Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-10-06
THE HON. JOHN F. HOUSE.

can. While we endorse every word
of eneomium which it pronounces
in favor of our accomplished and
popular representative, we think
it necessary to subjoin some remarks
authorized by Col. House himself
in reference to his protested candi-
dacy for the Speakership:
NASHVILLE. Sept. q, IS77.-I have been
gratified to see from several dispatches that
the gifted and accomplished gentleman
whose name heads this communication has
been fayorably mentioned in connection
with the Speakership of the next Congress.
With all due respect for the eminent abil-
tiles OF the other justly distinguished asp1r-
ants am convinced that those acquainted
with Col. House viii agree with me in the OPP
tnion that he possesses qualifications for the
position equal, in all respects, to those of his
most gifted competitors. / do not know
that it would be altogether wise to urge the
election at this time, of a Southern MEM
Der, but if it should be deemed expedient,
then, by all means, let us insist on having a
member who not only posses the ability,
but one of such a high moral character as
will insure the discharge OF his duties in
spirit of the most unquestioned patriotism.
Col. House, although new member, has
attained reputation in Congress, and has
delivered several speeches which have
stamped him as statesman or the highest
order of ability. One of his speeches was
pronounced by Mr.. Randall to be the most
brilliant effort of the session. We all here,
who have enjoyed the privilege of hearing
him at the bar or on the hastings, know him
to be an able and accomplished lawyer a
cogent and powerful debater, and graceful
and brilliant orator, besides a pure, d1gnlned
and Jealous christian gentleman. He has had
sufficient parliamentary practice, having
been an active and influential member ofthe
State Legislature, the Confederate Congress,
the Constitutional Convention, and the Con-
gress of the United States, and has left the
impress of his superior genius upon the
most important measures of all these bod
les. II Tennessee can secure the third place
in the Government, we are certain we eX-
press the sentiment of at least majority OF
the citizens ofour Commonwealth hoping
that the honor may fall upon the shoulders
of our able and brilliant Representative,
John +. House. Is.
In reference to all such PROPOSE
lions as the above, Col. House ac-
knOwledging the high compliments
paid him, most distinctly declines
to become a candidate for Speaker
under any circumstances whatever.
He considers that affairs are now
moving most propitiOusly for the
South, and that it would be most
unfortunate for any Southern men,
Der to do anything calculated to
check or disturb the present drift
and tendency in our favor. He
thinks it would be mistake for the
South at this time to put one of her
members in the Chair, and thus
become responsible for the legisla-
ton of one branch of Congress.
He thinks also that Mr.. Hayes,
though not elected, has stood so
firmly by the Constitution in his
Southern policy that he deserves the
cOuntenance of every patriot, North
and South, and he expresses his
sympathy and approval for him in
his efforts to reform the civil SER
vice, and regards it the duty of
Southern members of Congress to
support every measure conducive to
the good of the country regardless
of the source from which it comes.
He called our attention to a speech
of his delivered first when the NOM
mating conventions of the two par
ties were preparing to meet prior to
to the Presidential election, from
which we extract the last paragraph
defining the sort of man he hoped
would be elected which ever party
might be victorious. So long as
Mr.. Hayes comes up to that stand
ard he will have Mr.. Houses sup
port, and, in what we have here
given as expressive of his views, we
are using very nearly the words in
which he expressed them in our
presence with the full understand
ing that we were at liberty to pub
lish them as his:
Mr.. Chairman, the national conventions
of the two great parties Will soon convene,
when one or the other will nominate the
man destined to preside over the affairs of
this great country for the next four years. 1t
will be a contest fraught with mOmentOuS in
terest to the whole country but particularly
to the suffering south. Her people will look to
il with a concern more painful and profound
than they could regard any mere party
tendency. The struggle will possess enough
OfdOubt and uncertainty on both sides to inn
press each one of the parties with the neceS-
sitv of outstanding all their recOurces and
putting forth all their strength. From this
fact let us indulge the hope that each will
be induced to nominate for that high office
its best and broadcast man.
do not sympathize with the desire which
l have heard expressed by some of my po-
litical friends that the Republican party
may nominate some narrow and sectional
partisan, whose extreme and illiberal views
may constitute an element of weakness to
him in the contest. The situation is far too
grave, and the consequences of the election
of such man will be far too vital and diSaS-
trouS to NV section for me to regard his nom
ination with any other feeling than that of
sincere depreciation. Ifthe Democratic party
should fail in the coming contest to elect
their candidate, and victory should again
perch on the republican standard, earn
estly trust that the best, the most national,
the most just, the most honest, and the most
liberal man in all the Republican party may
be elevated to the Presidency.
The interests of every section Ofthe cOun-
try demand as the Chief Executive Magis-
trate, the services of a statesman who Will
stand on an elevation, where party Will not
obscure his vision or passion warp ms ludgI
ment and who, by the exercise of a liberal
policy and Il broad charity toward every
section of the country, will make each State
feel that it is State, and a component part
of the American Union. l hope he will
have the breadth of mind to see that one
section of this country cannot be given over
to ruin and deSOlatiOn without blasting
the other; that the blow which kills the
South must also paralyze the North; that he
hold the military subordinate to the civil
authority; that he will fill the places of the
Government with statesmen of undoubt-
ed integrity, and worthy of the high posi-
tiOns to which he may assign them; and
that he will appoint to office honest and
honorable men in every section Ofthe cOun-
try, and not a hungry horde of political buc-
canneers, who will prey upon the people
and consume their substance. May no cor
rupt rings, blOated with Treasury pap and
wallOwing on the green pastures OF eXecu-
tive patronage, be allowed to rob the Gov
eminent and to degrade the public service,
but may the atmosphere that pervadeS his
entire administration be so pure and health
full, that official integrity shall again be-
come the rule, and not the exception, in po-
sitiOns of trust and honor. Such PresI-
dent the country needs, and to such an adj
minIStratiOn good men of all parties VIII
give their hearty cooperation.
Since our interview with Col.
House on this subject, our cOntem-
pOrary, the Nashville American, is
out again refusing to give it up. Our
opinion is that the Colonel will ad
here to his decision as given above,
but we give the editorial from the
American and endorse every word
of it:
Not only in our State but in other States
the suggestion of the name of Hon. John
F. House as a candidate for Speaker has been
made. A day or two ago a correspondent of
the American urged his name for favorable
consideration. In point of ability, in favor