Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-01
THESPEAKERSHI POFTHESENATE
AGAIN.
From the Mckenzie Times.

From the Mckenzie Times.
The recent severe illness of the worthy
Governor elect of the State, Gen. Jno. G.
Brown, now happily convalescent, filled the
public mind with the most painful appre-
tensions, and in view at one time of the
highly probable fatal termination of the at
tack and possible contingencies in the flu
ture, has awakened an interest in the cleo
ton of the Speaker of the incoming Senate,
and invested the question with an impor-
lance that has not hitherto been felt by the
people on the subject. A Governor is as
liable to die as any other mortal, no matter
how humble his station, and as our eonsti-
tuition provides in such contingencies, that
the vacancy shall be filed by the Speaker of
the Senate, it is a matter of the highest inn
p0rtance that that officer should be selected
not only with reference to his qualifications
for the duties of presiding over the delibera-
tons of that branch of the legislative de-
partment, but also, with view to his fit
ness to discharge the duties of the executive
department in the contingency contempla-
ted. Not every one who has the necessary
qualifications TO enable him to preside sue
cessfully in a deliberatiye body, is at the
same time endowed with those attributes
and talents that would fit him to take hold
Of the helm, and guide the ship of State safe
" over the breakers that might oppose its
progress.
The duties and responsibilities Of the gu
bernatorial office, are, beyond comparison,
greater than any that pertain TO the position
Of Speaker of the Senate, and in view of the
possibility of the latter, at any time, being
called to fill the executive chair, it becomes
a matter Of high and imperative duty on
the part of the representatives Of the people
in the Senatorial branch of the State Gov
ernment to look well to the worthiness, the
competency, and fitness every way, Of the
man whom they select rs their presiding Of
ficer; so that, should the State suffer the
great calamity of being bereaved of the emf
nent and worthy citizen whom the people
have called to administer the executive au-
thoritv of the Government for the next two
years, his constitutional successor may be
qualified to meet and successfully discharge
the grave and weighty responsibilities de
volving upon him. This much the people
will expect and require of their representa-
tives, and any failure on the part of that
body to meet this reasonable demand will
be visited by their extreme reprobation.
They have among their number, some
who possess the requisite qualifications.
Conspicuous on that list stands the worthy
and capable gentleman whom we designated,
two weeks ago, as having eminent fitness
for the position, both as regards the duties
of presiding officer of the Senate, as well as
the contingent duties of chief executive of
the State. Our readers will understand us
as referring to the Hon. A. G.. Merritt, the
Senator elect from Davidson. Since the ap-
pearance of our article, suggesting his name
in that connection, we have been gratified to
see-Oru nomination favorably commented
on by portion of the Press, and to have
heard it warmly endorsed by number OF
the most prominent gentlemen OF the State.
We are more than ever convinced that our
suggestion of the right man for the place
was altogether judicious one, and that no
gentleman among the whole number of
Senators elect, will be found, upon close
scrutiny, to combine more of the clements
that 90 to make up a good presiding officer,
and if an emergency should happen, good
chief magistrate for the State. But We are
the advocate and parstisan of no particular
candidate. Any worthy and capable man,
of good habits and incoITuptible integrity,
sound and orthodox in his political princi-
pies, will be entirely acceptable to us, and
doubtless to the people generally.
We happen to know Mr.. Merritt to be
such man, and have ventured to bring his
name forward in connection with the posi-
ton alluded to. We would not disparage
the. pretenSiOns of other worthy and COM
petent gentlemen who may aspire to the
position, and shall not doubt that wise and
iudicious selection will be made.