Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-03
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION
Who shall Succeed Mr.. Fowler
in the Senator
Spirit of the Press.
From the cla-tsville Tobacco Leaf. Sept. 50.
ALEADna FOR 1Hn -1xEs.

From the GAINESVILLE Tobacco Leaf. Sept. so.
ALEADsR FOR TIE TINES.
In determining who shall represent us in the
United States Senate, We are restricted in our
choice to comparatively few of these who might
find friends and supporters. Ameng those who
are presented for our choice Andrew johnson is
one of the most conspiciousi we think for
many reasons the most available and also the
choice Of a large majority of the people of Ten
nessee. In aYowlng preference for Mr.. john
son. we do SO without reference to the past,
without reference TO any objections that may be
urged as to his war record. If in the heat of =
terrible conflict he has ever gone too far 10 his
earnest advocacy of the cause which he espous-
ed. we find full compensation on review of
his whole record. in his power and Willingness
to aid as now. We have examined this ques-
ton as though We had great interests to subs
serve, a great end to accomplish, and we have
tried earnestly to discover the best means to
that end without References to our sympathies,
our friendship or our desires. We must not ex-
Pect to find man suited to our state Of affairs
to whom no objection can be made. If such
man can be found be Will be too obscure, too
little identified with the political interests Of
the day. too little ability to deal with the mighty
the required ability and of sufficient experience
to represent Tennessee ia this crisis, who has
never been swayed by the passions of ordinary
surely bSys Ssen too sool ad bsTs
100 well bis own advantage TO be strictly honest.
cucn man must have sought rather political
sT @sv t1 1e me public good 0f Andrew Johnson
He has come out from the filth and corruption
OF the seat OF governments with clean hands
and garments undefled. No one can point to
gitt that he has accepted or bribe that he
has taken. Ills worst enemies honor him with
the cry 0ftreasOn, and dare not charge him with
corruption. Prescription is ended in Tennessee,
and its ideas cannot hereafter be represented.
Those who advocates It must join the resistless
QurrpOt n thew will stand harao ffar ka
sWaying and decaylng Snags that mark with n
ripple here aud there the mighty force of the
Mississippi. 1t is not because they love Ten
nessee, or care for the peace and prosperity of
its people, but because they fear aud hate John,
son that they warn us against sending him to
the Senate.
A considerable majority of the people of An
drew Johnson's own home and county. Of his
section of the State, Csp0used or at least sympa-
thized with the cause of the Union. lie might
well then, without violating the sacred bond of
sympathy, take that part which TO him seemed
best. His earnest advocacy of the cause OF the
Union in the early days of the war. both on the
floor of the Senate Chamber and in Tennessee
before crowds, where an Infatuated mob, unless
restrained by prudent men, would have torn
him from the stand, are proof that his heart was
in the cause he had espoused.
There are those who oppose JohnsOn's election
on the ground that it Is not the best policy TO
declare open war against the corruption Of the
Radical party; our work is not yet completed,
we are not yet fully redeemed: and they argue
way to achieve our final triumph-the triumph
of hberty-is to lie still and wait. There are
two good reasons why this is not true; 6nd. first,
there can be no compromise of principle that
will insure a triumph of principle. Errors in
church and State are slowly eradicated, and we
nave expected too speedy results from our war;
fare for truth. All errors that have been sue
cessfully combatted or GproOted in this world
have been met by vigorous prosecution Of Of
fensiVe war and determined declaration of
principles, or. when that was for time imPrac-
ticable. by stern. unyleldlng defense. 10 battle
with error and beat IT slowly and surely back IS
the only means through which truth asserts itself
in final triumph. Has the gallant struggle of
our people in Tennessee been of no advantage
to US in our late Triumph Did it not at least
expose to tester in the sunlight the rottenness
and corruption Of our opponents, thus
weakening daily their ability to carry
on war, even though it may have engen-
Has the national contest of afeW bold spirits.
foremost of whom was johnson, against the
Tyranny, the corruption and lavish extraya-
gance Of the dominant party been productive OF
no good? 1t has surely lifted the veil Of dark
ness from their hOrrid mis- leeds, il has surely
been gradually widening the circle of opponents
to misruIe and despotism, building up q more
liberal and healthy sentiment among the people
of the North, 1t has arrayed men like Sprague
and others with the friends of free government
and White-man's rule. There are men who never
see the deep damning guilt Of their schemes
until there is flood of pure ligS.t poured on
them. There are others who will never advo-
cate measures of damning infamy after they
have been exposed to the light of day. 1t Is
men like these, as well as the Well-meaning but
misinformed masses, that are slowly but surely
arrayed en- the side of right by bold and fear
less exposure of errors and a calm exposition of
principles. If we adopt the policy of wal ting,
division may come, but will we be prepared
and organized with united force to take ad-
vantage of their strife? 1t is their errors and
false doctrines our devotion to the true princi-
pies of free government that are to give US the
right and the power to overthrow our enemies.
How will their error be perceived and felt,
unless we wage vigorous warfare against
error: how will our own ranks rally to the sup
port of their principles unless we expose an un'
broken front to the enemy3 1t is surely q new
principle to enunciate in either church or State
that to combat error we must lie prone IN the
dust and let it have full sway History tells US
of no such successful conflicts with false doc
| trine. Timidity may suggest, but reason docs
| not teach us such method OF gaining great
triumnphs. But, however we may wish to await
a division in the camp of our enemies, we may
| be sure that there are men who can brook no
idea of wrong; who cannot remain silent whilst
there is error to combat men who will not lie in
| ambush but advance to the front of battle If
| necessary to bring on the engagement.
| Such men will continue to expose corruption
and fraud and conspiracy, and II we lie stun
| whilst they are battling on the sklrmish line,
| they must fall and our cause and all OF liberty
| and law and order that we have or expect must
fall with them.
1 Andrew johnson is the champion of free gov
eminent thoroughly imbued with the prinei-
pies that animated our fathers, the very toun-
1 dation stones Of all civil liberty.
He has shown his ability to attack corruption,
and extravaganza, to administer scathing re-
| buke to arbitrary power, he has shown himself on
l the watch-toWer. ZealOusly guarding the llber-
ties of the people, warning them OF the very m
/ ceptien of arbitrary measures, and exposing the
| insidious Wiles of wary foemen; He has shown
/ himself not only able to attack and tear down
i the fimsy structures of arbitrary power, but
that he is also thoroughly versed in the princi-
| pies by which free government can be restored
| and preserved. He is rare instance Of man
/ uniting the ability to rend in pieces and to
unite again the disjointed parts Of ruined strue-
lures.
| From the Galveston (Texas) News
| The Nashville Banner seems to be conducting
| the Campaign against Andrew johnson with
/ considerable virulence. Our regard for Mr..
/ JohsOp does not amount to infatuatlOn. but
4 like the st. Louis Timesl we certainly would
1 like TO see him back in the Senate. If for no
| other reason than to keep the menagerie
| stirred up. -.- ..