The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-02
TENNESSEE.

review OF inc SITUATION from Senter stand
point.
In the New York TribuneS Washington cor
respondence we find the following:-
WASHINGTON, July .-Ex-Supervsor Noah
and one of the Congressional delegation of Ten
nessee arrived in this city yesterday direct from
that State. Both these gentlemen are strong
Republicans, and partisans of Governor Senter.
They report the present campaign in their State
the most active witnessed there for many years.
They seem to regard Senters election fore
gone conclusion and estimate his majority at
4O,OO0. Some of his supporters did expect a
majority of 10000, based upon the sup
position that he would more than divide
with Stokes. and would receive at least one
third of the colored vote. Recent developments
however, may seriously reduce this estimate,
although his majority will undoubtedly exceed
that received by General Grant. AS to the mo-
tives which induced so many Republicans to
favor General Senters nomination and election
in opposition to General Stokes, they say when
Senter, by virtue of his position rs Speaker of
the Senate, succeeded Governor Brownlow,
whose election to the United States Senate
vacated the GubernatoriT chair, it was, upon
due deliberation, thought prudent and
just to continue him in office as
measure OF safety to the Republican party. As
Governor he possessed the power of controlling
the registration of voters under the franchise
law, which authority, If judiciously exercised
would undoubtedly secure a Republican Legis
lature, and consequently the selection of a Re
publican Senator as a successor to Senate
Fowler. Senter was known to be liberal in hi
views, and friendly to the Northern-born citi-
zens and eX-Federal soldiers and officers who
had since the war made Tennessee their home.
Stokes, on the contrary, was understood to be
uncertain and Indifferent, and ready to affiliate
with any set of men who would give him aid in
accomplishing his ambitious schemes. More
over, he had repeatedly urged that the Northern
men, or carpet t-baggers," should be driven out
n the Oppnly hOnatinp that no intpnhp1
to wage bitter warfare upon them.
Brownlows election to the United States
Senate was mainly owing to the support which
he received from the so-called "carpet-bag' ele-
ment, and Stokes, having been defeated in the
nomination for Governor by Brownlow, in 1857,
and subsequently for United States Senator in
1868, it can easily be understood why Stokes was
so bitter against Brownlow and the yankees"
and why these yankees" and Senator Brown
low support Senter's claims. Senator Brown
lows position on this question is not new.
He has been impressed with the justice
and necessity of extending the franchise
and removing all political disabilities for
nearly two years, the only question being
as to the proper moment to establish an initial
point in this behalf. In this he has been sus-
tanned by the views of a preponderance of the
Union element.
When the reconstruction policy of Congress
placed the ballot in the hands of every
body in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia. Arkansas,
Florida, and the Carolinas, and proposed to do
the same for Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia, it
was evident that Tennessee could no longer
justly dsfranchse over one hundred thousand
OF her citizens without confessng that her
strictive laws were not based upon principle,
but were framed only to secure the spoils of
office-an admission that no political party
could safely avow. 1t was not supposed that
Congress and the administration of General
Grant would for an instant favor a liberal policy
in the ten seeding States, and an illiberal one
in Tennessee.
Many Republicans of Tennessee think Cover
nor Boutwell, committed a grave error when he
nterfered in the political affairs of their State
particularly when it was known that Stokes had,
prior to the opening of the campaign, been
offered the United States Senatorship without
opposition if he would not oppose Senter's cleo
ton. This offer Stokes Indignantly spurned,
and stated that he intended to take lick" at
both the GOvernorship and Senatorship, no mat
ter what the consequences might be.
Senter's election will by no means destroy the
Republican party. On the contrary, it is be-
lieved that the old line Wings, who were anti
secessionists will affiliate with liberal Repub-
lican party, and that the Democrats will rally to
old party lines and issues; that the "sheep" and
the goats will separate and form distinctive
parties for the next Presidential campaign; the
old feuds of Tennessee politics will be revived,
old scores brought up for settlement, incidents
OF the war revived for dispute before the people,
and general Kilkenny cat fight inaugurated for
the spoi,s. The colored vote will perhaps be
somewhat divided, but will preponderate for the
Republican party, and will constitute almost the
balance OF power in connection with the
yankee" element
Besides, it is also believed that a little adver-
sity and political physic will operate heathily
upon the disordered system of Tennessee Repub-
hcanism, forcing that unity of action and con-
cora so necessary to party success that personal
feuds and individual ambition will thus give way
to the public veal. and the agitators must go to
the wall on both sides. 1t is not certain
by any means that tX President John
son wiz be chosen Senator, as he
will be fought by his old enemies of the
Whig party, as well as by the Republicans. He
is, however, working hard to emulate John
Quincy Adams, and proposes to die in the har-
hess. He has wonderful pluck and energy, but
the opinion is that he will be forestalled by new
combinations. Gov. Senter was an old line
Wig, and is not in accord with any movement
calculated to place Andrew johnson in the SEN
ate while Brownlow is, of course, his implacable
enemy, and, if he lives, will fight him harder
than ever