Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-08
WEST TENNESSEE.
She Does Not Yield Her Claim
to Furnish the Next United
States Senator.
The GubernatOrial Canvass from
a New Standpoint.
70 The Union AMI American:

To the Union ami American;
The idea seems to prevail - Middle and
East Tennessee that the nomination Of a
candidate for Governor, ca the 10Th of Au-
gust, should be conceded to West Tennes-
see, in consideration Of her yielding 10
them the next Senator in Congress.
Now, among those in West Tennessee
whose names are mentioned in connection
with the nomination for Governor, there
are gentlemen eminently worthy Of the pc
sitiOn By their own intrinsic merits, and
without reference to their locality. On this
ground their claims will be presented To
that convention But If one Of them is %
be selected under the expectation that West
Tennessee thereby Yields the Senator TO
tire other Divisions, it is fair now to say
that she can not be party TO such a con-
tract. On the GubernatOrial question, She
has no prejudices against any worthy citi
zen in any part Of the Sac. From the
necessity Of the case, the Governor must
stand neutral between all sections. He has
no power or patronage which can be used
for one section against another. To con-
cede his nomination TO West Tennessee
would be a graceful and 4 deserved cOmpli-
ment, but utterly without val1e to her,
when her national interests are considered
What she wants is beyond the jurisdiction
or reach Of a Governor. She wants the
wise and fostering care Of both Houses Of
Congress. The Custom House of Memphis,
intended for the benefit of the vast region
Of country which trades at that point, exists
only ON paper. while the one at Knoxville
is the natural outlet for her
fl,u5a Of n1rernef
half the continent, needs the aid of the
Government to deepen its channel, TO open
its mouths, and to build ship canals to the
sea. The floods that submerge the vast
tracts Of more than Egyptian fertility along
its courses, can only be held in bounds by
aid derived from the Federal Government.
The Southern Pacific Railroad, our pro-
jected highway TO the great sea,stands still,
while Northern lines were opened by gov
ernmental aid through SNOWY wastes, and
over the almost inaccessible heights Of the
Rocky Mountains.
To obtain aid for these ends, the West
ern District of Tennessee needs a Senator
who is imbued with her spirit, acquainted
with her wants, and is identified with her
fortunes. Once only has a ) natOr been
conceded to West Tennessee, and h had
out recently COhle AiOui tuc Alluuto Difi-
sion, and was not elected because Of
his residence here, but through his
great popularity throughout the State.
With this single exception, the other d.
visions of the State have furnished both
Senators for SeCeHfy-eight gears! West
Tennessee has no prejudice against the
other sections, or any of their worthy sons.
She does not go to the extreme Of demand
ina the Senator. She would simply pro
test against accepting the nomination for
Governor as a price for which she will sur
render the vital interests which she has in
the Senate of the United States. No son
Of hers shonld accept the nomination for
Governor upon any such terms, and it is
but right that the truth should be frankly
stated before the mischief is done.
WEST TENNESSEE.