The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-11-04
Sketch of Senator Cooper of Tennessee.


New York Herald gives the following
sketch of the newly elected Senator from
Tennessee:
After very exciting contest the Ten
nessee Legislature elected Mr.. Henry
Cooper United States Senator, in place of
MIR. Fowler, whose term expires in 1871,
defeating ex.President Johnson by vote
Of SIS to 81. The result was not alto
gether unexpected. Some time ago the
name of the Senator elect was mentioned
in connection with the position, tho an
tagonism of Etheridge and Johnson being
too intense to admit Of their supporters
coalescing upon the one or upon the other.
Indeed, Mr.. Johnson friends stood by him
to the last, when they were defeated
by the Joint vote Of the extreme Radi:
calls ard ex-Secessionists, which strange
combination of. antipodal elements was
brought. about by mutual hatred OF John
son.
It seems, however, after all that the ex-
President is not so badly beaten. If he
failed of an election, he at least had the
consolation of witnessing the triumph of
one of his warmest personal friends and
the ignominlous route of his opponents.
The Senator elect, Mr. Cooper, is we'll
known in Tennessee. He was born In
Maury county, in that State, during the
early part of the present century, and is
now a man in the prime of life. BE is
brother of Edward Cooper, we'll known
to our readers as the Secretary of Presi-
dent Johnson during his administration.
He moved to Bedford county at an early
age. studied law and was admitted to the
bar. After few years his practice be.
came large, and he was known as one OF
the ablest lawyers in the State.
About the year 1850 Mr.. Cooper mar
riod, and during tho same year he first
entered into political life. At this time
he was elected to the State Legislature
by a majority of some 500 votes, after
most exciting contest At the next elec-
ton he was opposed by the most popular
and influential man in the county, ana
his defeat by several hundreds was re-
garded ais matter of absolute certainty.
Mr. Cooper, however, entered upon the
canvass with great energy and determi-
nation. he impaired to his supporters
the same spirit he possessed, and the re-
suit was that, upon the largest vote ever
polled in Bedford up to that time, he was
returned to the Legislature by majority
of twenty. In politics he was o Wing,
and, indeed, never has voted a Democratic
ticket that we are aware of. When the
rebellion broke out he did not hesitate
moment to avow his devotion to the
Union, and his unalterable purpose never
to give his support TO the secession cause.
During the entire war his course was con-
sistent with his staunch Unionsm, so
that he will appear before the Senate of
the United States with war record as
acceptable as that of Senator Sumner.
Upon ex-Prcsident Johnson being ap.
pointed Governor of Tennessee, soon af-
ter the fall of Nashville, he rendered o
State Judgeship to Mr.. Cooper who ac-
cepted the offer and served in that posi-
ton until 1866, when he resigned for the
purpose of accepting Chair in the
Faculty of the Cumberland University of
Lebanon. His career on the bench was
most honorable Several times during his
term he endeavered to resign, but Gov
ernor Brownlow, although aware of his
Conservatism, declined to receive the
resignation, but insisted upon his retain
ing the position. In one of his messages
to the Legislature Brownlow referred to
Judge Cooper in the highest terms OF
praise, expressing his earnest regret that
the State Judiciary should be deprived of
so pure and upright member. This
encomlum was all tho more fattering
when it is remembered that the Judge
was an openly avowed political opponent
of the Governor and looked with horror
at his administrative acts.
At the recent election in Tennesse Mr..
Cooper was the Conservative nominee for
The State Senate from the Eighteenth
District of Tennessee and was elected by
a large majority. He is q gentleman of
ability and ls looked upon as rising man
in his State. of course we would have
preferred to see Mr.. Johnson elected but
we have no doubt that Mr.. Cooper will
mako most acceptable Senator