Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-08-17
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.
The Position of johnson and Ether
idge Discussed.

idge Discussed.
From the Paris Intelligencer, Aug. H.
Ex-PREsIDENr JOHNSON. eif
/. The press and politicians outside of this
State have made very frequent mention
during the canvass which has just closed
of the probability that ex. President John
son would be returned to the United States
Senate upon the expiration of Senator
Fowler's time. Even before Mr.. johnson
retired from the presidential Office it was
given out by letter. writer's that he was
coming home to Tennessee and intended
to stump the State-redesm il, free the
people, and for his great services the people
through gratitude would elect him to the
Senate. .-,.,r. wo.f fa; MT
Whether Mr.. johnson authorized any
such newspaper speculation We are not pre-
pared to decide; he did return to Tennes-
see and Immediately commenced canvass
Of the State. The press generally eulo--
gized him through spirit of courtesy
and The politicians idolized him, thinking
him to be the coming man. There were,
however, exceptional cases. 1t was pre-
dicted BY some of the press (the Intelli-
gencer the first one that we are aware Of,
that a canvass by Mr.. johnson at that
time would utterly destroy all hopes of
effecting the objects which have been since
most admirably accomplished. Mr.. John
con, however, had to cease his speeches.
A lull in the political atmosphere came on,
and little was said. The good sense of the
people and the press generally united in
the policy of running no Democratic or
Conservative candidate for Governor. The
immediate result " as the conflict between
Gov. Senter and Gen. Stokes, the glorious
offspring of which is freedom to every
white man in Tennessee.
So soon as the canvass opened Mr.. john
son began to speak. We do not think that
Gov. Senters majority would have been
single vote less if neither Gov. Senter and
ex-President johnson and every other
universal suffrage speaker within the State
had not opened their mouths during the
canvass. All that was needed was the
certificates of registration; the people did
the balance without advice, argument or
exhortation. Neither Mr.. johnson nor
any other man is entitled to this victory;
unless il be Gov. Senter by his liberalizing
suffrage through his officers Of registration.
The people have shown their gratitude
to the Governor by electing him their
Chief Magistrate by the largest majority
ever polled in Tennessee With that he is
doubtless gratifed and content. For such
a compliment, no other position however
alluring should tempt him to leave the
gubernatorial chair.
We cannot see upon what grounds Mr..
John o1's name should be associated
with the position, unless Ii be by his
enemies who are always accusing him Of
a chronic desire for Office. Upon the
contrary he has repeatedly declared in his
speeches during the past summer that be
had filled all of the Offices from alderman
of the village of Greeneville, up to the
presidency, and that his ambi ion was
gratifed; that he now sought repose in the
bosom of that State which had 30 literally
shoWered its honors upon him. We
therefore conclude that the letter writers
who are busying themselves in mentioning
his name either commanding on disapproV-
ing the suggestion, do SO without any war
rant from him. And since it islhis ardent
wish to retire from the storms of State
Whose arduous service he has been in with
out a moments respite for more thar. a
Quarter of century; and since the bitter
and acrimonious feud and personal quar-
rel existing between him and most OF the
Radical Senators, thereby disabling him
from acting harmoniously with them even
upon questions not involving politics, and
instead ofthe ends of peace being promoted
his entrance into the Senate would sound
the tocsin of personal strife and political
war. we feel assured from the views hC
has 80 repeatedly expressed, that he would
regret the verdict of the people in return
ing him again to the post of duty in th'
Senate, where the evening of his life viii
| be closed amid storms and temPeets.