The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-08-24
AN HISTORIC INCIDENT.
THE FIRST SENATORIAL ELECTION
IN THE STATE.
HOW THE CAPITAL OF GRAINGFR
COUNTY WAS NAMED.
Nashville American.
FRANKLIN, Tenn, AUGUST 1g

hANALIN, TENN, AUGUST IL
The historical letters now bein0 pub.
lisbed in the Franklin Progress calls to
mind an incident worthy of perpetual
tion. The incident, so far as know.
has never heretofore been made public,
and may be of interest to some of your
readers. On the 2Sth day of March,
1916, the first legislature of Tennessee
assembled in Knoxville and proceeded
to an organization. James Winchester,
from Sullivan county, was elected,
without opposition, speaker of the
senate, aud James Stuart, speaker of the
house. After the organization of the
two houses and the Inauguration of Gov
ernor Sewer, the legislature proceeded
to the election of q Senator TO represent
the new State in the councils of the ma
tion. The names of William Cooke,
William RlOput and Joseph Anderson
were proposed by the lower house, and
DR.. James White suggested by the
senate. The election finally resulted in
the selection of William Cooke aud
William Blount. Mr.. Ramsey, in "The
Annals Of Tennessee" says "Judge
Anderson and DIR. White were with
drawn by messages duly interchanged
between the two houses" This Is a
mistake. Dir. White was so withdrawn.
but Judge Anderson was not. He re-
NAMED candidate till after the election
of his more successfulopponent conclud-
ell his aspirations. For many ballots
there could be no choice made between
VIM. Cooke and Judge Anderson, VIM.
Blount, however, heing chosen by the
first vote. a whole day was thus con-
spmed in useless. balloting, the friends of
each of tn" aspirants remaining loyal %
their choice.
Col. Cooke had son in the legislature
who, with Thos. Henderson, represented
hawkins county-a young man at that
time just twcnty-one years Of age. Gud
who afterWaril Mas fpr many years dis
tinguished members of Congress. and
major-general of the first division Of
Tennessee militia-sccond in command
to Andacw Jacksnn, who ranked him
only by the lattcr's commission being
three weeks older.
The new county of Granger hnd inst
been formed and named after Mary
Granger, wife IF apt. Wa. BIounf,
lady greatly distinguished for the
many graces of her person and character
The county-seat had not been named
and quite number aspired to the honor
of giving it theirs. There vas a Ruteb-
man by the name OF George RutIedce
representing Sullivan county at that
time who had been voting for judge
Anderson on every ballot. Next morn
ing, when the legislature assembled.
John Cooke the first thing introduced n
bill that "the county-seat of the now
county of Granger be named Rutledpe
in honor of our distinguished fellow
citisen FROM suliiVan-6eoree Rut-
ledger The bill prevailed, and when
the roll was next called Mr.. Rutledge
gave his vote to VIM. Cooke. and In
this way elected him TO the United
Stated Senate over Judge Anderson.
This incident was related by Gen. Cooke
to gentleman now living in
Franklin, of undoubted veracity. and |
its correctness cannot he doubted
The Fourth Congress of the United !
States assembled on the 9Th day of |
December, 1916, with the first Tennes- |
sec representation, VIM. Cooke and
VIM. Blount being in the Senate and
Andrew Jackson in the lower House.
On the 9Th day of July, 1897, VIM.
Blount was expelled from the Senate
Ou account of "A letter written by him 10
James Carey, and Immediately there
after he returned to his home in Knox
vile. The Sergeant-at-Arms of the
United States Senate-James Mathers -
ioon followed the Elk Senator with
orders to return with him to Philadel-
'hia, the then seat of government. The
citizens of Knoxville treated Mathers
With the utmost courtesy and pOliteness
tut said to him that William Blount
Gould never be taken from Tennessee a
prisoner. Assured of the fruitlessness of
lis errand Mathers was compelled to re
urn to Philadelphia alone, but doubt
ess with very exalted estimate of the
jx-Ser ator's popularity in his own State
udge Joseph Anderson was then elect
d as Blount's successor, and was in the
enate from 1897 to 1915. William
locke served for two terms with great
istinction and credit, and after the cx
iratIOn of bis term of office, was Judge
what was then known as the superior
Durt. He afterwards became agent of
ldian affairs to the Chickasaw Nation
I'd removed t. Mississippi, The better to
ischargc the duties of his position
here ne died in the fall of 1923, full of
Onor and years. His son, Gen. john
ocke, was distinguished politician
I'd lawl er for the first third of this
.ntury, during which time he held the
,lilics of Est Tennessee in the hollow
his hand. He was the grand father OF
81. VIM. B. Reese, Of your city. An
tuie lawyer, a brave soldier and
triotic statesman, he only failed in
ing esteemed the first man Of his State
r the same reason that leads the world
regard Marshal Hey military pigmy
re genius of Il greater overshadowed
Il dwarfed him
Don't Get Sick.