The next Democratic platform, the one on which General Bate was elected, declared that the state debt should be paid in full, and the remainder settled on a fifty per cent basis with interest at three per cent. Some of the Democrats would not agree to this, and after General Bate was nominated, they met and nominated Joseph H. Fussell for governor. This faction advocated the settlement of the debt on the plan advocated by the Republicans. But General Bate was elected and when he came into office, he strongly urged the legislature to settle the debt according to the declaration in the Democratic platform. After an exciting struggle the legislature reached an agreement and passed an act which finally brought a permanent settlement of this vexed question.

This law provided that that part of the debt about which there was no question of legality or regularity should be paid in full with the rate of interest agreed on when the debt was incurred, except the interest during the Civil War. This portion of the debt amounted to $2,118,000. The act provided that the remainder of the debt amounting to $18,905,000 should be settled at fifty cents on the dollar with three per cent interest. About one-half of this part was contracted before the Civil War, and the other half after the war.

PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

The legislature of 1870 abolished the public school system established by Brownlow's administration,

and for three years the state was without any system of public schools except such systems as the counties provided for themselves. But on recommendation of Governor Brown, in 1873, the legislature passed an act reëstablishing the state public school system. This act met with much opposition, and during the following administration an act was passed abolishing county superintendents of schools, but it was vetoed by Governor Porter. The state board of education was established while Governor Porter was chief executive, and it was during his administration that the Peabody School for teachers began its work in Tennessee.

During Governor Brown's administration, the Bureau of Agriculture and the Bureau of Immigration were established. It was at this time that the office of state geologist and the office of superintendent of prisons were created. As a result of the prevalence of yellow fever in Tennessee during the year 1878, the State Board of Health was created. This board has continued its work down to the present day.

During Governor Bate's first term of office the State Railroad Commission was established, and the following were appointed members of the commission: Colonel John H. Savage, J. A. Turley, and General George W. Gordon. But at the next meeting of the legislature this law was repealed.

CHAPTER XXVI

ANDREW JOHNSON REËNTERS TENNESSEE

POLITICS

UNITED STATES SENATOR AFTER THE CIVIL WAR

According to the census of 1870, the population of Tennessee had so increased that the state was entitled to an additional congressman. This was not known till after the legislature of 1871 had adjourned, hence no district was arranged for this additional congressman before the election in the fall of 1872. So it became necessary for the additional congressman to be elected by the voters of the whole state. The office was called "Congressman at Large." Andrew Johnson announced himself a candidate for this office. The Democrats nominated General B. F. Cheatham, and the Republicans nominated Horace Maynard. The Democratic vote was divided between Johnson and Cheatham, and Maynard was elected.

Ex-President Johnson had been a candidate for United States senator in 1870, but was defeated by Henry Cooper. He became a candidate for the United States senate again in 1875, and was elected over his opponent, ex-Governor John C. Brown.

David T. Patterson and Joseph S. Fowler were elected to the United States senate in 1865 by the Brownlow legislature. Patterson was a son-in-law

of Andrew Johnson. Governor Brownlow was elected to succeed Patterson in 1869; and Henry Cooper was elected to succeed Fowler in 1871. Andrew Johnson was elected in 1875, but died soon after taking his seat. David M. Key was appointed by Governor Porter in Senator Johnson's place, and served until the next meeting of the legislature, which convened in 1877. At the meeting of the legislature, James E.. Bailey was elected to fill out the unexpired term of Andrew Johnson. Senator Bailey was a candidate for reëlection in 1881, but was defeated by Howell E. Jackson. At the expiration of Senator Cooper's term in 1877, Isham G. Harris was elected and remained in the senate until his death in 1897. In April, 1886, Senator Jackson resigned his seat in the United States senate in order to accept an appointment as judge of the United States circuit court. In 1893, he was appointed judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. W. C. Whitthorne was appointed by Governor Bate to fill out the unexpired term of Senator Jackson. In 1887, Governor Bate was elected to the United States senate, and remained a member of that body until his death, which occurred in 1905. He was succeeded by James B. Frazier who served till 1911. The legislature of 1911 elected Luke Lea to succeed Senator Frazier.

On the death of Senator Harris in 1897, Governor' Taylor appointed Thomas B. Turley in his place. Senator Turley was elected by the next legislature to fill out the unexpired term of Senator Harris.

At the expiration of Senator Turley's term Edward Ward Carmack was elected to the United States senate for a full term. He was a candidate for reëlection but was opposed by ex-Governor Robert L. Taylor. A Democratic primary was held to nominate the candidate, and both candidates canvassed the state. Carmack challenged Taylor to a joint debate, but Taylor declined. Carmack had made a brilliant reputation in the United States senate, but Taylor's personal popularity and a feeling on the part of many Democrats that the party was under special obligation to Taylor for services rendered at critical periods, gave him the nomination. Senator Taylor died in 1912. Newell Sanders was appointed by Governor Hooper to serve in his place till the next meeting of the legislature. When the legislature met in 1913, W. R. Webb was elected to fill out the unexpired term of Senator Taylor, and Judge John K. Shields was elected for the full term to succeed Senator Webb.

General William B. Bate was born in Sumner County, Tennessee, in 1826. He was in the Mexican War and served as a private. He studied law at the Lebanon, Tennessee, Law School, and was graduated from that institution in 1852. However, he had been a member of the legislature three years before. He was elected attorney general of the Nashville district in 1854. He entered the Confederate army as a private, but was rapidly promoted, and at the close of the war was major general. He was in many battles, among them Bull Run, Shiloh,