Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-05-04
THE sENAToas5 i QUESTION.


early to present candidates for the next
Legislature, it is time the people should
begin to think something about the
men who shall be their Representa-
tives. With this view | propose to
call the public attention to the condi-
ton of affairs in Tennessee, and to
suggest suitable persons to represent
this Senatorial district and county in
the next Legislature. The financial
condition of Tennessee certainly re-
qulres a radical change anda thorough
reform. Our beloved State suffered
dreadiully during the war, and espec-
tally by the disastrous administration
of its affairs by the notorious VIM. G.
Browniow. lie found the State in
debt about S2O,000,000, incurred for
internal improvements He left it
burthened with debt of 5000, 900,
and utterly bankrupt in character and
morals. 1t will require years of car
nest labor and patriotic toll to revive
its shatterd credit and rebuild its
ruined fortunes.
1t is remarkable how soon q bad
Governor, with prohigate Legisla-
ture, can blight the prosperity of a
State. The work o" reconstruction
will be slow and tedious We see
our State bonds at a disgraceful dis
count, with no money in the treasury
to pay the interest which has accrued
upon them, and no money to pay the
ordinary expenses of the Government.
Our Judges and other public officers
are compelled to receive treasury war
rants instead of money for the services
the have rendered the State, which
warrants are from necessity hawked
about and thrown upon the brokers'
market and cashed at ruinous dis
count. Not only is the State unable
to pay her bonds when they fall due,
and the day of payment will soon ar
rive, but she cannot pay the interest
on her debts from year to year nor is
she in condition to pay her current ex-
penses from time to time. SO low have
we fallen. We cannot pay our debts,
the interest upon them, nor the ordi-
nary expenses Of the State Govern
ment.
This being our financial condition,
is it not manifest the people ought to
call into their service men who have
the mind and the will to extricate
Tennessee from the degradation into
which she has been plunged by the
recklessness and corruption of Radi-
cal rule? We do not want politicians
but statesmen in the Legislature, who
will give their intelligent and patriotic
service to the State, and redeem hel
ruined fortunes. We have such men
in Montgomery, and the people have
the right to command them, and my
word for it they will obey their call
Intending to cast no disparagement
upon others, | suggest ID. n. Kennedy
for the State Senate from this district
; Tie has some experience as a Legsla-
tor. His sound views Of State policy
6 connected with the great question OF
its finances, with which he is particu
larly familiar, point him out as ono
; whose advice and counsel would be o.
e incalculable service to the State, il
this its hour of utmost need. His oc
oupation necessarily makes him flmil
% lar with the great questions in which
5 we all feel so deep an interest, the fl
, nannial condition of tho State. IL,
would go to Nashville for no purpos,
> of amusement, but to labor for tn,
public good and to serve the Stat,
t faithfully and to serve it well.
Montgomery county is very fortu
4 nate in having many citizens VIII,
would reflect credit upon the count,
and the State as members of the Leg
islature. She has a high character al
I over the State of which We might wei
= be proud and which it behOoyes us t
h maintain. Where could we find
p better representative of such u count
and one whose counsel would be o
Il more benefit to the State in this crisi
e Of affairs than Robert w. Ferguson
h our late member? lie is an intelli
= gent and honorable man, citizen VIII
y has never forced himself upon the at
/ tention of the people by practising an
o of the disreputable arts that charac
If terize small politicians and dema
: gogues. Though he has been conten
y to live in quiet on his plantation
L. where his affections are, he has Away
= felt lively interest in the prospcrit
t. of the State and a just pride in tn
= moral and intellectual character of HI
! county Such man, modest and II
W firing, intellectual and honorabl,
. ought not to he overlooked.
He consented to serve the people j
OF the last Legislature because he felt h
er county had a right to command h
II services. That county requires h
- services again, and we owe him tn
IL tender of the office of RepreSentativ
~ not only from the fact he made u va
A. liable and influential member aud wi
40 be able with the experience acquire
% in legislation to render more cfhciei
Il service in the present embarrassed COZ
+ dition of the State, but from the ia,
that the county owes it to itself tn;
he should have another trial, that
ne may redeem itself from the narrow c
10 cape it made in having him deieate
:. Ii will be remembered he had no ope
:" and avowcd competition, and haviI
III no fears of his success, We almost su
ny fcred the election to go by detaul
ms This experience teaches Us one valu
: Bile lesson, that when We force gel
= tleman to became a candidate at |
as solicitation of his, it is our solcu
n duty to rally to the support of o,
standard bearer and give him the gra
ilication of a triumphant victory al
ON not mortify him with a mcagrc maio
A.. ity over one of the most decided RAJ
ny icals in the county, when we cOu
nd have complimented him with thou
ch and majority if we had known i
ID danger and been apprised Of the secI
=. Vaccinations of our adycrsaries
ny MADISON.
at -.s. --
~ EnjroEs CHRONICLE; In rcSpor
~ To your correspondent, City in yo
,os issue of the 9th ult, permit mc