Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-16
THE SECOND DISTRICT.
Tine Political Situation I'm the Knox
willie District from a Republican
Standpoint.
From the Chattanooga Commercial.

From the Chattanooga Commercial.
KNOXVILLE, April IA, 1S74.-Thefe
Is considerable activity in political cir
cles in the second district. The August
election is almost lost sight of in the
preparation for the November contest.
Although the Republican majority in
this district is very large, yet the Dem
ocrats are preparing to take the field,
and are making arrangements for a
vigorous opposition. No Democrat
has yet announced himself as a candi-
date for Congress, and who will be put
forward by the party is a question
which depends for its solution upon
future combinations. W. A. Hender-
son has been spoken of, and if he
would accept the position his integrity
of character, high standing and gene
raj popularity would make him a very
strong candidate, Whether the Dem
ocrats will adopt an independent" or
a "straight-out" platform will be de-
cided by the consideration of expedien-
cy. They viii try to combine all the
clements, and are seeking to control
the vote Of the Changers. This may
not be indicated Just now by the "Out-
look" but it is the opinion of those on
the lookout. OF course Bro. Charlton
would try to prevent the Patrons of
Husbandry from having anything to do
with politics, even if they should be
disposed to make him their nominee.
The Republicans are in advance of
the Democrats In this district, and
already have two candidates in thefeld
for Congressional honors, Judge Houk
and Col. Thornburg. The friends of
Judge Houk have been stirring up
things in rather lively style, so much
so that Col. Thornburg has been here
from Washington to get someinforma-
ton in regard to the Tennessee river.
The law that changed the name of the
Holston to the Tennessee, probably
also enacted that Knoxville should be
the place to obtain the facts in regard
to the trade, condition and needs Of the
Tennessee; the appropriations that have
been made for this stream in COMPARE
son with other water courses of the
country, and the advantages that would
result to the whole country if the same
expenditures we're made on this river
as elsewhere.
What information and statistics can
be obtained in two or three days, in re-
gard to one of the most important riv-
ers on the continent, which can be pre-
scented in a form so comprehensive, and
at the same time so well digested as to
command the respect and the attention
of a Congressional committee, and
which will compare with the labored
reports of rival interests, we are not
prepared to say. But we do say that
when any Congressman has passed the
eight months prior to his going to
Washington, and for which he has been
paid the sum of s., 200, without giving
any attention to the public matters Of
his district, and without preparing
himself to properly present the inter-
ests of his constituents, then the peo-
pie must expect that their representa-
tive will be lost sight of In Congress, |
and their interests will be unknown at
the Capitol.
The contest between Judge ouk and
Col. Thornburg is likely to run so high
that some think that Horace Maynard.
Will be asked to take the nomination in
order to make everything harmonious. !