Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-03
ISHAM G. HARRIS
The Most Prominent Among the Aspir.
ants for Senatorial HOnors-
Other Names Mentfbned.
The Tennessee Bendholders-Effeet of
Polk's 'sAnnouneement-Nothing
Done In the Legislature.

Special to the Appeal
NASHVILLE, Tenn, January 2-Boih
houses were occupied in attempting 10 COM
plete organization. The Senate elected E
w. AcCarver sergeant alarms. Robert
Williams, grandson of Col. Sam. Morgan,
who is superintendent of the building of the
capitol, and OF the late Col. Willoughby
Wilisms, was elected page, and Miss Tai
fourd epgrossing clerk.
In the House, Charles w. Crockett, a
grandson Of Davy Crockett, was elected
sergeant-a at arms. The Hou,e adjourned
until tomorrow, pending the election of
engrOssing clerk.
THE SEwLY-ELEcTED SPEAKERS
The Hon. B. F. Alexander, of Rutherford
county, the new Speaker OF the Senate, and
in certain event, the next governor Of Ten
nessee, is, says the American, a very young
man, perhaps the youngest in The Senate, be-
ing but thirty-three years old. He was born
and raised in Rutherford county, his father
being a native Of Smith county, in this
Stste, and his mother Virginian. Mr.. Alex.
apder graduated at Union University,
in Murfreesboro, sfierward studying law
and graduating from the Lebanon
Law School. He practiced law but
about two years, after which he eu-
gagged in the pursuit TO which his father had
always been deyoted-thst Of farming. IN
1873 he was elected 10 the lower House OF the
General Assembly as hoater from Rutherford
and Bedford, and in 1880 was sent to the
Senate by the same two counties. At present
be is the senatorial representative of Ruther-
| ford snd Coffee. He served as temporary
| Speaker of the last Senate and more frequent
ly than any other member occupied the chair
| during the regular and extra sessiops. He
was chairman of the Committees on Claims.
Elections and Rules, and an active, efficient
member of several other commit es
Though Low-tax man, yet be has ever
been a conservative, and ever Democrat c
| He is unm arried, and comes from the peo.
| pie, his grandfather, father aud four brothers
being farmers. He has also two sisters. All
his family live in Rutherford county. His
father and grandfather were Old Line w higs.
In personal appearance Mr.. Alexander is
tall, slender aud good looking, of command
ing presence, and will make the ablest Of
presiding officers.
Hon. W. L. Ledgerwood, whom the House
of r presentstives elected Speaker Of their
body for the coming term, is, says the Nash
vile World, gentleman we'll qualified 10
| preside over such delibera aiions az now 50 in.
Iimately concern tha affairs of our com mon
wealth. He was born June 4, 1S43, in Knox
county. His father, yet living, is one Of
those stsunch yeomen who depend upon
the rugged soil of East Tennessee for means
of living, aud for the culture and education
of their children. The alarms of war early
engaged our Speaker, and at the age of
seventeen he left the furrow and district
schoolhouse for the ranks OF that army and
that cause which engaged his convictions.
He WAS UGion soldier, and was as valiant
under the stars and stripes for four blood y
years as he has since in protecting
the distressed and prosecuted people OF
the opposing cause which he always re-
spected and the sympaihizers of which he
has not failed 10 champion when beseged
with dangers and vicissitudes from the early
days OF reconstruction until the present time
He was The Confederates foe upon the field
and his friend and neighbor, his protector
and advocate in the pursuit of peace arj
industry. Having enlisted as private in
the Eighteenth Tennessee Iufanry Com
pAnv B, he was transferred some months
afterwsrd to the Third Tennessee Infantry
where he became captain OF Company il
very short time, and as his promotion
there came in contact with West Pointers
he served in that capacity until ;he close oil
the war. He came out OF the service pen
niless young man. but Immediately set abou
|
aimed very gratifying success at the bar il
Knoxville. In 1866 he was nominated by
the Democracy OF East Tennessee TO carry
. the banner in the canvass for representa-
tive, but was defeated, as East Tennes
see at that time was The tenderest germ
I In 1874 he was nominated and elected
In 1878 he was nominated to take th
race foF State senator and was defeated BY
that staunch East Tennessee Republican, tbs
Hon. Richard Samsell, now a N mber OF th
House. The district being about 2300 OF ;
most obstinate and irreducable majority, le
he was only defeated by twenty seven vot- e
In 1880 he was che sen as elec,or and mad
a canvass against that most exiraordihsr.
man, Henry Gibson, w.ose vile is III
{. rudder and stern-piece OF the KnofTill
/, Chronicle. In the late canyass he refused I
accept the nomination for Congress from tn
, Second District, knowing that such woul
I initiate against party interest; but havin
: taken the race for representative, ne wen
s through by very complimentary majority
n The Hon. w. L. Ledgerwood has alway
been deep sympathizer with the Peopl'
and is a peoples man. He recognizes th
peoples sovereignty, and the mighty fifty
It and-three fat they have met to confirm an
/. tc execute.