Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-11-04
The Senatorial Election.
Letter from Col. John M.
Fleming, Representa-
tive from Knox.
How and Why Johnson
was Defeated.
The Coalition with the
Radicals.

STACEY HOUSE, NASHVILLE, Oct.
%, lS69.-The Senatorial con-
test is over and before the ink is
dry upon this paper the telegraph
will have informed you that Hen
ry Cooper of the county of Da-
wilson, is the lucky individual who
is to wear, fol the next term in the
Senate, the mantle of Mr.. Fowler.
The vexed question is now set
tied, and after the establishment
of the moment has passed off, it
may not be undressing to glance
at some of the Causes that have
conspired to produce Mr.. john
sons defeat.
! To say that his defeat has as
founded his friends here, would
be at once true and nntrue-that
is to say, it had not been anticipa-
ted that such combinations could
be made against him as would de-
feat him; while, at the same time
after the combinations of last night
became known, it was quite ap-
parent that the election of Coop.
er on the first ballot, was a fore.
gone conclusion. When the con-
vention adjourned yesterday, Mr..
Johnson's strength developed As
votes-in fact 40, with one paired
off-and he yet had a reserve of
at least eight votes that could be
counted upon. That he would be
elected upon the first or second
ballot, this morning, was publicly
conceded fact, and none OF his
enthusiastic personal opponents
could be found who were rash
enough to wager against his cleo
ton. His friends ha dstood faith
full upon every ballot, and, on yes
terday with every call of the roll,
he showed an increased strength.
Upon the adjournment, every re-
source OF the opposition was taxed.
! No stone was to be left unturned
to defeat Andrew Johnson. Mem
bers were piled with all the arts
known to politicians. They were
cornered in the public halls. They
were sought ont in their rooms.
They were stopped in the street.
They were offered-1'll not say
whatinducements were not offered.
A caucus was called into which
all who desired to defeat Andrew
johnson were admitted. 1t met,
and there, in eonclave assembled,
was a blending of spirits that
Shakespeare's oft quoted lining
ling" would fail to describe
There were the Radicals of East
Tennessee-the Fletcher men,
there were the rebels Of deepest
dye. s. s. & There, too, was
= Emerson Etheridge--I blush to
write it--hand and glove with the
rebels Of the West and the radi-
Gals of the East, sacrificing him
self and conspiring with bis new
born fellows to strike down An
drew Johnson. The motives Of
all these parties can well be un-
derstood. = y The Radi-
Gals, thus assembled, could very
naturally resolve to "vote for any
man agaisnt Andrew johnson"
for no man alive has done more to
cripple the Radical party in Its
aggressive and oppressive policy
than Andrew Johnson. l say
Ithese motives are easily understood.
But how Emerson Etheridge-the
gifted, brilliant and daring leader
of 1S67-must have felt when he
found himself yielding his own
claims, (which no one has dispu-
ted,) to the demands or wishes of
twelve or fourteen East Tennessee
Radicals, / confess l can not i'm
agine. | wonder if the thoughts of
that terrible campaign of his, in
East Tennessee, when pistols,
bludgeons and knives, were the
arguments with which he was met,
did not cross his mind as he made
a surrender of himself for the
purpose of joining these Radicals
in their cherished purpose of de-
feating Andrew johnson. Yet,
so it was. A coalition was formed
mot ga murdered coalition" but
a murderous coalition-by which
the fourteen or fifteen Radicals of
the House were enabled to enjoy
their revenge, in the overthrow
of Mr.. johnson and his friends.
Much can be allowed to the feel
ings of personal resentment natu-
rally felt by Mr.. Etheridge, but
in thus calling upon Radical aid
TO PROSTATE his adversary, he has
done that which his people will
not soon forget. Though defeated
himself, he may nevertheless feel
a melancholy satisfaction in the
defeat of his opponent. This is
natural, but after this Radio Il
coalition to accomplish the result,
then comes the deluge: and / am
much mistaken if this new ALI
ance with Radicalism does not
I