The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-29
SENATORIAL ELECTIONS.
Ex.President johnson Chosen in
Tennessee-Remarkable and Tx
citing Contest.

ate Al q CLOCK lO-uaHs DE TWO majority
over all opposition. The excitement Is
tremendous exceeding anything seen
here since the war. All the Republic
cans in the Legislature voted for him.
The opposition made a determined effort
to. win them over, but without success.
The johnson men are jubilant beyond
the power of words TO describe. The
Senator-elect will speak tonight.
There has been no such excitement in
Nashville since the war as prevails to-
day. As write / hear the shoutszof
crowds of men parading the street who
are almost wild with enthusiasm for
Andy. When the joint convention met
at II o'clock, the galleries and the lobby
were packed TO their utmost capacity.
There was general feeling that the
weeks contest would be decided to-day.
With each ballot the excitement had
increased, until to-day it reached point
when an outbreak of some sort was al
most a necessity. The multitude could
hold in no longer. Last night until a
late hour the opposition were caucusing
trying to unite on a candidate who could
command the entire antiJ ohnson vote,
| but without success. Meanwhile the
friends of johnson resolved TO stand to
| him till the last. and ballot all winter
rather than allow him to be beaten. I'm
der these circumstances the proceedings
to-day were watched with intense ankle |
ty by all parties. There has never been
so large and excited a crowd at the Cap
ital The efforts of each party to have
every member present were unprecedent
ed. The johnson men chartered spec
ial train to bring a member from Mem
phis, and sent a buggy forty miles into
the country for the same purpose.
On the call of the roll to-day every
Representative was present but one,
total Of 80, thus making necessary so
votes to elect. Amid the greatest inter
est and anxiety, the first ballot Of the
day was taken and ffty-fourth of the,
fight, and the result announced johnson
Al, Stephens %, Henry 13, Ewing II
Key 4. This was a gain of two for
johnson from the previous day, and the |
crowd in the galleries broke forth into |
a tumult of applause and cheers. john
son now only lacked three votes of an
election. The interest and excitement |
at the stage of the game can not be de- |
scribed. 1t is beyond the power Of Ian. |
guage to portray.
On the call of the next ballot, the vote
was as before, until Hodges name was
reached, when he changed to Johnson.
At this the immense crowd in the gall
cries rose to their feet, swung their hats |
and cheered for several minutes. The
rap of the Speakers gavel was drowned,
and he had to wait until the crowd had
exhausted their breath. Then followed
few Kisses from Stephens friends, but
of feeble volume compared to the tunlult
made by the johnson men who were in
an enormous majority. Now four other
changes to johnson followed in quick
succession, and at each change the gal
leries sent forth yell that was deafen
ing. Before the roll was completed it
was known that johnson was elected
and business had to be suspended sever
al minutes while the crowd yelled and
whooped and threw their hats. No such
scene of enthusiasm was before witness
ed in the Capitol of Tennessee. When
the roll was finished, there was another
outbreak of applause, and the Speaker,
after several attempts to announce the
result, had to sit down and wait for the
tumult to cease. This ballot, fifty-fft
and last, gave johnson 81, Stephens "a,
Henry IL, Scattering 10.
Upon the official announcement there
was tremendous cheering and a wild
rush to the street to convey the news to
Mr.. johnson, at the Maxwell House.
The first mar to get there broke down at
the door and could not say word. The
second got in and conveyed the joyful
information, and he and Mr.. johnson
took an old fashioned hug. Soon the
rooms were full and there were scenes OF
uluSSSIAOdOAS' MS II
the happiest day of Mr.. Johnson's life.
He felt that this was his last fight.
Tonight there is tremendous out
door demonstration on the Public
Square, and Mr.. johnson is to speak
The six Republicans who voted for him
are in high favor now. Thus ends the
most prolonged, exciting and hardest
fought Senatorial election ever held in
Tennessee.
SPEECH BY JOHNSON.
The enthusiasm and excitement over
the election of Hon. Andrew johnson to
the {. s. Senate to-day were beyond de-
scription. He made a thirty minute
speech to ten thousand people on the
Public Square this evening, announcing
his adherence to Democratic principles
as set forth in his administration of the
government and former speeches. Ru-
mors on the streets and hotels this after
noon say that he had made concessions
to Republican members of the Lesisla-
ture for their votes. He denies emphat-
ically having made concessions in any
form, or entering into any understand
ing with other candidates or orposition;
that he was elected upon the broad plat