Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-29
HON. EDWIN III. EWING AND THE
SENATORSHIP.
To the Union and American;


able. Full notes of opinion expressed IN
the columns Of the State press, and in com
municated articles rejecting the preferences
Of individuals, have been given; and this is
the wise limit Of participation for journal
holding the relation of the UNION AND
AMERICAN TO the public and the Demo
cratic party. There are, perhaps, more
than the usual number Of announced as
| pirants for this exalted trust, while there
are a number unnamed from whom the
Legislature might properly choose the sue
cessor to Mr.. BrownlOw.
Your course, also, regarding the pI0priety
Of caucus Of the Democratic members TO
choose a candidate, IS prudent Full nine
tenths Of either house were elected as hold
| ing that faith. The very small element Of
Republicans elected-eight in all, l Think
constitutes this Democratic Legislature
indeed. So large a preponderance, how
ever, is u source of danger from ambitious
rivalry, and the lasting divisions it may
cause. This rivalry had best be conducted
in open session, though it may prolong the
ballOtings, unless in their course, some
| exigeney may be apprehended which
would make proper private
consultation of the Democratic
members to ensure the election Of some
one Of the various parties voted for, who
Eaa2d aa RReEallF ReaeEfshle = the peRr
ocratic opinion OF the State. CaucuseS as
they are called, may be fairly conducted,
and are sometimes highly proper, but when
the action is spread upon the Journals OF
the two Houses, it may be read Of all men,
while il done in secret, it may give rise to
misunderstanding, if not misrepresentation
and angry disputatiOn, leading TO discord
in the future. Experience should be the
guide, and attention steadily held to the
great contest of 1876, when the COnserva
tive Democratic party will need the strength
there is in unity and harmony, to complete
the work so auspiciOusly begun this year.
The name of former distinguished c-ti-
zen of Nashville, now Of an adjoining
county, stands high on the list OF aSplrants,
and should the selection fall on him, Ten
nessee would have a Senator worthy Of the
renown her gifted statesmen OF former and
better DAYS acquired from her seats in the
highest council chambers OF the nation
Reference is made to Edwin II. Ewing, Of
Rutherford. 1t would, indeed, be more
proper to speak Of him as Of Davidson, for
it was here he lived for fifty years, and
achieved the distinguished reputation
which has made his name honcred through
OlIt the State But, indeed, citizens like
he. when considered in connection with
such a post, have no local habitation. As
LAWYER and statesman-a publicist in the
full sense of the term-he has, perhaps, not
a peer in the State, certainly no superior.
His intellect is eminently Logical in its
cast, ripened by systematic study and
cultivation, and enlightened by broad and
general cruditiOn. He has an extended
experience of men and affairs. He is con-
stitutionally conservative, weighing every
question without passion, and passing them
in view on every side. He has decision Of
character. unsmirched integrity, and moral
courage of the highest type He is in the
maturity of his powers, and litter material
Tor successor to Bell, and Grundy, and
White cannot be found. In the Senate, he
w,1uld at once take rank with Thurman
AMI Bayard, and the most eminent Of the
men who would enter it with him from the
great States of New York, Pennsylvania,
and Indiana. and would make his native
State a power in the important political
era to be comprised within the ensuing de-
cade.
That period, it is hoped, will witness
under wise eOunsels, the just and
constitutional resetting Of the
foundations Of the State, shaken
by the storm OF civil war and
sapped by the pernicous sectional legisla-
ton of the past ten years. To rehabilitate
the Constitution, and conform the admins
tration of the government to its letter and
prinsiples; wisely TO correct the vicious
systerns which have come into vogue, and
restrain their tendency, without abruptly
uprooting all, or, perhaps, any Of certain
species of legislation which true states
manship would never have permitted, yet,
so to modify and direct it that it may pro-
duce no greater detriment to the republic;
to conceive and apply to the business
of the people a sound system OF
finance to substitute the rotting
trestle work which carried us through the
war, but now crumbling into confusion and
ruins; and, finally, to expel extravaganza,
iobbery and corruption, and re-eStablish the
rule of honesty in official administration,
is a great work, and the indications are
that il is to be committed by the people to
he hands Of the Democratic party. To do
this successfully sagacious and far-sighted
sta tesmen are required.
Invested with tbs great responsi-
biIitV, 1t is the solemn duty OF the
Democratic party to look well TO the
comnOsitiOn of the Senate. That body,
from ne nature Of its constitution, more
slowly than other departments Of the Gov
ernmenf. will undergo the salutary change
which h as been inaugIrated. The careful
observer of the last thirty years Of our pO-
litical history will note that as the Senate
began TO deteriorate in the intellectual and
moral character Of its members; when en-
larred and patriotic wisdom commenced to
be supplanted by audacious, even if some
times brilliant, demagOguery; when the
shining public virtues of atype Of men like
Nathaniel Macon and Hugh Lawson White
came TO be almost forgotten, and Simon
Cameron is now Pater SeaGtUs and
the arttul corruption which he pFae-
tieed and taught is the not infrequent
means of securing and retaining seats in
the body. when the great lights went out,
one by one, in death, or were extinguished
in the waves of sectional madness, and the
places they had mate illustriOus became
the possession of purblind and perVerse
mediOcrity, then the couLtry fell on evil
times. The decay of the Senate was, IN
deed, 'sthe direful spring Of woes unnum-
bered." In the eminent ability and hlgh
personal character of its members, 70 rein
vest that body with its ancient dignity and
influence; to make it what the COnst,tu-
tion intended it to be-the Council
Of the States, and the adviser alike
of the Chief Executive, and Of the
Representatives direct from the people,
guarding the one and guiding the other IN
to the path of discretion when prone to
hasty or unwise legislation, Is one OF the
surest modes to repair the evils which have
come, and to reinstate the true prosperity
and glory Of the country. The men sent
there now, should be men who would have
made Senators for Rome, when Rome was
great and free; and without disparagement
to any, it is thought the qualities and char
acter Of the distinguished gentleman men
toned deserves consideration by the Gen
eral Assembly, In all the features fitted
to fill and adorn that high station, he is