Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-10-08
THE UNITED STATES sENAToR-l

STRIP.
Perhaps the awkwardness of some
cropping out of the SEN
atorial succession may beexplained by
to custom which came in
vogue before the war, and which some
regard as a matter of course, namely
the sending of an outgoing Governor
to the Federal Senate. 1t was thus
that Gov. johnson first donned the
Senatorial robe. So also Brownlow
went to Washington. and they do say
Gov. Senter was tempted by like
prize, but somehow it glided from his
grasp. In view of this line Of prece-
dents, the friends of the other aspir-
ant are, not unnaturally, somewhat
lukewarm IN support of Governor
Browns administration, and, as a con-
sequence, Radical ISLANDERS which affect
the whole Democratic party too often
60 unchallenged.
Now, Gov. Brown has thesame right
to aspire higher,as any other citizen or
preceding Governor, and while we can
not champion his personal claims, or
show him any preference over any ri
val, yet we stand upon the platform of
August IS, and propose to defend the
Democratic administration of State
affairs since our party came into power,
whenever and wherever assailed. No
man has right to miscontrue this into
the personal championship of Gov.
Brown or any other Executive officer
who may aspire to further promotion
We propose to keep the UNION AND
American, as it has been, a strictly
impartial Democratic organ. We sup
port none but officers IN their official
capacity, and none but nominees of the
party for Office. Among rival brethren
we shall give no preference, atthe same
time freely exercising our right to
comment upon the public views of any
or all of them, whenever In our Judg.
ment the public interest calls therefor
In this spirit We say that the fnan'
ciaI views of Ex-President johnson, as
given in his Shelbyville speech, are not
clear enough to be practical, even il
unobjectionable- on higher grounds
He proposes to pay interest only on
half the debt, or half interest. How
and where shall this process begin:
Shall it begin on bonds held by educa'
tional institutions On bonds left by
trusting Tennesseeans as the support
of their widows and orphans? On
bonds issued all the way from 1888 to
1858 which melted the State dollar for
dollar? Such is the basis of the bulk
of our debt. 1t is true the bonds are
worth in the money markets to-day
only 55a56 per cent. The same is true
of other Tennessee property, Of lands
and improved estate, as compared with
former times. We have all suffered
from war and Radical misrule. But
there is an additional reason for the de-
preston of our bonds. We mean
this turning OF the plighted honor Of
the State into football for political
campaigns. A State should not decry
its own credit, to take advantage of the
wrong.
Again, in regard to the national
debt. Mr.. Johnson's illusions to the
Reputation Of the Revolutionary and
the Confederatedebts, arenot calculated
70 inspire Northern confidence in
Southern acceptance Of the situation,
if he be taken as an exponent of our
views. So when he tells US "no ma
tional debt was ever paid except by re-
pudiation, and that mo country can
long remain free with a permanent
national debt, +" Republican enemies
in the North are apt to draw the alter,
native conclusion that he either favors
reputation or opposes the perpetual
ton Of freedom. Mr.. johnson is amply
able, as an ex-President of the nation,
and statesman of national repute and
influence, to take the responsibility fOl
these utterances. If he chooses to ap.
pear before the Tennessee Legislature
as the advocate of whatever these ut.
terances may be understood to mean
IL is his affair, not ours.