Fayetteville Observer

No Bargain.

The proposition of Oliver, 'to barter offices, by making Frank Cheatham Governor, and Andy Johnson U. S. Senator,' will not be adopted. Gen. Cheatham, in an interview with a Union and American reporter, which we copy, very properly strangles the juggling. We believe that if a good man were put forward as a candidate for Governor, the people would support him against any combination looking merely to the elevation of an individual. In reply to a question whether the 'compromise' was suggested by him, or received his approval— 'I never dreamed of such a thing,' remarked Gen. Cheatham, 'and my friends must certainly know that I would be one of the last men in the world to enter into such a combination to barter away the right of the people of Tennessee to select their Governor and United States Senator for themselves. The arrangement involves a sort of bargain and intrigue to which I could not consent under any circumstances whatever its chances of success.' 'Do you believe, General, that Mr. Johnson had anything to do with putting out this 'feeler,' as some of the papers term it?' 'I do not.' Johnson could have no reason to suppose that I would be a party to it, and he is too shrewd a politician not to have understood that the Democratic voters of the State would not permit themselves to be sold out without having a voice in the matter. Some of his friends may have started the idea, to see how it would work in the popular mind, but I do not think that it would have any further significance.' 'There is one question, General, which is of the utmost moment just now, but which no one seems able to answer: Can the 'Cheatham and Johnson' men be induced to co-operate upon such a basis in the approaching canvass as to save the State from Radical rule?' 'Yes. I think so if the proper course is pursued. A policy of conciliation is all that is necessary. Of course, at this stage of the game, no man can tell just exactly what ought to be done, but the people have not forgotten the bitter lesson they learned during four years of Brownlowism. There is much at stake to be imperilled by dissensions among ourselves. We must be everything for conciliation: save the State first, and the Democratic party will be able to take care of itself.' With this frank expression of his views, Gen. Cheatham terminated the conversation and the reporter retired.