Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-23

"a Succeeding regnlar meeting. such addition. al
teratluu, or repeal be approved Of by two-thTds
OF the members present, the same shall be car
ried and duly entered on the journal: P'ootdsd,
however, tbst uo such motion shah DE hhahy
put, unless twenty-five members be present.
Mr.. Ranney and others sdll urged the q1es-
ton upon his notion, amidst q perfect chaos OF
speeches, motions to adjourn, calls 10 order pro
miscu0us v0tnEs, cbeeTjngs, and stemplagS
Finally, 10 was moved aud carried that all
those who were not members OF the Chamber
of Commerce should retire from the meeting
This included large numbeTs who were only
members of the Corn Exchange, and IS such
were not entitled to vote. Those excluded only
fell back a few PAGES, aud as the Chamber again
became noisy ana confused in wTangiing over
the different motions that were proposed, they
crowded up again to tie scene Of strife as com
pscdy as before. Some one then called toT the
reading Of the names cfuew members who were
proposed.
Ar. January, for the sake of harmony, hoped
thar Bia,or Edwards would withdraw the list OF
names, stating that he would vote for every one
Of them; but h. saw that e it was insisted that
they should be elected, the Chamber would be
disrupted
Major Edwards firmly refused to withdraw the
names.
Great excitement and confusion again ensued,
when Capt. John J.. Roe made a motion that the
meeting should adjourn for two weeks, in which
time he thought the excitement would die away
/ and a fair election could be had. Capt Roes
motion was put and yehemently voted down
Another motion was made and carried that all
/ who were not members should be excluded from
the hall. Al went oU5, and the members Of the
| Chamber Of Commerce were admitted by the
assistant secretary, one by one. The meeting
was again called 70 order
Elr. Ranney and his friends again renewed
his clearly Irregular and Unwarrauted motion,
that no new members should be chosen until
after the election A motion to adjourn sane de
was put, and a division called for, which resulted
in its defeat.
Mr.. Belts, Of the firm OF Belts, Meilen & Wy
man, stated that the list Of new members was
put forward with an improper motive, and that
if they were to be ball0ted for, he would black
ball every one of them. This was yehemently
chesrod by Ar Ranney aud bis mends.]
Finally the election was ordered, and before q
score of balls had been put in the box it was an
nounced by the president that the whole list had
been rejected as, under the rule, five black balls
defeated any candidate for membership, and
more than five black balls bad been east,
At this there was some little cheering, when
Major Francis " Crane proposed thai all the
Union men Of the Chamber should Withdraw,
and not vote at the pending election for officers
TelleFs were selected andthe polls opened but
the Union member did not participate OF vote.
Large numbers of them retired from the hall and
called an impr0mptu meeting Ia the Office OF the
secretary Of the Chamber, where the following
proceedings were had;
Stephen 81. EdgeG was called 70 the chair as
president OF the meeting, and Clinton b Fisk
was chosen secretary.
The president was instructed to appoint a com
mittse Of five persons, whose duty it should
be to report al a subsequent meeting q plan Of
The Union Merchants Exchanged ST. Louis. "
/ said committee were instructed to make inquiry
for suitable rooms, for the accommodation Of
the organization, and report location and terms
of lease.
Toe aames Of the committee wiz be announc-
/ ed By tie president in the city papers Of Friday
morning January f0Ih. The meeting adjourn
"a to meet at the call Of the president and com
miHse. S. NJ. EDGELL, President.
CLINTON 3. FISK, Secretary.
The ballOting began IN the hall, Mr. Albert
Pierce being nominated for the presidency
Mr.. Whitaker withdrew his name as a can
didats for The presidency, and Mr.. Edgar Ames
as a candidate for the vice-pTesidency.
Before the closing OF the polls Mr.. Pierce APP
peared and Withdrew his name from the ticket
The vote was small aud soon counted, when the
result was announced and toe crowd dispersed.
The above is as fair and correct an abstract Of
the proceedugsas We believe could be given.
The most eircumstsntia report would fail TO con-
vev half the excitement, bad blood and confusion
Of the meeting. Ii out Of It all. anything
cfsdi.able can be extracted, It IS the fact thst the
~lLtsmper so prevalent did not in any one case
lead to personal violence.
The explanation Of the whole affair is simply
that It was a struggle between the Union and
the secession members OF the Chamber. How
/ tIa aratae- arsea Il matters mot The iag1ra WIS
joined upon blr W B. Baker, the Old secretary
for years, and always an unconditional oatsBoken
Union man. and Mr. Robert II. Davis, & mem
Der Of the Chamber Of long standing, and an
open and avowed Becessi0nist. While II is true
that some OF the secessi0nists were opposed 70
Mr.. Baker wholly on personal grounds, 1t is
equally certain lhaJa majority Of item opposed
him on account Of his Union Sentiments and
so, having made up the issue, the Union men,
almost TO a man, though some Of them were not
his personal friends, stood up for Ar. Baker.
Br. Bakers friends finding that under a rule
IF the Chamber, no one could vote but those be-
lougiug TO tie Chamber, or who were, as it is
termed, " paying members (thereby excluding
al the members of the Corn Exchange, which
Is largely Union) eIeried themselves 10 procure
new Union members, hoping to overthrow the
secession majority u the Upper Chamber, and al
the same lime constituting by means Of the ad.
mittanee fee Of $40 from each new member,
timely assistance TO the financial department. Of
the Chamber.
The responsibility Of the list which ley pre-
scented above, we scarcely think viii be ques-
toned in any quarter. The right of these per
. sons 20 become members, is unquest9nable
d under the 20th rule Of the chamber, which reads
as follows:
" Amy person desiring to become a member Of
this chamber shall signify his wish through one
= Of the msmbers, or BY written application shall
be laid before the chamber st a stated meeting
e when the candidate shall be ballotted for, and j
i've OF more negatives appear against him he
cannot be admitted a member, nor be again pro.
. posed, until after the expiration Of one yesI
{ from the time of such application"
D The proprsty Of presenting their names OF
the eve Of an election by MAJ. Edwards is alsC
e nquestionab,e. Il is sanctioned by the cdssou
Z Of the chamber for q number Of years. 4
Q every election, for some years past, numbers O
s new members have been elected. merchants
e taking the opportunity Of coming forward fo
& the first time aud attaching themselves to tnl
chambei aa9 others renewing their member
{ ship.
/, j, then, it was clearly according to rule an,
to usage TO present these names as they wer
I presented, the secessi0nists we're clearly in ID
wrong In their opposition.
They had the saMe opportunity Of musterin
! their friends to the support Of MIR. Davis, an
Va why did they not do it, instead Of supp1Itin
the INSCRIPTIONS motion OF BIr. Ranney TO ovsi
I ride an established ruls Of the Chamber; AN
IN afterwards carrying their point By black-balltn
N d long list Of names Of the highest meFcaunl
standing and Tespa4sbiityg or, if they ma
been disposed b act fanny in the matter, wi
Isl did they NOT support tho motion Of the Old an
ca honored member, Capt. Roe, % adjourn for tn
weeks, in which time they might Do able to nae