Year: 1874

nashville Correspondence Of the Memphis Ava


lanche.


The frequent mention of the name OF
Gov. Porter, of late, in connection with
the United States Senatorship, has
created quite a Autter. 1t is thought
that man who has received an en-
dorsement Of the people, by $4,000 ma
jority, would be rather a formidable
candidate if brought conspicuously
into the field. Should this be done,
there would ensue an exciting scramble
after the Speakership of the Senate
There are already quite number OF
candidates announced for that posi-
ton, and should Porter run for the
Senatorship, or be much more talked
Of IN that connection, the number
would be increased to about one-half
the members of the Senate. If Porter
were elected to the United States
Senate it would follow that the Speaker
Of the Senate would become Governor.


Memphis Appeal.


The position of United States Sena-
tor is an exalted one. 1t is an Office
created by the people for the benefit Of
the people. 1t IS certain that the SEN
atorship of the States belongs to no In
dividual whatever, but to the common.
wealth, to be filed at the proper time
by the Legislature. All men possess
equal rights of eligibility before the
Legislature, whose choice Is limited
neither by present tenure nor by per.
sonal claims of any sort whatever, but
may range through the entire throng of
able men, and be conferred upon whom.
soever the Legislature, IN its sound dis
cretion of arbitrary choice, may deem
proper to elect. The stately dignity Of
the position always inspires the ambi-
ton of the best talent Of the State
Upon the Legislature of Ten
nessee, which convenes in Nashville
early in January next. devolves the
high and responsible duty of electing a
United States Senator, to succeed Gov.
BrownlOw, whose term expires on the
fourth of March next. This will be an
important duty. The ablest and most
prominent men of the State have al
ready announced themselves as candi-
dates. 1t is understood that others
Will enter the contest, which will be full
of excitement. The question should be
disposed of promptly at the time desig-
mated for vote by the law of Congress,
as it will interfere with other and i'm
portant legislation. Without reference
to the aspirations of any particular in
dividual, but In the public interest, and
with view to preserve the unity and
harmony of the Democratic party, we
would offer few suggestions for the
consideration of the Democratic press
and members of the Legislature
In the first place, all eoncede
that the best attainable talent
in the State-the man most
likely to serve the State with honor,
ability and usefulness IN the Senate
should be elected. Honesty, efficiency
and known capacity, Is what the people
of Tennessee demand. A new era is
about to dawn upon the American peo-
pie, and in electing men TO the exalted
position of United States Senator, the
broad question of fitness and adapt9-
bility should be carefully considered.
The people of Tennessee should discuss
this question without reference to per-
sons. They are united IN the opinion
that Tennessee needs, during the next
six years in the Senate, the services of
her ablest representative talent-men
who will command the respect, conf
dence and consideration of the Senate;
men who are able as well as willing to
represent the State in all its varied IN
terests, and who have the popularity to
secure the attention and assistance Of
Congress and the Government in de-
yelOping our great resources. The
members of the Legislature should
unite on the man who will act for the
best interests and reputation of the
State. How TO secure and elect such
a man, and at the same time preserve
the harmony of the Democratic party.
is a perplexing problem. We see but
one way, and that is pointed out by the
traditions of Tennessee politics and
nearly every State IN the Union, and
that way is, for the emOcrdtic members
of the Legislature TO hold a caucus at an
early dag, cdHUaSs the claims Of all the
aspirants, tCith malice tOloard none.
justice to all, nominate candidate, and
then stand By the caucus nomination,
first, last, all the time. This has been
the general custom IN Tennessee for
over thirty years. Every State fur
nishes a precedent. In New York,
Missouri, Michigan, New Jersey, and in
all the States where Senators are
soon to be elected, no opposition
is made to selecting the candidates by
the dominant party in a caucus of the
members of the Legislature. Prohtlng
by the examples in other States, and
the harmonious workings of the caucus
system in Tennessee IN former elections
for United States Senator'S, we trust
the Democratic members of our Legs
Iature will meet IN caucus, compare
notes, consult the great interests OF
the State, impartially weigh all sec
tions and all aspirants, and then select
and inhexibly adhere to the man who
in their expressed opinion will unite
the party, reflect honor upon the State,
and give satisfaction to the people.
A general scramble will produce dis
cord and acrimony that will tell
IN the election two years from
now. A bitter personal contest
for the Senatorship would exhibit a
spirit very different from that of the
motto: Everything for the cause
nothing for men" We make these
to the Democratic men,
bers of the body on which the COnsti-
tuition devolves the duty of electing
Federal Senators, solely with the intent
and desire Of preserving the integrity,
unity and harmony of the Democracy
Of Tennessee, feeling well assured that
a united Legislature on this delicate
and important question will give salts
faction to the Democracy of the entire
State, and present the party organiza-
tion intact two years hence. The fifty
thousand Democratic majority in Ter
nessee did not prevent the party from
meeting in convention and nominating
a candidate for Governor, and the
large majority in the Legislature should
not deter the party from adopting the
same wise policy, by meeting in caucus
or convention and uniting on a candi-
date for Senator.


LOUISIANA.