Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-03
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.
who Shall succeed Mr.. Fowlers
Views Of Correspondents On the
Press.

To the Editors Of the Union and American:
HUNTINGDON, Tenn, Sept. l, 1862
! do not agree with those who seem
consider the election of Senator to sue
coed Mr.. Fowler very unimportant mat
ter. On the other hand, it seems to m
that under the peculiar circumstance
and condition of affairs in our State, tn
selection of Senator is second in i'm
portance only to the calling of q eonven
tion and the wiping out Of the infamou
legislation of the past four years. TIL,
Office of United States Senator is verJ
high and honorable one, though their
are many who now fill seats tn the Sen.
ate chamber who are entirely unfit fol
the position, and if we have the right
kind Of man as our representative
there he can WELD a great influence fol
the good Of the State. More especially
is this the case at the present time, wher
we have immense railroad and other I'M
settled claims against the general gov
eminent. We cannot afford to send q
man there to redress private grievances,
nor to bully the administration and Con
gress. We are in no condition to enter
into such foolish quarrel, however much
we might enjoy the fun and love to wit
ness the throwing of dirt and pulling Of
hair. 1t will do very well for gentlemen
to sit back in their easy chairs and cry
aloud and ask, Who cares for Grant and
Congress?--we will elect who we please
and let the administration and all the
pack go to the devil. All such talk is
the merest bosh, and he who counsels
such a course is no true friend to the
people Of Tennessee, We yet have our
hands in the lions mouth, and until they
are out we cannot afford to play the
bully. Tennessee wants a man to repre-
sent her in the United States Senate who
is able, true and tried. One who will
not 60 there to further private interest
or place our State in factious opposition
to the national administration. One OF
enlarged and practical views of the con-
dition of affairs, and whose sound judg-
men and craftsmanship are well known.
Ih looking over the names of the many
distinguished gentlemen already men.
toned, in my humble opinion there is no
man in the State better suited for the
high position at the present time
than Emerson Etheridge. His abiti.
ty, brilliant intellect, his great
experience as legislator, and
his acquaintance with public men and
public affairs, render him peculiarly
fitted to represent our interest in the
Senate chamber. He will be the equal
of any man in either branch Of Congress,
and reflect honor upon the position, ard
upon his State, for whose people he has
labored faithfully in sunshine and in
storm. / do not know the sentiment of
the politicians or wire>workers, but you
may depend upon it, Messrs. Editors, the
people are in favor of placing this great
champion in the Senate; and flour Legis.
lature reflect the sentiment of the great
mass of the people of Tennessee, they
will certainly elect Mr.. Etheridge, with
little or no opposition.
Ia writing these few lines, l have only
spoken of Mr.. E's fitness for the position
under the peculiar condition ofour affairs,
and have not mentioned his great services
to the Conservative psrty-his brilliant
canvass in 1867 and again in 1868. Wher-
ever the party has demanded hard SER
vice, this bold and gallant champion is
ever ready to meet the marshalled hosts
Of despotism, and carry high the banner
of liberty. Is it asking too much then
that West Tennessee should present the
name of this distinguished gentleman a:
her choice? We wait for the Legislature
to answer. JUSTICE.
From the GAINESVILLE Tobacco Leaf, Sept. 2.
1t has become of importance, Just now
in view of the interest manifested in the
coming election for Senator-an interest
which must be in some way Indicative o.
its important bearing on our future, to
consider the various Indications Of popu'
lar will-the unerriug, calm under-eui'
rent Of popular opinion, that is now
making itself heard and felt. That popu-
lar will is pointing to Andrew johnson
as the statesman in every way best fitted
to represent our interests in the Senate
Of the United States. A few of the
prominent journals Of Tennessee, who
had either their own champions to pre-
sent, their own interests to forward, OF
their own peculiar views to impress upon
the peopls-journals which aspired to
be leaders and directors of popular
opinion, and eagerly sought to strike
the keynote to popular favor, have
been the occasion of the peoples making
known their will. The people are
declaring their views with earnest and
solemn voices, calling for Andrew John.
son, not urging his claims as the sdvo-
Gates of others aspirants have done-not
desiring only to honor him, but demands
ing that service, which he, Of all men
in Tennessee, or in the United States,
can best render. This earnest appeal is
not making itself heard through the
journals of our great cities, which are to
some extent removed from that close
sympathy, which would make them the
first opponents ofpopular feeling; but in
the public gatherings of the people, on
the street corners, in the little gather
ings at work shops, in counting rooms
and through their crossrOsd journals
which express the opinions and feelings
of .he masses. Il is only since the
claims of aspirants have been put for
ward, that it has been necessary for the
people to make known their feelings
by demanding the services Of one whC
is not even known to be an aspirant FOL
! the place.
Why is this ? There must be surely
some great reason for this popular pre-
ference for Andrew Johnson.
There must be, either some grea
sympathy with Andrew johnson and hi
views, some peculiar fitness in him 70
the part he would have to play, or som
| great love and admiration for the man
The latter it is not; but let us see if ther
be not in the hearts of our people,
the honest masses who have no interest
to further but those Of the whole countr
some sympathy with the principle
which Andrew johnson has advocated i
his messages, declared in his speeche!
and private conversation, and on Whic
he made and won his incompatible figt
with the Senate, on which throughout hi
presidential term, he waged gallar
but unequal warfare with both Houses {
Congress, backed as they were by th
whole civil patronage of the government
These are the principles which underli
free government and civil liberty; prin
ciples on which we conducted war fC
independence; principles which in a
countries, among those who were carr
est lovers of the human race and (
human liberty, have found warm advc
Gates and defenders; principles whic
unless free government and civil libert
are idle vagaries, must finally assert then
selves in glorious triumph.
On these principles the struggle again
, Radical tyranny and prescription sint