The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-09-16
Price Two Cents.
Memphis ON the Dlississippi.
lCo: respondence OF the Hersld.l

[Co; respondence oil the Hersldl
MEMPHIS, September 2, 1874.
Manufactured City-Great Boys-Politics-Rs-
igion- Business Gambling.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ.,
Great is the West-its praries, mountains, floods.
ssbig drinks" "buf1er-lows and baaIs;" all in the
United States, believe it; all here in Memphis are
sensible Of it, all here to be sensible, too that
Memphis, in itself considered, is great place, and
to this general opinion, am inclined myself In
degree.
Memphis is undoubtedly great in banks and
bankers, in benevolent operations, in public spirit
for railroads and street graveing, in business men,
Collectors General. strikers, NC great also in mus
qultoes and iieas; great in lyceums and philoma-
henlan societies; in POLITICAL associations, whereof
Tough o Blenders, Double .benders,a "Toe.ths.
Chakers," &c &c; indeed, looking at Memphis
through the vision OF one OF our editors you Ind It
to be the mos, promising Guy OF The west, destined
10 rival 81. Louis; destined to take conspicuous
stand among the cities OF the Union; des-
tined to rival even the ancient fame OF Egyptian
Memphis you are likely also To see this Same
beautiful picture in pro pectve, by looking with
the vision OF our enterprisDg land speculaors but
borrowing the vision OF quiet, sober, un. visionary
man, you find Memphis 10 be very much like all
other western cities, with this exception, that It
has wonderful propensity 10 slide down stream,
as if the Mississippi, In one OF It's curious freaks,
were carrying the " Bluff along with its current;
why and how Memphis is thus continually sliding
down, were an "ower lang tale - to tell let me
refer you to the reports OF the Naval Commission
ers, relative to the advantages Memphis possesses
for naval depot. Respecting this naval depot,
which by late act OF Congress, Is TO be establish
ed here-our citizens, bya division Of interests, are
still quarreling about its location, one party think
ing the Naval Commissioners opinion infallibe-
the other party thinking II far otherwise The Com
mssioners are scientific and discriminating men.
but il often happens in our world that strong and
well-founded opinions are overturned by scarce
ly noticed and apparently trivial thing which we
style fact; Eow II Is singular truth that apo!-
ton Of the batiure, at the foot of the buf, which
the Commissioners assert TO be (nOt in the same
language, tho) as 'srm the everlasting hills"
has, within three weeks, suddenly disappeared,
leaving tboats, moored at It's edge, iul thirty
feet from sierra frma;" leaving also this other
rous feature, The lmposslbsility OF findlng bottom
disappeared whereas was an easy matter TO touch
bottom at seven feet where the boats lay, before
the shoreIso suddenly LETT them. La view OF this
one fact, the Commissioners Will, probably, recon
slider their opinion and perhaps change IT,
Memphis and its vicinity, like all other places
in the United States at the present time, is greatly
been very popular here, and will undoubtedly con-
tinue so through the coming election. can detect
none OF the feeling which editors abroad denomi-
nate State pride" and which they say will surely
cause Tennessee to 60 for Pork. Tennessssns
have all had good opportunity to know James X
Polk; his canvassiDg tours have made US all well
acquainted with him; the wings think him man
OF very small mental calibre, and take no pride at
all in him. but rather despse him, while the demo
Gratis nave not sufficiently recovered from their
amazement al his nomination, even TO attempt an
excitemcn In his favor as 2 son OF Tennessee"
Indeed, State pride for James X. Polk exists alto
gether in the exuberant fancy OF certain editors
abroad. As for Texas having any influence here.
why, sour boys" saw enough OF her two years
ago,
This time of the year is the great season for Camp
Meetings among the Methodsts IN West Tennes-
for the past two three years these meetings
have been attended by all classes OF persons, and
| for all kinds OF purposss-some TO hear The Gospel
and some 10 see the excitement and frenzy usually
pervadng such assemblles-sone to see the girls,
and some to enjoy drunke n trOllc-sOme for mere
pastlme and recreation, and some to transact bust
Ress-some for vialnOus Intrigue and some Tor the
holy purpose Of love-some to serve God, and some
| to serve the devil. This year, however, political
mass meetings draw Oft the attention great de.
gree from camp-meetlngs, and plous agiiations
give place 10 political aRitations-the homely elo-
quence OF itnerant methodl5ts, TO the brawDg ha-
rangues Of political demag -snufing prayers,
with their peculiar nasal twang TO the violent de-
clamalonso OF lighthouse " orators-the psalms OF
the cody 10 the songs OF hardcder and log cabin
boys; spiritual interests are Withdrawn tor secular.
and the Camp meeting is destiked to be tame
one, owing chiefly to that "sy old coon from old
kentucky"
Merchants are preparing for large business the
coming season; numerous large stores are building
in the lower part OF the city, and everything beto-
kens activity and hustle; none among us are idle;
| but who among US is engaged profIabIy2 Shall
we say the gamblers! Who else? The gamblers
| are busy enough and there is an abundance Of
| Them; fine specimens Of humanity they are, too,
| adorned with all the paraphemaa OF hair and
Jewels, and swelling and strutting about as though
| The world was made for them, but made
quite too common, not half SO good as they would
nave made il, could they have had the building Of
II; beautiful ornaments of the great body polite !!
| useful members OF society the world owes you
great debt; il will day be cancelled. may
answer that the gamblers are making some money,
and also state that few others among al prese
are maxine much
Yours, truly, SPKx