Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-09-12
THE sENATURsHIP-THB KIND OF MAN WE
WANT

1t is subject of congratulation to every citizen Of
the State that the Democratic triumph in the recent
election, enables US to supply Senator Bells place
with man who has something better TO do than to
curry favor with Northern flnatics-who has no de
lusive visions continually before his eyes, and who
viii honestly endeavor to do his country real
service Senator Bell with all his talents, has done
less, during his long continuance in public service
than almost any man of his day and generation, to
mark his course as a statesman and public servant.
He has been afraid of his own shadow, and shrank
from positive action until in the end, he has at the
eleventh hour, screwed his courage to the sticking
place" and gone it blind, when it was too late for
any purpose Of good, and too late to reap the slight
est reward for his Ito him) unwonted daring. His
own friends have often been at loss to account for
this popularity in the of the distinguished
Senator. Many have attributed it to constitutional
moral timidity, some to a want of real principle,
and some to an overWeening anxiety on his part
to do nothing to compromit him with any party
Men who have no record-no positive sins to answer
for have been sometimes selected for high station
on that account. And it may be that our distin-
guished Senator has beenlaboring under the impress
sion that the less he did, the better for hm-and in
this we not certain but he about half right
Unfortunately, his constitutional inertia has occa-
sionally given way at the worst possible point of
time for himself and his country, and his record,
what there is of it, is bad enough at best.
What we want in the Senate chamber is an honest
industrious, clear headed, national Democrat who
is not afraid to do his duty promptly and fearessly
who blinded by no selfish considerations and look
ing to the interests of the whole Union will be ready
to meet every great movement the political chess
board in the proper spirit, and at once furthering
its object, if it be for the common good manfully
combating it if it threatens danger. Such man
we know we have in Governor johnson, whose cleo
ton the United States Senate his political friends
concede as a fixed fact, and even his Know Nothing
opponents must acknowledge that he has deserved
for his services in bringing about their overwhelm
ing defeat in this State. Such man, we know, can
be found in the Democratic ranks, and among the
distinguished men whose names have been mention
ed in connection with the high Office in question: to
supply the place which will become vacant before
the next session of the General Assembly, by the
expiration Of the term of service of Mr. Bell Al
this time, when of good feeling seems to be
promised, in this State, by the union of all parties
rendered necessary by Northern aggression, it Is
des able that the person selected shoud be of such
character and talents to command the respect and
merit the esteem of all men. We want an incor
ruptihle, working man, not afraid to put his sh ul
der to the wheel lest it roll backwards. We want
no time serving with Northern fanat cism-no ex-
tTemis in any way, except in honesty and industry
Such men we have, and such men ought, at this
crisis, to be enlisted in the public service