Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-10-23

THE telegraph conveys the, to Us,
unexpected news Of the defeat Of eX-
President JOHNSON and the equally
unexpected election of Mr.. Henry
COOPER, brother of Mr.. ED. COOPER,
who was formerly Private Secretary
of Mr.. JOHNSON and for a while act
ing Assistant Secretary Of the Treas
ury. The vote was close, close enough
70 indicate the esteem in which Mr..
JOHNSON is held by the people Of the
State; close enough to indicate that
he was the choice of one half OF his
fe~llow-citizens as they are represented
in the present Legislature. While we
regret the result, and honestly believe
. that il would have been better for the
State and the country had Mr.. John
son been elected TO the United States
Senate. we have no reflections to make
upon the Senate or House Of Tennes-
see, satisfied as We are that the
members however MISTAKEN strove
to express only what they believed
was the will Of their respective IN
stituencies. Defeated by four votes,
by a unity Of all the opposition to him,
the ex-President is yet a power
among his people. The man who
could live through the warfare Of the
past four weeks, and at the close boast
the sustaining power of ffty-One of
the peoples representatives, can GER
tainly claim that he stands well
with his countrymen, and
has their endorsement. We
regret Mr.. JoHNsoN's defeat because
We believe that he was the choice of a
large majority of the Conservative
people of the State, and because it was
reasonably enough expected by the
Conservatives and Democrats of the
North that Tennessee, having the Op-
pOrtunity, would increase the gallant
minority that in a Senate led by
SUMNER have battled for the Consti-
tuition, the integrity-of the Republic
and the rights Of the States.
Nj. JOHNsoN's powers as a DICTATOR,
his experience in every department Of
the Government, his knowledge of the
schemes and purposes Of the enemies
Of the people, and his sterling hon
esty, all pointed to him as the man who
should have been seated in the Senate
TO watch, defend and protect the
general interests OF the country.
Throughout the States, the friends
of the Constitution are SORROW
ing over Mr.. JOHNsON's defeat,
as the Radical party are jubi-
liant and rejoicing. A shout went up
from Wall street yesterday when the
news Of Mr.. COOPER's election was
announced. Anybody but JOHN
SON." said the ~bondholders, more
than a month since. They have their
choice in Mr.. COOPER, who is COM
paratively unknown in the State, and
but little out Of it. Let Us hope that
his future will as much surprise the
Republic as his election. He is
said by those who know him
to be a gentleman OF excellent
good sense, fine abilities as a lawyer,
and a genial, clever companion. He
was born in Maury county, is about
fOrty-two years old, and entered pub
lie life in 1859 as a member Of the
House of Representatives, from Bed
ford county. He was a Union man
during the war, and was one Of Mr..
JoHNsoN's Military Judges. He
was afterward Judge Of the Ruth
erford, Bedford, Wilson and
Cannon Judicial Circuit. While
occupying the bench in this
Court he tried the celebrated RIDLEY
SHERBRoOK franchise case, which is
now pending before the Supreme
Court Of the United States. Resign
ing his position upon the bench, he
accepted a P~rOfessOrship in the Law
Department OF the Cumberland Uni
versity at Lebanon, 10 which he deyo-
ted himself assiduously until q twelve
month since, when heremoved toNash-
vile, where has ever since practiced
law. He was nominated to the State
Senate by the CONSERVATIVES Of David
son county, the delegates in the con-
Vention uniting upon him, las did the
as a compromise candi-
date. He Is Of good family, and is
connected by marriage with our dis
tinguished fellow-citizen, Hon. w. II.
STEPHENS, who was himself at one
time regarded with great favor by the
friends as well as the opponents Of the
Ex-Presideut.