Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-23
THE SENATORIAL CONTEST.

1t was well understood early yesterday |
morning that a conspiracy had been
made the night before by which all the
opponents of Mr.. johnson who had been
ballotted for on Thursday were to be
withdrawn, and that the entire Radical
strength were to unite with minority OF
the Conservatives on Judge Henry Cooper,
the present State Senator from this
county. This it was generally believed
would accomplish the defeat of Mr.
johnson. The Radicals who were espe-
cially noisy in their jubilations at the
result of the caucus of the previous
night did not hesitate 10 announce that of
those who had voted for Mr.. johnson the
day previous; Senators Cooper of Bedford,
(who had nominated Mr.. JOhnson,) and
Bryant of Hardeman, would abandon Mr..
Johnson and vote for Judge Cooper; and
that Senator McFall of Williamson, who
had voted for Mr.. Ewing, would vote
for Judge Cooper. In the House they
alleged that Harris of Humphreys, Har-
rison of ROane, Young of Overton, Rhea
of Davidson, and Saunders of Giles,
would also go for Judge Cooper. The re-
suit shows that those who were thus
noisily jubilant were well informed as to
what had transpired the night before. The
nomination of Judge Cooper was made by
Senator Bryant. The ballot stood for
Judge Cooper So, for Mr.. johnson 81,
Judge Cooper polling the entire Radical
strength with sufficient number of Con
servatives to secure his election. There
were two absentees, Curl of Granger,
and Dillin of Rutherford. The former
for Johnson; the latter doubtful.
At this result we cannot but feel the
sincerest regret. The voice of the Con
SENTATIVE feeling of the State was so over
whelmingly in favor of ex-President John
son, the Conservatism of the North and
the South was so unanimous for him, his
great abilities, his wonderful energy, his
mcoTuptible integrity We're so universally
admitted, his heroic struggle, from the re-
turn of peace to his retirement from Office,
for the principles of the Constitution was
so highly extolled, his high prosecutions
by the enemies of the peace, prosperity
and happiness of the people were so I'M
mcrited, that we had ardently hoped that
he would be triumphantly elected. That
his defeat viii cause pang of regret
throughout the Conservative hosts from
the Atlantic TO the Pacific We know.
That it will occasion a shout of triumph
TO 90 up from the hordes of Radi-
calism everywhere we are well assured.
To them it is a triumph greater than the
election of Grant Stokes will feel greater
JOY at this result than he did soIrow for
his defeat in the late guhCnatorial Clcc-
ton. We know that RadicaliSm win
claim this As yictory-that Butler and
Boutwell, and Sumner will proclaim in
Massachusetts, that impeachment is tri-
umphant i'll Tennessee, and that Ashley
and Wilson will echo the shout from the
Northwest. All this but gives kccncr
edge to the pang which the result occa-
sions. His refusal TO permit the use of
his name as a candidate in this contest
would have Occasioned the same shout of
victory from the Radicals as his defeat,
for they would have claimed that he
feared to test the popularity of his oppo-
siion to their measures before an over
whclmingly Conservative Legislature of
hi sown State
While we can but condemn in the
strongest terms the war of dcnmciation,
yituperation and personal abuse which has
been waged against Mr.. johnson, and
deeply regret that such a mode of war
fare should succeed in any cause, we shall
be greatly gratifed if the future shall
prove that those Conservatives who diff
fercd with us in this struggle were wiser
than we, and that in their efforts 10 up
hold the constitution they will 90 with us
in our devotion to that instrument.
We regard Mr.. johnson in this contest
in the same light in which he is regarded
by the Radical party, as the embodiment
of aniagOnism 10 Radical principles, az
grcssions and coruptions Hence We
considered that his election would be
triumph of principle, and in that respect
far more important than the success of
any man.
The long and anxious struggle is over,
and we must await its fruits.
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