Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-06-15
POLITICAL
MEETING AT THE GREEN
Law LAST NIGHT.
Hon. Jn0. W. smith Addresses
the People.

A goodly number Of people assembled
at the common Law courtroom, Greenlaw
building, last night, when
On motion of Col. Chas. s. Cameron,
Gen. VIM. Wallace was called to the
chair. He made some remarks in refer
! enee to the discussion recently at Grand
Junction, In which the special short
hand reporter of the evening paper pub
lished on Union street came in for a fun
share of castigstion for his misrepre-
sentation Of that meeting. He went into
that discussion in good feeling, abjuring
personalities, and faithfully carried out
his agreement.
Hon. Juo. w. Smith, on taking the
stand, said he was glad to meet his feI-
I0W-oitizenr on this occasion. He had
extended TO Gen. W. J. Smith an invi-
tation to be present and discuss the
questions OF the day. That gentleman
had declined. If he had a friend pres
ent who dared TO defend his record
he asked him to come forward
and be wonld gladly divide the time
with him. He proceeded at some length
to discuss the propriety Of taxation with
oct representation, and he dared the sup
porters of such an infamous system to
come forward aud defend it. He then
took up BrOwnlow's indemnity bill,
which the radical party proposed to
make the great question Of the canvass
that bill which was defeated at the last
session by one vote, would, il passed,
impose a tax of $50, 000, 600 on the eiti-
zens Of Tennessee. He proposed to
discuss the question Of this bill till the
day OF election fairly and honestly he
had no objection to the federal governs
ment paying the people Of the state for
losses sustained during the war by the
incursions Of the national army, but to
tax the people of the state TO pay this
debt was an infamous measure, and he
was glad to have been the means
Of defeating this iniquitous measure
in the legislature, and would do the same
thing over again if he had an Opportu-
nifty. The men who would attempt to
put upon the people such burdens as
these, were not worthy Of respectable
notice. He charged w. J. Smith, of
H~ardeman, with voting for the two per
cent. tax bill, while he voted against it.
When the question Of taxation came In
the legislature, his opponent had voted
to tax the people Of Shelby county two
thirds more than those Of Davidson
county. The constitution provided that
the taxes should be uniform, but this
provision was disregRrded by that gentle
man.
He then proceeded to take up the
militia bill, which he deemed unneces-
sary, as Gen. Thomas had rendered the
services Of the troops under his control
to the governor for the purpose Of en-
forcing the civil laws; that would not
do; the militia must be organized for
the purpose of carrying the election at
The npan. Of Nhn no wrnnaf aud 70 Knan
honest me from the polls the govern
or's private secretary had offered to bet
ten thousand dollars that the Br0WnIow
party would carry this district. He knew
that the dominant party had plenty of
money, as they had the handling of the
school fund out Of the S6IS,000 OF the
school fund $500 600 is gone, he feared
He asked the question as TO
whether the parties who squandered
this money should not be held person.
ally responsible and it was said that
members Of the legislature got large
Of the sp0ils. He next
into the metropolitan po-
lice bill, the county court com
m~issiOners, the municipal court, etc.
By these bills, the power to elect their
and rulers had been taken from
the citizens, and all these measures had
been introduced and supported by Gen.
w. J. Smith. He believed that this bill
vas got up and Iobhied through for the
purpose OF shielding Mr.. Beaumont from
4 prosecution which had been ordered by
Gen. Howard, chief Of the freedmen's
and the man who was instructed
to prosecute Mr.. Beaumont was ap-
Judge Of the municipal court,
and there the prosecution stopped, for
handouts on freedmen and
them to planters III ten dollars q
head. Gen. Smith voted against the
'emOval Of the three per cent. cotton
AK. This act showed his friendly feel
ngs for the production Of the staple. He
also Rrcfessed to be the great friend of
he c0lOred people had voted against
.he bill protecting the negroes in
courts Of law in seduction cases.
lie also voted for a bill to hire out ne
to the highest bidder when con-
rieted of small Offenses this was the
nan who professed to be the peculiar
of the colored people. The same
ill provided that for the same offense a
should be hung by the neck till he
vas dead the white man was only sent
o the p~enitenEary for ten yeaTs. lie
rad always been in favor Of universal
mirage, md E9oOd now where be al
had .arpod, and he had never
hanged his views on the subject. The
,olicy of the radical party was to draw a
me of distinction between the colored
I'm and his whits neignbor. He warned
r.scolored men to be careful in follow
1g such parties they would lead them
0 inevitable ruin. He urged upon the
the necessity of going vigorously
work and sending the best men to the
legislature that could be found.