The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-08-16

when it undertakes to control things
which the electors have q right under
our system To control for them.
selves, 1t cannot therefore bO very long
maintained here in q state OF peace, be
cause il tits, the republican system itsel
is destroyed and popular government Il
but moCkery, There could be no bettel
illustration Of the workings Of this ire
Sponsible personal government, than il
afforded by TenneSSee-how it may b.
made the tool Of the man who wields 4
to accomplish q particular purpose b.
using it one way, and how another man
may accomplish q similar purpose BY
using II another way. The case of Gov
Swan in Maryland affords another in.
stance. Few men who fnd themselves
armed with such prodigious powers have
the virtue to resist the temptation o.
making them serve their personal ambi
ton or advantage. What has happened
in the States mentioned must happen to @
greater or less extent wherever such
Irresponsible powers are put into the
hands Of one man, because human
nature is alike everywhere, aud in nine
cases out OF ten cannot Withstand tempta.
ton. If Gov. Senter proved unfaithful
to the party friends who armed him with
the power that properly belonged to the
electors Of his State, let US, while de.
nOuncing his treachery, not forget to
censure the unWise and un republican law
which tempted him.
Another lesson may be drawn from the
Tennessee election through the facts ex-
hibited by the following paragraph, which
we find in the Cleveland Leader (Repub.
lican):
The majority Of Dewitt c. Senter for
Governor Of Tennessee, over William B.
Stokes, is now estimated ut over sixty
thousand. Two years ago Brownlow had
"A, ,4S4 votes and his Democratic opponent
29,54S. The Democratic vote his since
been increased perhaps fifteen thousand
by registration. Assuming the Republi.
can vote to be 10000, and the Democratic
to be $1,000, and also assuming that Sen
ter received the entire Democratic vote,
the division among candidates would be
about as follows: For Senter, $4,000
Republicans and $1,000 Democrats; for
Stokes, 2J,OOO Republicans. 1t is thus
obvious that Senter is the choice Of two.
thirds Of the Republicans of Tennessee.
This should be q sufficient guarantee Of
his loyalty to the principles and policy Of
the party. hil "a ..... sol \
Here it is seen at . glance that while
Mr.. senter received the support of the
Democrats, he also received the votes Of
tlro-thirds Of the Republicans. They
were given to him Us candidate avow-
edly in favor Of cnfranchiSing the ex-
rebels Of the State. That the Democrats
should support him on such platform
was matter of course, but that two,
thirds Of the Republicans should do SO, in
such a State as Tennessee, is o fact of
great significance and cannot be ignored.
1t shows the drift of Republican senti-
ment unmistakably, and indicates what we
cannot. but regard as inevitable, whatever
we may wish or however feel about it,
that at no very distant day the ex.rebels
who are now excluded will be readmitted
INTO the body of voters. Whether the
best results are to bgobtained by resist
this to the last, is n question which Re-
publicans have to consider. Our own
opinions of it we have freely expressed
heretofore. ua aaaN .... ....