Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-08-07
THE NEXT SENATOR WHO SHALL
HE RET

W 49,
paper of East Tennessee, of the 4th
instant, says;
To Gil his place, therefore, win be a
most difficult tax, whether by the act Of
the Governor, or by the Legislature,
should an extra session be called, which
we presume viii not be done. 1t must,
therefore, in that event devolve upon
the Governor. 1t is needless to say the
pressure upon him will be terrific, and
he will have to be something more than
mortal if be can survive the operation.
Some have thought be will favor the
claims of General Bate for wi reasons,
if no more. First, that he was virtually
elected over Senator johnson by the late
Legislature; and second, that a strong
pressure will be brought to bear by
Bates friends in Middle Tennessee.
Both reasons are not without their sig
nifcanee, and possibly may have their
influence.
But it must be remembered hat Bate
is only a second.rate man, If that, and
therefore the Governor would be under
the highest obligations to the great State
be has the honor of presiding over to
weigh well this potent consideration. 1t
is one of prodigious weight, and one he
dares not lightly consider, as he will be
held responsible by MS constituents IN
every portion of the State.
Again, East Tennessee is really en-
titled to the S~enatorship, and should
have it. Surely, Middle and West Ten
nessee should be too modest, under the
circumstances of the case, to demand 1t.
They already have the lions portion,
while East Tennessee has been neglected.
We would like for his Excellency TO
understand and appreciate the fact that
our people will be greatly disappointed
if he does not consider our claims.
That an effort will be made to secure the
S~enstorship, is inevitable. II will not
20 by default. There are a number of
gentlemen in our midst capable of fill.
ing the place, and in due time they will
come to the surface.
The Knoxville Chronicle, ex Senator
Brownlow's paper, Of the 9th, advocates
the claims of East Tennessee and brings
forward the name of Colonel John viii
liams. It says, in conclusion:
Colonel John Williams, whom we now
suggest for Senator. is a Conservative
Union man, as was Mr.. Johnson, and the
latter, with his well. known views on that
subject, having been elected as the repre-
sentative Of that element, let the popu-
lar will be obeyed by appointing the for.
mer. In addition to Colonel Williams,
if he is not acceptable to the Governor,
re have Colonel A. Blizzard, of McMinn
county; Colonel Kyle or Colonel Neither
land, Of Hawkins; Colonel John M.
Fleming, of Knox, and Hon. E. A.
James, Of Hamilton. Surely among all
these Governor Porter a find a fit man
for Mr.. Johnson's successor,
The Lebanon Herald expresses the
opinion that none of the aspirants for
the position before the Legislature should
be appointed. Give it to some one who
does not seek it, like Hon. Robert l..
Caruthers, of Wilson. The mex Legis-
lature will have two vacancies to fill,
and all the aspirants will have a fair
chance in the next eighteen months in
which to do the pipe-laying. The
Springfield Massachusetts, Republican
thinks General Bate will and perhaps
should be selected. The Nashville Ban
ner of yesterday states that on his return
from Greenville Gov. Porter found his Ia
BILE covered and filled with letters on the
subject and they continue to pour in by
the dozen. Heintimated to reporter that
he knew Of about two dozen applicants
for the position. Brownlow's paper is au-
thority for saying that Governor Porter
will not entertain any application that
was made before Andrew Johnson was
buried. This is most likely a mere
run1or or surmise, but it does appear to
us hat this scramble for a dead mans
shoes is u~ndigni6ed and unseemly.
Governor Porter knows all the public
men Of the State, and we believe has not
only the frmness to keep his own coun-
sells, but the judgment to appoint a man
who will give satisfaction to the public
at large and reflect credit upon our glo-
rious old commonwealth.
The Brownsville States favors General
Bate unequivocally. 1t says:
A dozen men in Tennessee think they
are capable Of standing in Andrew
Johnson's shoes. Perhaps so, but we
are in favor Of that true, tried and fear
less veteran, w, B. Bate. His record is
untarnished and his intellect and ability
are brilliant and profound. We can in
dorse him fully and without reservation.
We have seen him, in person, on the
battlefield, in the camp and in the pri-
yate walks Of life and we can say that
his peer cannot be found in the South.
He is true as steel and in the Senate
would be feared and felt by his oppo-
nents, and admired and loved by his
friends. With Gordon, Bate aud Lamar
in the Senate the South would again be
a power in shaping the d%estinies of our
nation. What a glorious contrast would
be presented when they confronted But
Ter, Morton and Conklin. The South
might well be proud Of its pure and in.
c%orruptible patriots. Let the chivalrous
Bate be sent to the Senate chamber.
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