National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-27
The Tennessee Imbroelio.

whole, advocated in the election for Gov
ernor in 1878.
The administration of the State govern
ment had been so extravagant and reck-
less that widespread dissatisfaction pre-
vailed through the masses, and it became,
for the time being, serious question with
the leaders of the Democracy as to their
power longer to hold the discordant ele-
ments together.
The infation-greenback theories advo-
Gated by many of the leaders of the party
also served to demoralize their followers,
and, for the time being, seemed to threaten
the very existence of the party itself.
Under these circumstances the great
question of the hour when the Demo-
cratic convention of 1873 met was, how
shall we harmonic all these discordant
clements OF the Democracy so as to sue
ceed in the election?
The chairman of the committee on reso-
lutions, Chancellor Marks, reported a
series of resolutions to the convention,
which were adopted by the convention
as the party platform, advocating infia-
ton, greenblcks, reputation of the State
debt, &c. &c, and every other wild va
gary and theory in regard to the cur
rency which would be likely to have
tendency tounite the discordant elements
of the party and secure success.
! Upon this platform the author OF 1t,
! Chancellor Marks, was placed as the DEM
ocratic candidate for Governor, and the
contest which followed was, on the part
of the Democracy, the greatest political
farce of modern times. The reputation
of the State debt was openly and boldly
proclaimed by Democratic speakers all
over the State as the doctrine OF the
Democracy OF Tennessee.
A very few of the honest thinking men
of the party gave the ticket but a luke
warm support. They saw the drift of the
current, but they seemed powerless to
stem it. Every Democrat who was i'll
favor Of imitation, of Reputation, or who
was Greenbacker, could look into the
platform and read the doctrines he be-
ieved in, no matter what they were, for
it reflected all the political heresies and
absurdities of the hour. The election
went off with hurrah, and Marks was
made Governor, and in the success of the
party all Democrats alike rejoice. Prin-
ciples had been sacrificed to party ex-
pediency and to party necessity to gain
temporary success. In that contest, like
Rip Van Wrinkles drinks, they "didn't
count"
No apparent change came over the
spirits of Tennessee Democrats, all alike
having been committed to the doctrine
of reputation until the approach of the
late Presidential election
When the Republicans of the North
began to point to the repudiating teach
ings and tendencies Of Southern Democ-
racy, and to the dangers to the country
that might be expected from the success
of that party, even under as patriotic a
President as Hancock would have been,
the leading Democrats of Tennessee, and
of the South generally, Immediately SAW
the effect which their attitude would have
upon the National contest; and hence we
find that in Tennessee the leaders Of that
party made haste to "right-about face"
leaving, however, a majority of the party
committed to the support of the doctrines
which these same leaders had so elo-
quently taught them only two years pre-
ViOuS.
It was 10 secure success for the Demo-
cratic party in Tennessee that the leaders
of that party cspoused the cause of repu-
diation in 1873, and it was the fear of de-
feat in the last presidential contest that
produced q State-credit faction in that
party. In both cases the leaders were
equally dishonest and false to their prin-
ciples, and now they are reaping the bene-
fit of their political perfidy. They have
succeeded III the election of a United
States Senator from that State at the end
of Il bitter struggle between factions which
their dishonesty has brought into exist
ence, and for which the party leaders are
directly responsible. A bare majority in
the election Of Jackson shows that the
division in the party is irrepaFable.
School for Congress.
In view Of the recent decision Of the
Supreme Court of the United States in
relation TO the assumed power of the
House Of Representatives to arrest and
imprison citizen not even accused of
violating any law, we thinl, it but proper
as public educators, 10 give an occi-
sional extract from an authority, rev.
erenccd by the judicial department
of our Government at least, called
the Constitution. We shall give them
III a few easy lessons, SO that the average
statesman may not have too much pres
sure upon his intellect at one time. By
giving heed 10 these primary lessons, af-
fecting legislative as we'll as all other
bodies, some of our congressional pupils
may i'll the future escape troublesome
judgments for damages. We append the
following for To-day:
The right of The people 10 be secure in their
persons. houses papers, and effects against unrea-
sonable searches and seizures shP not be rio5ated
and TO warrants shall issue but upon prob
able cause. supported by cath or affirmation and
particularly describing the place 10 lie searched
and the persons or things 10 be seized
Here is constitutional inhibition that
all courts, legislative bodies, governmental
departments, and officers must obey.
The BaiIot-BoX-Stuffer at His Best.
In diairibe against the Republicans
in yesterdays Post ii was asserted that it
was their intention 10 make raid on the
Democratic members of The next House,
&c. As an instance in point it alluded to
the case Of ". J.. Webb, notice of whose
conviction as ballot-box-stuffer at Sam
Ennrrnt.,,,-,, :, L