Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-08-20
HON. DAVID MoKENpREE KY.

The appointment of this gentleman to
FIJI temporarily the vacancy in the Uni
ted States Senate caused by the death of
Andrew Johnson was a surprise in this
end Of The State, where he is compare
lively unknown. The question has been
asked a thousand times on the street,
Who is this man Key, and what did he
ever do2' 1t is true that he has no
national reputation, and is scarcely
known outside of East Tennessee except
among his old Confederate comrades
and members of the legal profession,
and therefore he is not at present liable
to criticism, even from the supporters of
other aspirants. he will occupy the
position until the regular election is
held in the Legislature of 1877 to FIJI
out the term for which Mr.. johnson vas
elected. Cooper's term will then have
expired, and there will be two Senators
to elect. Judge Key will sit in the Ser.
ate through the next session Of Congress,
which meets in December, and 10 that
time cannot be expected to perform any
great wonders as a statesman. But he
is a safe, sound man, of broad national
views, and will doubtless fill up the ad
interim with credit to himself, rather
than distinction, and make a fair repre-
sentative Of Tennessee. Naturally In
obtrusive and Of studious habits, tits not
likely that he will become conspicuous
in so short a time as be has to serve.
Everybody will want to take a look at
Andrew Johnson's successor, but
that will not last always. Judge
Key has been q very successful lawyer,
and for some time has occupied the pos
ition Of Chancellor of the Chattanooga
district and is very popular in all that
section Of country. During the war he
was in the Confederate army, and rose to
the rank Of Li~eutenant-C Colonel in Giles
PIES regiment. He is a clear-headed.
welLbalanced man. On the finance
question we understand that he is
for the initiation policy of the
Ohio Democrats, though be is not an ex-
tremist on any question. Three years ago
he ran for Congress, and came very near
beating %Crutchfeld, the Radical, and
would have been elected if the party had
been properly organized. His appoint
ment seems to give universal satisfaction
to all parties in East Tennessee. Gov
Porter is the only Democratic Governor
who ever carried East Tennessee,
and was enabled to DO so by the
aid Of Union men who, up to that time,
had been voting with the Republican
party. The appointment may have been
made partly with a view to satisfy this
large and influential element. Even the
Knoxville Chronicle, Brownlow's paper,
spoke of him 10 very favorable terms.
The masses Of the people, we believe, in
Middle and West Tennessee, will be con-
WINGED that Governor Porter made a
judicious selection. OF course other as
pirants and their immediate friends will
find fault. But this was to be expected,
no matter who might be appointed. All
candidates will have an equal chance
next time, and they have seventeen
months to lay pipes and court the favor
Of the dear people. Judge Key was
born in Greene county and reared in
Monroe county, East Tennessee. His
father was a Methodist preacher. After
reading law he settledjn Chattanooga in
1852. He is about fifty years of age,
Previous to the war he was q Democratic
Elector. In 1870 he was in the State
Constitutional Convention.