The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-02-10
sENAToREAL ELECTION:
NAgRvILLR, Jan. 30, ID


The election of Andrew johnson to
the Senate of the United States, on the
26th instant, stands without parallel in
the history Of Senatorial contests, in
| point of the intense interest conferred in
the result. The contest began on the
18th, and the following gentlemen were
nominated as aspirants for the position
Hon. Edwin H. Ewing, Col. John Fl.
Savage, Gen. W. A. Qusrles, Gov. John
G. Brown, Col. W. H. Stephens, Gen.
W. B. Bate and ex-PrePident Andrew
johnson. Mr.. johnson was elected on
the seventh day of the contest on the
hfty-hfth ballot.
The result Of the contest shows that
Mr.. johnson has no superior as politi-
cal gladiator in this country. It was
distinctly and emphaticslly understood
by his friends that the fight was John
son against the field It was publicly
declared by the friends of the other as
pirants that each preferred any other
candidates success to that of Andrew
johnson. 1t was thought at the outset
that while each of the candidates had
their particular adherents in the Legis-
lature, that out of all the friends of the
field, Mr.. johnson could not get more
than eleven votes, and some of these
were doubtful. That he would never
reach 80 votes bets were made and much
money and many hats were lost and
won. (And by way Of parenthesis it is
gwen by the writer for what it is worth,
that if either of the gentlemen-with
perhaps one exception-had entered the
contest single handed, the money and
the hats would have passed to the other
fellows.) johnson, however, is no nov
ice in struggles of this sort, and as usual
he had earnest and jealous friends Of in
telligence and influence. Night and day
they were unremitting in their labors.
They acted in concert well planned and
did not move head-long upon the man to
be won without first ascertaining the
precise relations existing between the
party to be won and their favorite-con-
sidering carefully the mode of attack
and the man or men to make it.
On the part Of the opposition there
was entirely different system Of tactics.
Mr.. johnson at the outset, as we be-
lieve, did not have exceeding q friends
in the legislature that either one or the
other of his competitors might not have
taken from him. Fortunately for John
son each one of his competitors made
war upon him under the idea that he
was the man he had to beat on the final
ballot. This was bad for them, but
worse than this, they made war upon
each other, and party jealousies and per-
sonal prejudices grew hotter and more
famed to a real heat as the contest was
prolonged. Each man believed that he
was the only man that could beat the
"Great Commoner," and 30 they fritter-
ed away the golden opportunity of the
occasion.
All this while Mr.. johnson was calm,
firm, patient and persistent, or as Col.
John II. Crozier would more sententi-
ously express it, twas bold, bloody and
resoIute." He inspired bis friends with
confidence and carefully kept them aloof
from all the controversies and wrangling
of his opponents and their friends, while
those who managed for him the battle
inside of the legislature intensified these
feuds and embittered the personal rela-
lions of the factions by skiilful ma
nGuvring In lending votes to the wan
ing fortunes Of come one or another of
them in order to prolong the fight that
new feuds might arise and more bitter
meas spring up.
Up to the 21st ballot Gen. Bate pre-
sented steadier and more formidable
vote than any Of hiss opponents. On
that ballot, Col. Savage was withdrawn.
His friends went TO Bate. and johnson.
On the 22d ballot Browns vote began to
swell, and there was evident signs of
diminishing on the part of his friends.
They were busy throughout the hall,
and Il was soon developed that they
were playing for complimentary vote
TO Withdrawing him. To
facilitate this laudable move and help
friend In need, the friends Of Bate and
loaned him the votes and be
went first to 80 and then 70 80 votes. On
the last vote, Mr.. Johnson's friends gave
him an additional touch with the spar
and he landed at the judges stand ahead
Of Brown with 81 votes. Brown was
Immediately Withdrawn, and Johnson's
friends, still on the look oct for coD-
pstltOr that might brush at him, held