The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-08
THE VACANT TENNESSEE SENATOR.
SHIP.

=
Hardly had the death of Senator Andrew
johnson been announced when, with hast
almost indecent, the politicians and aspiranti
for Office began clamering about the Execu
tive's door for the purpose of urging upon
him the appointment of successor to the
Great Commoner, and in order to advise with
him as to who this successor should be. II
is something to the credit of Governor Porter
that he turned deaf ear to the clamorings OF
these persistent Office seekers. The entire
State of Tennessee in mourning for her illus
trious dead, and the whole country condolipg
in sympathy with their sister State, these men
seem to be actuated by but one feeling, and
that of anxiety to fill the dead mans Office.
1t is but natural that soon after the states
mans death, speculation should be rife as to
who should be the man to wear the mantle
which has fallen from Andrew Johnson's
shoulders; but the great haste of some of the
Tennessee politicians to settle this question
gives rise to comment rather unfavorable to
them.
There seems to be much interest manifested
in the question as to the manner of filling
the vacancy; whether it shall be by guberna-
torial appointment or legislative selection, is
question not as yet decided among the po-
litical sachems of Tennessee. The section of
the Constitution Of the United States which
relates to the question reads as follows:
Section 8. The Senate Of the United States
hall ha -
State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six
years, and each Senator shall have one vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in
consequence of the first election they shall be d-
vided as equally as may be into three classes.
The seats Of the Senators Of the first class shal
be vacated at the expiration of the second year;
of the second class, at the expiration Of the |
fourth year; and of the third class, at the expira
ton OF the sixth year; 80 that one-third may be
chosen every second year; and if vacancies |
should happen by resignation er otherwise |
during the recess of the Legislature Ct any State
the executive thereof may make temporary ap-
polntments until the next meeting of the Legis. |
lature, which shall then fill such vacancies.
Some little debate has been raised over the |
question as to whether or not the clause ssthe
next meeting of the Legislature" applies as
we'll to called session as to the regular As
'embly. We can see no occasion for discus
ion, it appears to US perfectly legitimate for
he Governor to convene special session for
he express purpose of electing United
States Senator. Either this will have to be
lone, or the Executive will have to exercise
lis prerogative of appointing one until the
lext regular session of the Legislature. 1t must
'e remembered that the sessions of the Ten
lessee Legislature are biennial, and as there will
70 meeting of Congress before their next
ession Tennessee would be lacking in its full
representation in the next Congress if the
acancy were not filed by other means.
The power of appointment was doubtless
onferred upon the Governor in order to meet 4
lst such cases, but it is more than probable !
nat Gov. Porter will be anxious to avoid the
esponsibility of making such an important
ppointment, and will issue proclamation
the Legislature in time to have {
aem fill the vacancy before the time arrives 3
,r Congress to assemble. And as there is v
mple time to do this he will, we predict,
lopt this course.
The most prominent names mentioned, as :
st, for the position are those of Ex-Governor i,
rown and l. G. Harris, and one of them f
i'll, in all probability, be chosen to occupy =
10 seat in the Senate of the United States, to- "
ards which the eyes of the entire South !; =
I'VE been hitherto directed in anxious ex- Il
'ctation that from there would relief come e