Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-15
WHAT THEY SAY
The Senatorial Canvass amonE the |
Newspapers.
comarvi lie Falcon

Somerviile Falcon.
Sundays Appeal contains the ad-
dress of Gen. w. A. Quarles, which oc.
cupies nearly three columns of that
paper, In which he announces himself
a candidate for United States Senator
and gives his views on national affairs
Among those mentioned in connection
with this distinguished position, there
is probably no one who has stronger
claims upon the people of Tennessee
than Gen. Quarles. The appeal but
does him justice when it says that he
sis one of Tennessee's most distin-
guished sons, and is known throughout
the State as a man of SURPRISING
ability, and as a gentleman pos
sessing every accomplishment to
qualify him for a distinguished posi-
ton In the most dignifed and elevated
Legislative body In the world. His In
tellectual genius, his long familiarity
with the great interests Of the State
and public affairs, would make him
useful man in the position to which he
aspires. Gen. Quarles Is a man re-
markable for his energy of character,
his long devotion and fearlessness In
the cause of Democracy, and as one of
the most eloquent speakers connected
with the politics of the day. He has
strong claims upon the Democratic
party of Tennessee, and his election
would give universal satisfaction
throughout the State. Should the Sem
atorial mantle fall upon the shoulders
Of Gen. w. A. Quarles, we hazard
nothing In expressing our conviction
that he would honor the trust imposed
in him by a faithful and conscientious,
as well as able and active discharge of
his public duties.''
Henderson Advocate.
Some weeks ago in an editorial on
the political outlook, we expressed our
preference for Col. VIM. H. Stephens
for the United States Senate. A more
deliberate survey Of the whole field
serves to confirm our belief In the Wis
dom of that choice. Standing some
what aloof from the disturbing infiu-
ence of personal craftsmanship, we are
the more able to form a dispassionate
judgment upon this question.
We will make no invidious compari-
sons between him and the many dis
tinguished gentlemen In other parts of
the State who are mentioned IN con-
nection with this Office. We cannot
consent to become sectional agitators
In contest like this. But it must be
remembered that In all our past his
tory West Tennessee has had only one
Senator. She thinks the time has come
when she may confidently ask the other
divisions of the State to join her In the
seledslon of Senator, and to extend to
her that courtesy and generosity which
In all time past she has so cheerfuly
extended to them. She selects a man
in whom she can implicitly trust, and
she asks her sister divisions to endorse
her selection.
GAINESVILLE Chronicle.
The press of the State is in a fever
ish excitement about who shall be
United States Senator. Much of this
excitement is pun ely personal, or local,
and savers strongly of d purpose to
dictate to the Legislature, which, alone,
has the right to say who shall be Sem
ator. The members of the Legislature
are from every county and Senatorial
District in the State, and it is, at least,
fair to presume that they are as COM
petent to know the popular will as
those who volunteer to instruct them.
1t is their true policy, however, as the
Appeal argues, TO meet in council and
fairly and dispassionaiely canvass the
claims and the strength of each Iaspi-
rant, dropping the hindmOst, until the
choice rs narrowed down to one, and
then elect him as soon as possible, In
order that excitement may be allayed,
and the business of the session re-
heved of the embarrassing topic.
It was never intended that Senators
should be the immediate representa-
tives of the people, but of the reserved
rights of the States and their local
sovereignty, and although, in main
tanning those rights, they are directly
subscribing the interests of the people,
yet, it is not in accordance with the
spirit of the Constitution that they
shall be partizans, In the common ac-
ceptation of the term. That they may
be candidates before the Legislature,
may be admissible, but it is a perver-
sion of the spirit of the Constl-
tution-a theory of the government
and lowering of the dignity of the
Senate for any aspirant thereto, to go
before the people and solicit an
election with which they have nothing
to do, except as an incident to popular
sovereignty. The people elect their
State Legislatures and their Immediate
representatives IN the Lower House of
the Federal Congress, but it is reserved
TO the States, in their sovereign capacity,
and through their Legislatures, to elect
the United States Senators. This may
seem to be a distinction without diff
ference, but there is a world OF conser-
vative wisdom in this provision of the
Constitution, which will make itself
manifest to every rejecting mind, and
since it cannot be shown that anything
has ever been gained to good govern
ment, by departure, even IN, appar-
emily, on-essentials, from the letter or
spirit of that instrument, an embargo
should be laid upon every attempt to
popularize the Senate-to degrade its
dignity by opening its doors to the
specious demagogues who seek to enter
them through the agency of popular
prejudice and clamor. If a change is
needed, let it be In the action of the
people, whose duty and interest it is to
elect to their Legislature such men as
they can trust to select agents that will
best uphold the rights of the State in
the Federal Legislature and In strict
conformity with the provisions of the
Constitution.