Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-03
THE SENATORSHIP.
Address of General William A.
Quarles to the General
Assembly.
His Views on National Affairs
Clearly and Forcibly Stated.

To the General Assembly Of Tennessee:
Since the late election have received as
| surances sufficient to induce me to become
a candidate for the Senate Of the United
States, to succeed the Hon. VIM. G. Brown
low-assurances of such character as t(
relieve from any imputation OF lndeiicaey
in the present communication, II they &c
not, indeed, demand some declaration O
my views.
In olden times, when there was corp:
Of tried public servants always under the
very eye of the people, such publication
| would have been unnecessary. Inose
whose names were mentioned in connec
ton with such offices were men Of well
known political views and history. They
had acquired wisdom and fame by long
years of public service. The experience Of
recent years, however, has deprived the
public men the Of South ofthe opportunity
Of placing themselves before the public
and acquiring reputation and history
For the past fifteen years unfriendly legis-
lation, embracing political disability clanses
and test oatlls, has closed the avenues Of
high political place to the men who might
have made name and q history by life
of useful labors. The public mind, Pafal-
wed by the perilous times, harrassed BY
sorrows and despairing Of relief from the
national councils, has paid little attention
to national politics.
An era Of hops, however, has dawned.
New questions are springing UP to take the
place Of sectional issues. The Democratic
party has ACQUIRED position Of new i'm
portance and new responsibilities. And
npon the threshold Of supreme power have
a renewed interest, and its policy, Its prln-
ciples, demands our careful consideration.
Hence, some declaration Of his views
upon national principles, questions and
policies, is imperatively demanded OF one
whose name Is connected with trust so
high and honorable. | have no desire to
be misunderstood, or to be entrusted with
duties, even involving such lofty honOrs,
except upon a fair and candid avowal of
NV yiews-a declaration which cannot be
taken at this time as an obtrusiOn of a pri-
yate ambition to the detriment OF any pub
lie interest:
Regarding the organization of parties as
the only available means Of accomplishing
the object of their promotion, the tn
umph of principles, l have always held,
and now hold, my personal advancement
in subordination TO the principles OF my
party and the good of my country.
The Office is one Of high trust and re-
spOnsibility, and he who seeks it should be
conscious of a higher sanction than the
mere desire of his friends, or Of himself, for
a purely personal Advancement. Should
nv candidacy, even in the slightest degree,
affect the harmony or jeopardize the eff
ficiency of the Democratic party, trust
YOU will consider me as requesting those
who favor nly election to fOrego any claim
which, in their partial judgment, may be
supposed to have.
No man can Judge of his own fitness, or,
without a degree Of egOtism shocking to
every feeling of delicacy, assert his own
qualifications. il is matter he must leave
TO the too partial tribunal Of his friends
and the dicision OF those Who are Impair
tial or unfriendly.
Conscious of sincere desire to promote
the public coed, feel that in the just and
impartial Judgment of those to whom the
constitution OF our fathers has eonhded the
power Of election, is the remedy for the
evils likely to result from the OFer-eStiInate
of friends and the underestimate of those
who may BY zeal for others, or differences
of opinion, be placed in an attitude Of tenn
pOrary hostility. From that tribunal there
is no appeal, and the people aud the as.
pirant may safely trust 10 its decision.
Il is due to you, as well as to myself, 70
enter into some brief discussion of my pO-
litical views, presenting summary of my
opinions as TO principles and policy, so that
you will be at no loss ia classify me as to
my present patty principles and affiliations
and my future party action.
With the past we have little to do.
If, in the words Of Mr.. t'reeley,
''a great, enduring party" could not be
founded ''upon the hate and wrath neces-
sarily engendered by a great civil wal"
much less can We expect to base, upon
elimination and bitter memories, an endur-
ing government, replete with the blessings
of peace and GOOD will to men. If, had
men been guilty of crimes against lib
erty, invading even sacred private rights,
il is but the dictate of a selfish prudence to
forget while Christian charity commands
forgiveness, we can afford, with the chival-
ric magnanimity of victOrs, TO leave them
in the humble walks of private life, turn
ing over their crimes to their conscience
and Higher Tribunal.
1t is true that, to govern well in the
present and provide for the future, we must
study the record of past errors in legisla-
ton and the desolating effects Of unbIidled
power. On calm reflection on the past
alone can we find light to guide us in the
effort to preserve our government, to re-
store and maintain the liberties of the peO-
Die. the supremacy of law and constitution
al guarantees. In all else e. save that we
must all, of whatever view or section, cher
ish the memory and revere the herOism of
the honOred dead-we should draw the vail
of an eternal oblivion over all the dreary
past. and enterIhe future with bounding hope
and loyal effort to secure liberty, peace aud
material prosperity.
The recent elections have placed the
Democratic party in position Of the high
est responsibility, demanding the most
careful policy. A victory long delayed
NAV be lost by unwise acts and intemper-
ate utterances. Every step should be eau
tiously taken, but boldly and with a de-
termined stride. The people will follow
no timid or uncertain leadership. They
demand a full recognition and serious
acceptance of the responsibilities they have
laid upon the Democratic party. The fact
that We hold as vet but one of the citadels
of power, will excuse MS from the duty of
legislation. The people will demand, how
ever, that the party into whose hands they
are about to confide the supreme power,
shall make clear and well defined eDun-
citation of policy and such discreet use of
power, already acquired, as will be to them
an earnest of future liberality, discretion
and conservatism. They demand that
policy be foreshadowed which will arrest
the wild and wasteful policy of the present
administration, not by legislation equally
wild and reckless, but by placing the Con-
stitution of the country, with all its provis-
ions, honestly adhered TO and faithfully ex-
ecuted, across their path as barrier Of in
superable power. They will demand all
its guarantees and all Of its protecting
power alike for the white race and the black
race.
While we may not anticipate our party
in wisely defining and cautiously proclaim
ing its policy, may present certain cardi-
nal points entitled to be revered because
of their age and well tested wisdom.
As fundamental principle upon which
Federal legislation will mainly depend, we
should stand firmly upon the doctrine OF
local self-gOvernment and the rigid limlta-
ton Of the Federal Government to its own
prescribed sphere. To violation Of this
principle we owe all our misrule; to its
maintenance we must look for the preser-
walton of our liberties. The States are the
government in all that pertains strictly to
governing the people-the protection OF
life, liberty and property, and the regula-
tioO Of all the ordinary relations of the cit