Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-01-09
For the t'hronicle.l
THE sEyAToRsHIP.

islature an election of u. s. Senator,
and that election. in some measure at
least. TO depend on the will of the peo-
pie, | deem it not improper to urge the
claims of one of Tennessee's ablest
sons and old Montgomery's choice. |
allude to the Honorable G. A. Henry,
a descendent of that distinguished
champion of liberty. the eloquent and
renowned Patrick Henry. However.
We do not claim for the Hon. u. A.
Henry the merit of his ancestors. His
speeches over our State are models of
the most dignifed eloquence, terse and
luminous, with the most statesman
like bearing Mr.. Henry is equally
eminent as jurist. politician, an or
ator and statesman. His calm Wis
dom and decisiyeness of opinion in
council eminently qualify him for that
high position and prevents the proba-
bility of his being easily goaded by any
sudden provocation into rudeness or
yehemence, SO inconsistent with the
mild dignity of his character. He is
too high spirited 30 dissemble, too gen.
erous to his compeers to urge his own
claims, too dubious Of his own ability
to seek that high responsibility, too
noble in mind and patriotic in spirit
to truckle for position. True to the
interests OF his country in peace and
war, with an ability ample to adorn
her councils. When the mutterings OF
war were first heard in the north, and
every breeze brought tidings of the
unappeasable wrath and threatcnings
of our liberties, he was one of the
first in our State to ascend the battle
ments of his loved South. sword in
hand, to do battle for her liberties, un-
til borne down by the tide Of war
When urged by friends to desist, he
shook his venerable head and said,
when see the sacred principles OF
your organic law of equal and exact
Justice to all men, about to be tram
pied down, / can not remain inactive"
The superiorityof Mr.. Henry pow
ers appears no less clearly in pri-
vate circles. In his conversation there
is charm that is always heightened
BY noble frankness with which he
pours out his soul in benevolent
thought. The political status of our
country demands the selection of such
an experienced. tried statesman. The
radical change that is gradually taking
place in the polity of our government,
converting that noblest of democratic
constitutions into one of centralized
aristocracy, a mere instrument of pow
er to Cypress the masses and grant i'm
munities and privileges to the few de-
mand it. These changes are the re-
suits of selecting inexperienced. bad
men, and are ominous of approaching
evils that appeal to the wisdom and pa
triotism of the country In tones too
audible to be misunderstood, to select
for that high position one whose char
acter, influence and efforts will tend to
check the current of public corrup-
ton, and raise our government to its
original purity. In Mr.. Henry we
would have an able exponent of the
true principles of free government pa
triotlc in character, philanthropic in
sentiment and cosmopolitan in views.
One who will endeavor to keep all the
constitutional checks on the malad-
ministration of your government in
the highest state of efficiency and jeal-
ously guard against encroachments on
our liberties and never suffer irregu-
larities, even when harmless within
themselves, to pass unnoticed and IN
challenged, lest they acquire the force
of precedent. The language of expe-
rience in every age, from the earliest
government down to The present, is
that all governmental wrongs and de-
partures from the organic law, result
ing in oppression, have their origin
and claim their legality from prece-
dent (the result of inexperienced, in
discreet, ambitious legislators), at first
little Importance, but which are sub
sequently made the ground of more
serious encroachments, one infringe
ment following on the heels of another
until the safeguards of public liberty
cease to exist. The infringements on
our National Constitution are now to
be observed above the horizon of our
government, as approaching dangers
and warnings that our liberties are not
safe. To avert these dire calamities
we should, as of old, raise to power, as
our Conscript Father. one whose vir-
tues and powers as a Statesman are reg
istcred in the hearts of his people. |
do not think that l err in affirming
that We are on the eve of an important
political revolution. The government.
both in the executive and legislative
departments, has pursued a policy so
extreme and antagonistic to the princi-
pies Of free government that revolu-
ton or Capitalization must follow. The
radical hope of the latter is now for
lorn. and by the approaching revolu-
ton the democratic party will assume
the reigns of government. To insure
success and guard against opposite ex
tremes, can our Legislature do better
than to trust that post of honor to q
tried veteran, the Hon. G. A, Henry =?
We think not.
There is strange delusion or polit-
zeal distemper that appears to have
seized the minds of many of our poll
ticians of late years, a versatility of
character that imposes the strictest
caution in making that important
choice; restricting that choice to one
who has record without a stain and
antecedents that declare merit and
ability mapsurafa with tba raCnon