The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-07-24
THE CHANCELLORSHIP.


new republican paper at Trenton, we
learn has announced himselfas a cam
didate for chancellor of this division.
If both Judges Somers and Livingston
continue on the track and each should
receive about half the democratic vote
Of the district, as many think they
will, the republicans would stand a
good chance to elect their man. We
understand that a meeting of the
democratic executive committee was
called to meet at Rives yesterday to
consider the propriety of calling a con-
ventl0n to nominate candidate for
chancellor, and we suppose that VIII
be done. The Humboldt Messenger
yesterday will published a communi,
cation (Which it seems to editorially
endorse) charging that Judge Somers
and Mr.. Walker have an understand
ing and agreement in the matter, and
that the latter has announced himself
only with the view of getting the vote
of the republicans Of Judge Living
ston's counties, hoping thereby to Sc
cure the election of Judge Somers.
We have no evidence of the truth of
this rumor, and cannot believe it
without further proof. We suppose
the executive committee will fully in
vestigate and consider the matter, am
believe they will do full justice to
both. gentlemen; therefore we expect
to abide by their action in the case
and support the nominee of the par
ty, if it becomes necessary to make
nomination. The Exchange supports
the democratic ticket from end to end,
whether it fully agrees with the wis,
dom Of the nomination or not.
ssoSincssEritipg the he7ebove.-we. have
received the following letter, which
throws more light on the subject, and
which we cheerfully publish in the in
terest of fair play. We have not
space to comment, but lay the matter
before our readers for their considera,
tiOn. The people of his old district
cannot believe that Judge Somers
would do an underhanded thing.
HUMBOLDT, July %, 1886.
Editor Exchange:
For the past two or three months
there have appeared in the papers fa-
vorable to the candidacy of Fl. j,
Livingston for chancellor covert at
attacks, by innuendo.and insinuation,
on our present chancellor, Judge
John SomeIs.
Emboldened by the silence ofJudge
SOmers' friends under these attacks,
the party debating them has aban,
doned his former methods and re.
sorted to open onslaught upon the
character and official acts of Judge
SOmers.
These attacks are unmistakably the
result Of the workings of one mind,
and that one not far from headquar>
ters.
One of these attacks is upon the rel
ative legal value of the decisions of
Judges SOmers and Livingston, in
which the writer picks up two or three
volumes of Tennessee Reports, and
cites the.number of cases affirmed, re-
verSed and modified by each. Eie is
evidently a lawyer, by his familiarity
with those reports, and, as stated in
to-day's Messenger, all the lawyers
of the four counties dyer, Gioson,
Obion and Weakley) are for SOmers,
this attack evidently came from some
other county. And that county is
Haywood, and the author not very
difficult to fud.
Being little curious after reading
the srticle in question, copied into last
weeks Messenger, l took up the re>
ports of Tennessee and carefully looked
through them. | find that during
the time since Judge Somers was FIRST
appointed chancellor and up to the last
volume .of our reports the supreme
court has passed upon 81 cases decil.
ed by him. OF these, As were af,
6rmed unconditiOnally, % were re-
versed and 8 were modified.
Of the cases decided by Judge Liv-
ingstoE, including SO in all, Is were
affirmed, II were .eversed and Z were
modified.