Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-27
The Senatorial Question.
REMARKS


Of Mr.. RICHARDSON, Of Rutherford. on the ,Sena.
tOriaI election, Thursday, Oct. %, 1857.
Mr.. Richardson said that be did not feel satisfied
for vote TO be taken on the resolution to elect a
Senator to succeed Mr.. Bell without making a fes,
remarks in relation to the subject.
He should say what be honestly believed to he
true. and although he might differ in some par
ticulars with few of those who were opnosing
this election, he did SO with all respect ana should
say what he believed TO be right, without calling
ia question the sincerity Of the views Of those bo
took different position from himself He did not
think that there any constitutional probbition
to the elFctiOn-the reasons which influenced hin,
in opposing the election were founded altogether
upon other objections, which be would examine be-
fore he concluded his remarks
The l4th section Of the Sd article of the consti-
tuition Of the State of Tennessee had been read 20
show that the Governor Of the State might appoint
Senator when vacancy occurred at the expira-
ton Of term. This does not refer to the subiect
under consideration. The section reads thus
"Where any officer, the right of whose appoint-
ment h by this constitution vested in the General
Assembly, shall during the recess die, or the Office
by the expiration OF the term, or by other means
become vacant, the Governor shall have power to
fill such vacancy, by granting Temporary commits
sion which shall expire at she end Of the next ses-
sion of the Legislature" This section relates en-.
tirely 10 State and TO federal afftirs The an
pontment Of United States Senators is not devolv-
ed Oh the Legislature by the State constitution al
all but by the constitution Of the United States.
30 sec. lsl art aud provides ''if vacancies happen
by resignation or otherwise, during the recess Of q
State Legislature, the Executive may make tempo
eary appointments &c, until the expiration OIL
the next but until the meeting of the next Lee
gislature."
Nov, sir, there are bet three ways by which Z
vacancy can happsn-by resignation, by death and
by expiration Of term. 4 he 'sotherwissp then car
only refer 10 death, aud expiration Of term. The
remark Of the gentleman from Cannon. (Nr st
John) that the otherwise" may refer 70 slncapao
ity, or a state Of nOH compos mentis" is amusing
The gentleman ought 70 reeollect that public ser
wants are not sisays disquslidsd nor 90 vacancies
happen because they may be found 20 be 'no,
i compos, for al remember that when the Hon
Mr. Benton vas bloWn up on tue PHuceton tba
Gen Jackson f0rever altsrsards believed aud sal,
that the explosion bad knocked screw loose Il
BeatOn's machinery somewhere, and never after
wards thoughI that Benton Was "compos mentis,
at sui Il did not create vacancy.
The point IN controversy between some Of ID,
gentlemen j., Shsther the Governor OF a State ha
the constitutional power 20 Oil a vacancy which ma
occur By che expiration OF = term. Or, 10 stat
The proposition 10 suoghsF manuer-suppose Eha
this LegislatnFs shall make no election, Mr. Bsif
term expires on the 4th Of March, 1889. ani = Va
e-Rey occurs until me succeeding Legislature al
~ SAn The Governor eonstigutionally appoint
senator TO ali sueh vacancy uBtil che meeting Q
Toe next LsgislstuFsf Some gentemeL eoutsn
mat TIE 1oseFnor eann0t appliAg 70 az vae4ue
thns oecaFTsng. y hlisl others eontsed that vaoaa
y titus hapPrulag il covered by the exprsssiou
"o&aeg"iae, and cen De Is properly Htssf bs IL
Cove rucf 81 thosEh Is had happened o. dealt
Il this be true thea, some Of those who oDpos
election a. ibis Time contend hat thsra i )
nseess.g 70 s'ss' Ae@' 0esaase, 10 the hrst pses