency,h and the persistency with
which they clung to their strange
favoritism. They nominated and
voted fifty-two consecutive times.
(which were all the ballots of the
convention) for Jefferson Davis, of
Mississippi. This was one of the
most remarkable and entertaining
features of the convention and was
the occasion of as much amusement
as wonder, for during the-9whole
progress of the proceedings, Butler
made himself particularly conspicu
Gus by the zeal with which he
pressed the superior claims of his
favorite candidate upon all of the
other delegations.
THE NORTH VS.. THE SOUTH.
The two prominent candidates
before the convention for the nomi-
nation were Stephen A. Douglas of
Illinois, and r. M. t. Hunter of
Virginia. The one represented the
northern and the other the southern
wing of the democratic party
There was very little division in
either of these wings. Douglas held
almost the unanimous vote of the
north and west and. Hunter nearly
all Of the south, with only sprinkle
from other quarters. The old two
third rule of democratic conyen-
tions was adopted, and it was al
most impossible that either of these
offspring candidates could be nomi-
mated. The differences were broad
and irreconcilable, and, while the
"Little Giant was unquestienably
the popular choice of nine-tenths of
the national democracy, he was not
the choice of the requisite two
thirds of the politicians who hap
pened to be members of that famous
convention. The position of the
southern delegates was not so much
attachment to Mr.. Hunter or dislike
of Mr.. Douglas as it was antago-
nism to the ''squatter sovereignty
dogma of Douglas and their north
ern brethren; and, with an obstinacy
worthy of far better cause, and, as
the sequel proved, fated with the
most disastrous consequences to the
national party and section, the
southern leaders held their forces
together and clung to their origi
nal candidate from the beginning to
the close of the convention with
scarcely break of rank or change
of ballot.
DAVIS DETERMINED CHAMPIONS
Under no circumstances could
they be induced to take to the pomi
nee and favorite of Butler and Cush
ing. Though true and noble type
of southern man and democrat,
4ha- foolinrrcf o,,d