The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-26
The Gubernatorlal Canvass in Geor
gia.
A DECIDEDLY PERSONAL AND SPICY DE-
BATE.

AUGUSTA, May I9.-This morning Gen.
Gordon and Major Bacon arrived here on
their Joint tour of the State. The first
speech was made in Eatonton, where the
chairman, Mr.. Nesbit, in introducing Major
Bacon, said that he had right to run as
he pleased. This reference to his numer-
campaigns nettled the Major, who declared
that he had never seen such conduct among
gentlemen. "Then," said Mr.. Nesbit,
"you are not used to the society OF gentle
men" The speech of Gen. Gordon made
reference to the fact that Bacon had re-
signed the adjutancy of the North Georgia
Regiment during the war; When Bacon
took the stand he was livid with rage and
declared: "Who asserts it lies. Who SO
insinuates it lies. Who so repeats it after
hearing me to-day, that I ever resigned
any public trust in peace or war, when my
services would benefit my people or coun-
try, and when | was physically able to
serve them, lies" Yesterday the candi-
dates met in Sparta, where Gen. Gordon
repeated the charge that Major Bacon had
left his place in the army, and then, re-
ferring to the charge that he (Gordon) had
resigned from the Senate under suspicious
circumstances, said There was time
when | did not resign. There is record
that is unsullied even in the estimation of
the gentleman who tried to blacken my
name before you. 1t was made in time
didn't resign, for my country needed me-"
Turning to Major Bacon, who was sitting
beside him, Gen. Gordon said: 81 viii
be elected, aud make you sicker than you
were in 1862" Bacon replied under great
excitement He said: 81 have been de-
nounced by Gen. Gordon as using ambigu-
GUS language 10 imply what | would not
biguous terms, that Gen. Gordon abandoned
circumstances not consistent W tn his duty.
Does he not attempt to produce, by insinu-
alton, the impression among you that l re-
signed my place as Adjutant of the Ninth
Georgia Regiment under circumstances
that were discreditable to me? Ii so | say
the man who says it, or the man who init
mates it, is guilty of falsehood. Even if it
costs me my life | will hurl the falsehood
into the teeth of any man who afhrms it.
Yet this man would stand before you and,
by base insinuations and baser charges,
produce an impression among you that /
was false to my duty. Ii he chooses to
hear me proclaim it utterly false let him
continue to affirm it or to insinuate it. |
shall stamp it a lie. though it cost me my
life. There is nothing that l said about
General Gordon that is not true; no hing
I have said that he has refuted or that
have not proved by his own words. say
to you, my distinguished competitor, will
never say friend again" Gen. Gordon
II hope not" Mr.. Bacon-"It does not
lie in your mouth you who placed sordid
gold high above official duty-to talk
about my neglect. 1t matters not whether
| resigned the adjutancy and went into
the commissary or whether | had
been in the commissary department
from the first, if l did my whole
duty, wherever / was; and any man who
says / did not, or says that | left my posi-
ton in the army other than by the com.
mands of the sworn surgeons of the reg
iment, lies" The two gentlemen spoke
here tonight over the same ground and
widening the field between themselves and
the sections which they represent. Gen.
Gordon In his speech said, "If / good hu-
moredly make it hot for Bacon, ought he
to get mad about it? Why, my young
friend ought not to make such an exhibit
ton of anger. This is the wrong time to
get mad He ought to have grown mad
from '62 to 60. [Great applause.] That
was his time for high spirit and not now.
The war is over. Peace prevails. We are
all in good humor. Great Laughter.
Why should he get mad with me? 1t was
not l that resigned. My young friend
says he was sick. l have no doubt
he was. Applause and laughter.l He
had surgeons certificate and he came
home on it. | remember when some men,
bers of that grand old Ninth Georgia were
also sick with bullets and came home on |
= furlough with surgeons certificates. But |
they did MT stay in Georgia. Laughter |
and applause.] They went back to Vir- |
giuia 10 receive more bullets if need be in |
defense of their country. [Great cheer |
ing.] Was my friend sick for three years
lGreat laughter.] He says laid down an
office for private interest. Well, didn't
he lay down one for personal protection?
[ Loud applause and laughter. Where
was this gentleman who argues that 1 laid
down Office for private gain? Where was
he from 1862 to 1865? Where was he
when the long lines stretched over hill and
valley, woods and fields. in battle array,
when the very ground trembled beneath the
tread of advancing legends, when brave
mems hearts thrilled with the wild shout
Of the charge? loud applause.1 Where
was he when the plume of Jackson waved
in the white smoke of battle, and his elec-
trio forward rose above the din and
strife?" TCheers.1