The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-09-22
PUBLIC SPEAKING LAST SIGHT.
Views Of Some Of The Candidates.

Capt. Driver was the first 10 speak. Re
said that this was one Of the most impor-
tant elections ever held in the city, ana all
the candidates should speak out. This was
8 municipal and not political election. he
did not believe .he franchise law was in
tended 10 operate in such elections. He be-
lieved eregy man, who was citizen, was en-
titled to vote. He would restrain no man
fr m voting.
No one would charge him with being dis
loyal; but if the vote Of any man is refused,
he would not accept the Office. He regard
ed all who had accepted the amnesty, as vo-
tiers, in municipal election. This was a
mere municipal affair. No one would take
a partnership interestin a business, in which
he would have no voice. If men paid city
taxes, they should vote. The warts now over.
We are all together, and mustli live together,
and we must eoneiliate, and be liberal It
is our only policy.
With regard 10 the finances Of the city, he
said that it had been charged that the gov
eminent had done all that had been done,
to repair the streets; but did it not take al
the horses, carts, &C., belonging to the city?
He had never voted to increase tax, in the
Board Of Aldermen; and he had protested
against the last levy. He said the city was
greatly in debt, and he wasin favor Of fund
ing it as soon as possible. The property Of
the city, was valued this year, at Sl5, 900. 900,
and the levy was ~ per cent; but this was
because there was a back interest on our
debt Of $4,000. For some years our police
expenses were $40, 900; but up 20 the first Of
September Of this year, it had exceeded 81,
600. This last expenditure nay be necessa-
~, but if it was, he didn't want to live in
the place.
There were from 5OOto 500 coffee houses
in the city, yet if man got drunk he was
sent to the workhOuse. Was it right
Ought we 10 license the sale Of liquor and
then fine man for shrinking it2 But then
the Recorder and officer each made a
dollar in each case. This was a nice thing.
Let there be a sound set Of policemen ap-
pointed, and let them be paid a salary, but
elbow them no perquisites; and they should
be Uniformed. He was for salarying cH Of
icers, without perquisites.
Capt. De Shields next mounted the stand.
BE had been a citizen Of the city FIR thirty
years. He was glad to see that Capt. Driver
looked upon this as purely municipal con-
test. The war was now over, and he was
for burying all old strife The present
Mayor, Mr.. Smith, was trying 10 excite old
preiudiees. That was wrong. As for him
self, the speaker said he was a better Union
man than Mr.. Smith. He, the speaker,
never did train in a rebel company. He
said that he couldn't eleetioneer like other
candidates because he hsd TO work ten hours
in the day. This was the first time be had
ever been a candidate for any office, yet he
had served without fee OF reward for thirty
years and he wanted to know if those whom
he had served for thirty years gratis would
reject him now. The present officers of the
city hadn't done anything, but-they got
their money. There we're now 100 police
men in the city-it was an outrageous num-
Der. There was no need Of such expense.
Mayor Smith followed. he stated that
he had acted as Mayor for az years, with
out being responsible to the people them
selves. He had been appointed by Gov
erEor, now President johnson. When Mr..
]. came here, he found the city government
disloyal and he found it necessary TO re-
quiro all to take the oath Of allegiance. In
the Board of Alderman, was one Of his OPP
ponents-Mr. Hurt but he refused 10 take
the oath of loyalty, and his place was do
clared vacant. Mr.. Matt Brown was. at
that time, City Morshall; and he, also, re-
fused 10 take the oath, and his place was de-
clarcd vacant. Mr.. Dashiels, was an Of
ficer Of the City-Chiefof the Fire Depart
ment-and he, too, refused to take the oath,
and was ousted. Now, these gentlemen
were now willing to take these oflices, and
the same cath how was that? Mr.. Hurt,
as late as the 18th Of February, 1862, had
voted an appropriation TO encourage volun-
teering in the rebel army and he was also
a member Of She Vigilance Committee, TO
visit men, and ascertain who were Union
lists and denounced them in the papers. Mr.
H. had never yet voted, and, under the
franchise law, be was DISTINGUISHED. As for
Mr.. shields, he went off fishing, within the
rebel lines, aud he (smith) had to get him a
pass to come back.
The speaker had been charged with hav-
ing once been a candidate for lieutenancy
in a rebel company. This was not true
He had declined Heutenancy in a COM |
pany Of State troops. before the State sece-
ded He, however, attended Uaion meet
ings, and helped to get ont e Union vote
against secession. he had ever opposed Sc
cession; was never rebel; never, never, |
never. He had met often, and often, in
back rooms, with Union men, during the re-
bel occupation and when the United States
troops were approaching, 50 we'll was it un-
derstood that he was loyal, that rebels in
great numbers came to sec him. and ask
him to interccde for them. This every enc
knew.
In reference 90 the number Of policemen,
he would say that there were but fifty, in
population OF o,OOO. That is not a great
number. The police was self sustaining
over 5000 had been paid into the treasury,
over and above the cost Of she department.
The objection to the number of police was
this: He had appointed many honorably
discharged soldiers, instead Of rebel sympa-
thizers that was where the shoe pinched.
There were, in April last, due back taxes
to the smouut Of S2l5,ooO, because they
could not be collected. There were no courts,
and people would not pay them voluntarily,
because they expected the rebels back again.
when they would have to be paid over
again. Who are on she finance committee
Of the Council? Anderson, Newell and 9TH
ers. Would they permit corrupton2 No
one would believe it.
The speaker said that il was mere s,rug-
gle 20 get she ms out. His opponents wait
ed to get in, aud be wanted to stay 10; that
was a fact.
He referred TO the manner in which the
authorities had supplied the poor. during
winters Of siege, when provisions were
exo-bitanily high; and now were they to be
rejected, because they differed from others
in 1862, in regard 10 the policy Of the gov
eminent.
Ny. Moses Singleton wanted everybody
to vote for him. An Of them wanted green
backs, aud he among the rest; and he would
be glad 10 get his share. (Laughter) He
had but one object in view, and that wss the
prosperity Of che ci;y. BE had not wronged
sny enc. or any government IN believed
ia the stars and stripes, aad the constitution
and laws. and was for abiding by these. he
had been beaten thirteen umes for Mayor
already. sud 10 would not hurt him If
he was beaten ogain. once he got 2,'eo
votes: now ii he got 500, he would be elect
ed. and he VS. sure he would get them.
After some further remarks. che meeting
adjourned.
MARROW EscArr FEoN pASeEn--A few
nights since we'll dressed msn, who had
been iubibing rather too freely Of whisky
beer don't intoxicate-rois mp to the pier