Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-12-25
THE TENNESSEE sENATORsHIP

Under the above heading the
Nashville American of last Sunday
has a most seasonable article. We
would gladly, but for want of room,
print the whole of it. The following
is its conclusion, which we most
heartily endorse:
Senator Bailey is filling out an
unexpired term, of which he has
served not quite three years. With
out regard to local differences, it is
usual and proper in such cases to
return man who has committed
no blunder, violated no trust and
exhibited merely reasonable ability
to discharge the duties. Senator
Bailey has done more, winning the
admiration of every democrat, the
plaudits of the democratic press
throughout the country, and the po-
litical respect and personal esteem
of the republicans. The democratic
side of the chamber, without excep-
tion, are exceedingly solicitous that
he be returned to his seat. While
he has won the respect of political
opponents, at a time when 1t is most
important for southern members to
show by their action and bearing
that they represent truly progress
sive constituency, no man at home
or abroad has ever had cause to
doubt his close adherence to that
democratic faith to which he is
rooted and grounded. A man of
decided convictions on every ques-
ton of state and national policy and
so clear in his statements of them
that no man can ever doubt where
he stands and none of his constitu-
ents plead ignorance of his views,
or say that he ever held his peace to
win favor when the interests of the
people were at stake, yet he has
never been guilty of denunciation
or vituperation of those with whom
he disagreed. On the contrary he
has met the strongest of those OPP
posed with unruffied calmness and
parted with them retaining their
personal esteem. He has been al
ways conservative and moderate
and never merely partisan. What
one of his constituents has failed to
approve any measure he has advO-
Gated in the senate? No man has
ever made more reputation in that
dignified body in less time or de-
voted himself more assiduously to
the interests of his constituents and
the whole country. For lucid, log
ical debate, clear reply and rapid
arduous committee work, ne has
made an already enviable reputa-
tion. Even metropolitan republican
papers, while agreeing with him,
have departed from their usual GUS
tom to commend him in debate for
his breadth and frankness. His
speeches have been admired for
their choice English, simplicity OF
style, clear-cut logic, breadth and
liberality and knowledge Of fuuda-
mental principles of government.
His brief service gives promise that,
with Edmund's close logic and
without his partisanship, he will
reflect on Tennessee the credit Ed
munds reflects on Vermont, which,
without its Edmunds, would be un-
known in national councils. He
has done his state honor and service,
and the only fault alleged Is a devO-
tion to the interests of Tennessee, as
he saw them, which made him de-
liberately risk place rather than
prove, as he believed recreant to his
duties as a citizen. He could not
separate the senator from the citi-
zen or forget that he was Tennes-
sean before he was a senator. II he
has proved worthy Of every trust
reposed in him as a senator, it will
not be placed to his debt that he has
also spoken when his counsel was
asked and discharged also what APP
peared to him his duty as man.
The influence of such men, Of libe-
raj, progressive men, is needed now
in the senate, needed by Tennessee
and by the whole south.
If he has fulfilled every trust, If
he has violated none, why approve
and dismiss? Why not approve
and trust again? What prevents
Who prevents? ? Not the Iow-tax
men, for he could not have been
elected before without the co-opera-
ton of some OF the ablest and
strongest of that faith, at a time
when he occupied The highest
ground. Since that time he has
gone half way in the practical states
mans desire to secure the practical
ble-in cOnciliatiOn-as far as his
views and convictions would allow
him to go, and no man can do more.