Year: 1867




o-


The importance of this movement cannot
be too strongly enforced. The enthusiasm
of the Conservatives everywhere is already
most intense, and cannot fail to give birth
! 20 whirlwind, which viii sweep the State
I from one extremity to the other. But it is
| also essential that zeal and order in the Con
servative cause should be concentrated. and
directed to defnate and well defined pur-
poses. The great aim in the coming contest
must be to promote the most thorough and
universal discussion of the great questions
of National and State policy, on which par
ties are divided The clear, unanswerable
arguments by which Conservative princi-
pies and Conservative policy can be sus-
tained, must be urged upon every man who
has a voice in their ultimate decision. Our
opponents must be met at every point, and
on every question, boldly and openly. Con-
servatives must spread before the great mass
of those now arrayed in hostility to them,
the clear teachings of history and expe-
rience in all their leading measures. Upon
the leaders of the Radical party no one
hopes or wishes to make the least impress
sion. Greediness for the spoils of Office has
blinded them to all consideration of the
public good; rendered them deaf to the
cause Of patriotism and of duty They are
STEPPED in corruption and selfish partizan
ambition beyond all hope of redemption;
but with the great body of those who have
followed them it is not SO. They are influ-
enced solely by what they have been taught
to believe will promote their own interest
and secure the welfare of the country. The
impudent assertions of the demagogues by
whom they have been misled, have been re-
ceived as truth, only because in many cases
they have passed unchallenged. Let them
be brought to the test of thorough public
examination; let them be met with sound
common sense, and the Constitution of the
Union, and the history of this and every
other country on the face of the earth; let
the hidden mOckery of their pretensions be
held up to universal and deserved scorn;
let the true tendency of all their measures
be clearly and forcioly urged, and the right
arm of their power is withered forever.


The duty Of the Conservatives can be dis
charged thoroughly and effectually only by
a complete organization and action in detail
State and County Conventions, attended by
thousands, and animated by the most zeal
GUS enthusiasm, have great influence in Civ
ing an impetus to the onward movement
But they reach, after all, but a comparatively
small portion Of the people. The great
body Of the farmers and laborers of the State
can find neither time nor inclination to at
tend them. The discussion must be brought
home to their very doors-sitting upon their
own hearth stones they must witness the
fight and weigh the effect of the successive
blows. This renders absolutely necessary
organization, or concert of action. Our op-
ponents have begun the contest Scattered
and harrassed by disaffection and open re-
bellion against the Constitution, as they
are, they have organized loyal leagues all
over the State a regular systematic course
of bullying and brow beating has been un-
dertaken; lists of voters pledged to sustain
the radical ticket have been drawn up, and
an army of disciplined demagogues has been
sent into the field to defame the candidates
and denounce the measures of the Con
servative party These measures must be
generally met, by disclosing to the people
who they are, where they are, and what
they have done and are still doing. Ny name
has been before the people Of Hardeman
county, for several weeks, as a candidate for
the State Legislature (Lower House), sub
iect however, to the decision of a Conven-
| ton, if one had Organized. The day of
election is 81 near at hand the probability Is
we will have no convention in this county
[ hope, therefore, I will be permitted to
make the race without further opposition,
and l will proceed at once and do all / can to
secure my election 1 take for my platform
of principles, those adopted by the Conser-
vative Union party of this State at Nash
vile, April l6 1867.


Respectfully,