The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-05-30
The Canvass for Congress.
From thc paducoh Tobacco Plant

From 1887 to 1860. the Congress of the
United Sintes was composed of the ablest
men of the several States. IL was belly
of STATESMEN. All the States seemed
emulous of placing their strongest, most
cultivated, and most patriotic men in the
National Council. Especially was this
The case with the States of the South. and
the most brilliant and noted men IN Con-
cress were Southern men.
This has not been the case since the
war; and with The South particularly,
there has been sad falling off in the
talents, learning, and responsibility Of
her Congressman. So weak and corrupt
has Congress become, that it has been
said by distinguished southern orator,
that it is almost composed OF negroes,
knaves and imbeciles.'
That this picture even approaches TO
the truth is Il repToach TO the people.
The fault is with them. Their lukewarm
ness. their indifference their surrender
OF themselves 10 corrupt politicians and
10 more corrupt rings, has had its legItl-
mate result, and that result IS felt in the
prostration of business, the depreciation
OF properly, the high rate OF interest and
enormous taxes. the scarcity of money,
and the almost paralysis of the agricul-
tural and mechanical interests of the
South and West.
But ii is plead in apology by those who
have been forgetful or negligent OF their
duty at the polls, and who have counte-
nanced the election OF incompetent public
servants, that the government has been
revolutiohized, the constitution violated.
the rights of the States usHrped, and the
liberties of the people suppressed. and
that II is useless TO make further effort.
In answer to this, we reply, in the han
ruaCe of one of our abiest Southern
statesmen, that, "In a complex govern
ment like our own (the political powers
divided between the general and State
governments let it never be conceded
that power once usurped is thereforth a
power transferred; nor that n right once
suppresscd is for-tbat cause a riGbt -
tinguished nor that a Constitution
thousand times violated, becomes a Con-
stitution abolished; nor that govern
ment prostitutcd by two or three consecu-
tive administrations 10 purposes Of ty-
ranny, and corruption, must thereafter
be regarded as a government revolution
lied"
The price of liberty is not only ''eter-
nal vigilance but an unccasing struggle
against corruption and dcspotism. Too
late the people have realized that they
have been guilty of criminal neglect in
the selection of their public servants, and
especially in the selection Of their men,
bers of he Legislature and of Congress.
Ruin is upon US, and shattered fortunes
and the burden of oppressive taxes speak
trumpet tOngued the story of our betray-
al by default of our own rights and in
terests.
But, thank God, there is a brighter day
dawning. The farming interest has at
last been aroused to a knowledge of its
Jeopardy and to a determination to right
g L.. De- ,v,z
of Husbandry, if wisely and discreetly
conducted, possesses the power to revO-
iutionize q corrupt and imbeciie Congress,
and place the country in the hands Of
honest and patriotic men.
TO accomplish this there is hut one road
to travel. The craftsmanship Of the
country must be improved and elevated.
Men of a high order Of culture must he
elected. Men of known worth and in
tegrity, whose whole lives bear testimony
to their honest patriotism. Men who
love their country, and whose living am
bition it is to help lift up falling State.
Never was there n time when IT was
more important to have an able Congress
Questions OF the highest Constitutional
and legal importance are upon us. The
legal construction of the recent amend
ments to the Constitution viii occupy a
large space of the time of the next Con-
gress, and il will require legal tHlents
and ability of the highest order to be
able to grasp these matters In their
length and breadth. In such issues the
mere political spouter, however eloquent
he may be il the defamation of political
platitudes Of his profession of love for
the Changers, will hardly be able to cope
in Congress with the learned and acute
lawyers from New York and New Eng
land. In contests of this kind, real legal
knowledge is the only coin which will
pass current in the House Of Represent
atiyes Of the United States. The bogus
or pinch back article will soon settle down
TO it's intrinsic worthiessness.
The questions OF the t"rfH, the ctsrrSaa-
cy, the power or Congress over ra Iroadsi
and other matters of high Importance,
will also be before the next Congress.
" ill legal knowledge amounting to mere
mediocity serve any good purpose upon
any of these questions Can the mere
county COURT lawyer sustain himself or
be of any service to his people IN such "a
situation
Already there are three candidates for
Congress before us, viz: Judge Bennett.
Judge Boon, and Col. Oscar Turner. We
present to your consideration the claims
of the one the least known in the Pur-
chase, Judge CAswELL BENNETT, of Smith
land. HIS duties as Judge in one of the
districts above the Tennessee river have
confined him so closely for many years,
that he has not been able to make large
acquaintance with the people of the Pur-
chase. He will be remembered, however,
rs one of the leading candidates for Judge
Of the Appellate Court of Kentucky some
years since, in which he retired from he
contest in favor of Judge Lindsay, to
avert the threatened rupture of the nomi-
mill in,
the Democratic party.
Wepresent his name with confidence,
as ger tleman and q Democrat worthy of
the highest consideration OF the people,
and as possessing in the largest degree
talents and legal requirements requisite
to make a useful member of Congress.
We venture the assertion that he has not
his superior in Kentuek y~as Jurist; and
his political cultivation is solid and pro-
found. The legal learning referred to in
the first part of this article as being nee
essary at this time to enable member of
Congress TO be of service to the people
and the country, is fully possessed by
Judge Bennett, and he possesses besides
the unpurchasable integrity and un-
swerying nerve to do his duty With all
due respect to his opponents, We venture
the assertion, that while they may be
very respectable lawyers in the little cir
Gle IN which they practice, yet neither of
them possesses the legal requirements
requisite, and indeed, essential to make
useful member of Congress, in view of
Che profound Constitutional and legal
questions which will come before that
body during the next few years. Nor do
we do either of the gentlemen any wrong
in making this assertion, for we merely
make a statement with which every law
yer in the district is familiar, and one
which every intelligent man will at once
recognize.
As many Of our readers may wish to
know something of the history and life of
Judge Esenrtett, prteny state At
He is the son of Virginia farmer.
While yet a boy he lost his father and
inherited only poverty This devolved
upon him the struggle for bread and uu-
ceasing labor to aid in the support of his
mothers family Removing from Vir-
ginia TO Kentucky, some fifteen years of
his life were spent in sturdy labor upon
farm. During that time, however, he
lSead law, and so rapid were his legal ac-
| QUESTIONS, that his friends advised him
TO enter upon the practice. He did SO
and with much success. So marked was
his ability, that after a few years the peo-
pie made him Judge; aud now the same
people of the five counties above the Ten
nessee river, which compose part of the
First Congressional District, desire 10