Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-04-11
GOV. sENTER BEFORE THE HEAD
CENTER At WARRINGTON.

u
CENTER At WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON. April e--Gov Senter made a
statement before the Reconstruction Commit
tee to-day concerning affairs in Tennessee. he
does not think it necessary to order new
election. but thinks some action ought TO be
taken by Congress to defeat the Vaccinations
of the Legislature. which has shorn him OF all
authority to preserve order in the state.
The Governor of Tennessee is not of
the opinion that Congress should inter
fere to the extent of ordering new cleo
ton in the State, but merely take such
steps as will defeat the Vaccinations of
a Legislature that seeks to shear him of
his coveted authority. There is human
nature in this, and very small human ma
ture it must be confessed. Senter is Gov
ernor as matters now stand, and; of
course,is opposed to enteringintoa doubt
full contest for position he already holds.
But he would have Congressional inter
ference so far as to compel the Legisla-
ture to ID, his. bidding. 1t would be a
grievous outrage upon our people to force
them to vote again for officers already
elected but to coerce the State Govern
ment into obeying the dictates of pre-
sumptuous little autocrat is the thing
that should be done, and is all right
This is the true specimen Of man and
politician held up for admiration by
our contemporaries, short while
since, when we charged that Senter
was himself in favor of the new
scheme of reconstructng the State.
And it is a fact, as stated by his sup
porters, that he is opposed to Stokes
new plan, but was in favor of one of his
own origination. The difference between
the two as to the outrage on law and the
Constitution is not perceptible to our
selves. and we must acknowledge our
inability to discern the very nice distinc-
ton that is supposed to exist. Stokes
is DESTROYS that Senter shall be put
out of the Office of Governor and a new
election ordered, so that the scrub race
may be run over again for the position.
Stokes is still for war on IS old COM
petitor, and is not disposed to stop short
of the confines of Africa. Senter has
consented to cross the Rubcon Of recon-
struction, provided his official head may
be spared. These ambitious aspirants
care little for anything save to aggran-
die themselves, if it should even be at
the expense Of every right held sacred
by our people. We are somewhat at a
loss to know how Congress would
proceed in defeating the machi-
nations of the Legislature against
Governor Senter. Would it raise him to
the rank of a Major General, and place
a corps of United States regulars at his
command, that he might hunt down the
outrageous Ku-Klux? Perhaps this same
oligarchy would grant him the power of
calling out the East Tennessee militia at
pleasure. and to send them wherever
these black-faeed regulators should make
their appearance in the State Senter
has meyer been in good humor with the
Legislature since repeating the mil
tia law passed for Brownlow's benefit,
and enjoyed by the present Governor in
filling out an unexpired term ofthe same
Office. 1t may be remembered how te-
naciously the successor of " Pluto held
on to the militia reins, and was loath to
release them until forced by Demo
cratic Legislature to do so. He is still
ambitious for military fame, and is anx-
ious TO get command at his disposal.
The Legislature is not Inclined to humor
his whim, and he has gone to Washington
CITY. and can be seen TO whine at the
door Of the Reconstruction Committee.
like some unfortunate boy who had
thouehtlessly let his bread fall on the
buttered side, and felt in despair at the
loss. II has Of late become so common
to kick the dead Confederate lion that
our little pusilanimous Governor thinks
he might afford the luxury. We have
indeed come to low ebb in political
importance when such men would as
sumo TO ride over US.