Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1875-02-03
LETTER PROM NASHVILLE.
At Last the End Comes Andrew John.
son E,ected-A Week of Intense FIX
element At the State Capitol.

Vhehhous ~ tue StaNe NhnttOI.
Special Correspondence Of Knoxville Chronicle
At last the great struggle is ended
After seven days of balloting, seven
nights of caucusing, four weeks OF
maneuvering and wire. pulling, and af-
tertwelve mouths Of pipe-lsying, the
Great Commoner has been chosen
as Senator Brownlow's successor in the
United States Senate. Nashville has
never before been so thoroughly stirred
up by a political contest. The excite
ment WIS scarcely excelled by the adj
vent of Buell. in 1862, or the repulsion
of Hood by the victorious hosts of
Thomas in 1864. That ubiquitous in
dividual Z" the oldest inhabitant" who
has witnessed Senatorial elections from
the days of Houston, Cannon, Gruudy,
Jones, Bell aud Polk down to the pres
ent, has never witnessed a contest so
full of thrilling excitement ~ this.
THE FEELING.
The deep feeling has not been con-
fined to one class all classes have
bNNA lhbNGu w IT, IOln Iile WHY
Ex-Governor, the sharpest and shrewd
est politician in the State, down to the
humblest labOrer, who breaks rocks on
the street at one dollar per day. this
election has been the center of attrace
ton. Even the servants and Cham-
bermaids in the hotels, anxiously
watched the adjournment of the Con-
vention from day to day, and impa-
tiently INTERCEPTED each other, and
frequently guests, as to the result. This
state of affairs had continued so long,
and public expectation was up to such
pitch, that it was extremely difficult
during the last two days OF the ballot
ing to preserve order.
SUNDAY AND MONDAY.
Ny last was written on Saturday
evening. In that l predicted an cleo
ton on Monday or Tuesday. But for
the abrupt adjournment of the conven-
ton on Monday, am certain result
would have been reached that day.
Sunday was busy day. At least a
portion of the candidates did not go to
church, and nearly all of them had
their strikers at work. Monday was a
tield-day. have informed you of the
disgraceful proceedings. When Mr..
Speaker Bond arose to his feet, and, in
an excited manner, nominated John
G. Brown, for the good of the party"
the friends of that gentleman raised a
deafening yell in the galleries. The
ballotiDg then commenced, aud the
names of a half-dozen Senators were
called, when the name of Gen. Bate
was withdrawn. This was followed
by such scene of confusion and dis
order as utterly beggars description,
and an adjournment followed. We
noticed while the friends of Bate,
Brown and Johnson We'd with each
other, that the name of the latter
gentleman was frequently mentioned
sneeringly as 1.-THE military Governor
and once or twice "Mrs. Surratt'sn
name was mentioned.
FAILURE TO CONCENTRATES.
have believed from the beginning.
that there were enough votes in the
Legislature, that could be controlled
against MI. Johnson to defeat him.
have not changed my opinion. But
this element is composed of several
factions, and the inability to unite
these factions on any one man result
ed in the election of the Ex-President.
All of Browns friends would not sup
port Bate, all of Bates friends would
friends of neither of these gentlemen
would support Stephens, while the
faithful half dozen, who stuck to Mr..
Ewing from the beginning seemed dis
inclined to go for either of the other can
didates. 1t was with this state of af-
fairs staring them in the face, that the
anti-J ohnsOn factions made last DIES.
perate effort to hold a caucus on Mon
day night. 1t was "A disgraceful fail
ure. 1t revealed the weakness of
Johnson's enemies and confirmed the
wavering among his friends if there
were such. So on Tuesday morning,
it became evident that nothing could
prevent
THE ELECTION OF JOHNSON.
His enemies were demoralized, and
the leading isspirils could no longer
hold the lesser ones in ranks. The
Convention met at the usual hour.
Five minutes before il assembled, Gov.
Brown was on the floor of the House,
talking excitedly to Representatives
Gustavus A. Henry, the Eagle Ora
tor of quarter of a century ago, was
fitting here and there like a young
man of twenty five, whispering
in the ear of this or that friend. Gov.
Harris was on hand as usual, taking a
seat far back in the hall, evidently not
regarding the situation as coolly as he
appeared. His keen eye had no doubt
penetrated the situation, and the man
who perhaps of all others he hates
most bitterly, was about to carry off
the Senatorial prize, an event he had
been fighting against at least a year.
In the Senate chamber stands Andrew
johnson. He looks haggard and
oare-wOrn, and the bitter contest waged
against him, is beginning to tell on
his physical constitution. He PAGES
back and forth restlessly and appears
somewhat absent-minded. Now he
stops and twirls his hat around slowly
on his fingers, and appears in a deep
study. Evidently there is something
of q tumult in his breast, and he
is waiting with impatience, to know
if any Of the score of combinations
spoken Of to compass his defeat are go-
ing to prove successful. Now he walks
down and out of the capitol, and
WRnds his WaV tn Number at tha