Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-15
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION
Who shall Succeed Mr.. Fowler
in the Senate?
Views Of Correspondents and
the Press.
Andrew Johnson the Defender
OF the Constitution.
To the Editors of the Union and American.

To the Editors Of the Union and American.
GELATIN. TENN. Sept. Is, '69.-In the elec
| tiOn of United States Senator, shall the Legis-
| lature consult the wishes of the gOvernm snt at
Washington or the interest of the people? Some
IN answering this question say, certainly the n
terest of the people must be considered; but we
should not provoke the federal government to
use its power for our further oppression. Now,
we ask, shall we crouch at the throne and ask
what is most agreeable to the rulers. forgetting
that We were ever a free people, and that We
had constitution that limited the powers of the
government? Shall we cease to remember that
the constitution was made to restrain those
powers and TO protect the people? Shall the
past years of blood and oppression teach us to
forget the lessons taught by the patriotic states
men who have ceased from their labors? Shall
we turget the teaching of history and be ready,
timdly, to submit to the diclatiODs and de-
mands of a minority In casting about for q
man to fill Ie position soon to be vacant, shall
we be governed by fitness, ability, experience
and fidelity to the constitution of our fathers,
or such policy as those in authority may dictate
to timid and fearful people?
Some object to exSPresident johnson because
OF his difficulties with the President and his
Congress. In considering the objection. it may
Objectionable to them2 Was he not at 9
time their friend and chosen Vice President?
What lead them to change their views? Was
1t because he would not stand by the
constitution or was it because he desired pow
er they could not constitutionally confer upon
him or was Il because he was determined to
stand by and defend the constitution and the
rights of the people Did the Congress attempt
to depose him for high crimes and misdemean-
OrS in office? or because he would not disregard
the constitution and sanction their revolutions
airy schemes? Let the objector answer, and he
will be compelled to say Mr.. JOhnsOn's fidelity
to the constitution made the breach. Then,
would ask, whose difficulty is ii, Mr.. JohnsOn's
or the peoples and. if the peoples. shall they
be Sc ungrateful rs to be unwilling to share with
him the reSalt of this breach?
In this hour of peril and danger. time of dis
TuptiOn, confusion, and transition, with a debt |
that is perfectly appalling. shall We discard him
who kJIOlos the rsght, and ddres 10 DO Il! ask
shall We turn from him, who has been faithful |
to the constitution and to the people, to some
untried man, because it may be more agreeable
TO Pr sIdent Grant? Ten years ago who would |
have thought of being so abject so unlike those |
NOBLE fOrefathers who dared demand of George
III. their rights? Mr.. johnson in the Senate
will be the nations prophet, and from his DO
slhOn there, his voice will rouse the nation to Il
the remembrance of their rights and inspire L
them with the courage to demand the constitu- /
ton made by their fathers. Shall a faithful /
public servant be Objectionable to the people on
account of his fidelity to them2 l trust Tennes-
see will not forget the fidelity of her public SER
want. DE may have erred. (who has not p but L
while there may have been here and there an
error. the virtues of patriotism and fidelity /
'hOne brightly in Mr.. johnson amid tempting L
pliers and arduous responsibilities, and think
tennessee in her glorious magnanimity will for
placing him where he may shield the constitu-
ion and defend the peoples rights against the |
sncroachments OF an unrestrained and corrupt |
Congress- Su,rNpe