Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-21
ANnREW JOHNSON.

DOrtiOnment Bill OF congress mas given
Tennessee an additional Representative
who viii be elected by the voters Of the
entire State. This fact will, in great de-
gree, give it an importance beyond the cleo
ton Of member from distri t. The in
dividual chosen by the suttrages of the
whole people will, therefore, occupy a posi-
ton relative, in measure, to that OF
Senator. He should be a man of COM
manding abilities, and of national rePuta-
ton. In making up our own mind upon
the matter, we have taken survey OF the
whole State and have endeavored to form
our conclusion with an unbiased judgment
and apart from personal considerations.
We occupy position, too, in the newspA-
per world in which We move and have our
being, independent, in every sense OF the
word, Of parties, persons or cliques. we
belong 10 no ring and to no party, and
are perfectly free to advocate or OPP
pose any public matter according to
our own judgment. In this spirit, thtre-
fore, we have considered the question ''who
shall represent Tennessee at large ?" and
we have no hesitation in saying that ex-
President johnson, above, all others who
have been mentioned for the position, is the
man for the emergency. We believe that
mistake in electing Henry Cooper over him,
to saw nothing of the still more unpardona-
bic violation of the known will of the peO-
pie by persistently refusing to carry out
their wishes. We can, however, look upon
the action of the members with great
deal ofcharity, for much allowance must
be made for the still smOuldering passions
and resentments of the war, and Mr..
johnson had done much to justify
them. Everything that he had done wrong
was treasured up against him; while the re-
cord of his mastery contest with the hosts
of Radicalism after their break with him,
was Totally ignored. We thought then,
as we think nov, that il we
had sent Andrew johnson TO the
Senate, that be would have throttled many
of the monsters that have been spawned
upon the country. His presence upon the
floor Of the Senate would have given a
strength TO the little band of Democrats
and Liberal Republicans that might have
ayerted much of the oppression that has
since followed, while as a leader of admit
ted power and with a thorough knowledge
of parliamentary tactics, his blows would
have been felt not only in the Senate and
In the House, but from one end Of the con-
tinent to the other.
But adiourning all ordinations and re-
examinations, for1ver, we hope, let the dead
mast bury its own dead, and let US address
ourselves to the living present. In this
spirit, the Cinlinnati and Baltimore Con-
yentions have buried the past and its hor-
rors. and across the chasm of the Old and .
New have shaken hands. 1t becomes US,
therefore, practically to carry out its spirit,
and not TO shape cur conduct
by old bitter memories. What
ever is best should be done. We should
call to our national councils statesmen ofthe
first ability. We need men equal TO the
great emergency in our affairs. We have
too many small men already in positions of
difficulty, and they are source Of weakness.
We have pleIty of chatterboXes, who can
make great noise, but are of no earthly SER
vice to the country. We need men, not
magpies. Now no one will dispute the splen-
did powers of Andrew johnson. He is the
Great Commoner of America, and has won
his honors under circumstances that required
more indomitable courage and industry than
stood in the path Of any of our public men.
OF the obscurest origin-without oppOrtu-
nifty to serve him-weighed down a. the
start in life by those
Twin jalors of the daring heart
Low birth and iron fortune
he has literally carved his way, through OPP
position, to the highest station of honor.
Ills boast that be has gone from Alderman
of a village to the Presidency is a very par
donable utterance, for it is to his honor, as
well as a notable exempliication OF one Of
the advantages of a republican form Of gov
errment, where peasant can become a
prince If he only has the stuff for prince
in him.
There is no dispute as 70 Mr.. Johnsons
General abilities. The only question is, is
he the man at this particular time TO send
70 Congress F? The most ordinary sagacity
would saw that in the midst of an aggres-
sive war, we need our ablest leaders. 1t is
lust SO in politics. We need our strongest
men.
The House of Representatives the next
winter will be the scene of decisive strug-
gle for our lost liberties. Even though we
succeed in electing Mr.. Greeley in NoFem-
Der, our antagonists have the President and
Congress until the following March, and
who can furtell what three winter months
may bring forth with vindictive President
and a partisan Congress, enraged with de-
feat? We would feel much safer with An
drew Johnson there to take a full share in
the fray. HIS very presence in the House
would give an extra cock to the beautiful
eye of Ben Butler, who would forthwith
put himself on his good behavior. Butler
has no reverence for anything on the earth
beneath or in the heavens above, but he
would have very wholesome fear OF the
ability OF Andrew johnson to curry him
down. That his influence would be great,
there can be no question. His every utter
ance upon the floor would be known, by
telegraph over the COZ nent; bis audience
would be forty millions of people.
The day of tilnid counsels has passed.
The great people have arisen al last and are
not begging for their rights, but like the old
English Bacous, when they wrenched the
Charter from King John, are determined to
have them. The idea that Mr.. johnson
would DO more harm than good in helping
us-that his mere presence would enrage
our enemies is simply absurd. True man
hood aud true wisdom say hold up for your
rights.
But do we forgive Andrew johnson for
all that he did for the last ten years? We
answer promptly that we are willing TO play
guits-to shake hands and lock shields to-
cether in common cause for restoration
and reform. Together we hate Radicalism
and together we have a common country
that we love. he is willing to put on his
old armor and enter the list, and we say
God speed to him!
The State Convention TO nominate the
candidate for the State at large is called for
the Dist of August. We do trust that its
members will rise above the passions of
the past and act with an unclouded iudg-
ment. Divided as it viii be upon the claims
of the various aspTants, they can solve the
difficulty and come nearer representing the
will of the whole people by nominating
Andrew johnson, of Greeneville.
Mr.. DELANE, managing editor ofthe Lon