Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-12

People pho hare gone before Us-The
Gdliotos stdRds--A Monument 10 our
Departed Friends = Wonderful
Changes--A Sheltered HighucGy-
Health and Pleasure-LaCy no
more.
Correspondence Public Lodger.l
RALEIGH. August 12 1857.
Raleigh, the gallant gentleman Of the
Elizabethan era; Raleigh, the capital Of
another satrapy, ruled by another Verres,
and Raleigh, the ancient capital Of Shelby
county, Tennessee-the first famous
knight, and two last are famed localities
designated in honor Of his name and
memory. This Raleigh, whence your
correspondent writes, was once the tenn
porary abiding place Of lawyers Of this
district. The time was when there were
no courts in Memphis, when crimes and
frauds were fewer than to-day, and it
would be an interesting inquiry to de-
termine whether courts and lawyers have
so grievously multiplied because of mul
tiphed violations of law, or whether in
fractions of moral and civic codes are
more numerous because of the corrupt
and loose administration of justice. 1t
is certainly true that culprits are multi
piled by violence and disorders, while
the good and industrious are attracted to
a community in which TIE press and
people betray disposition to maintain
order and quietude. Since the glory Of
Raleigh, as a seat of justice, has de-
parted, there has been a decadence of
public virtue in the city and rural good
morals have been promoted. When
none were voters who did not own real
estate in Memphis, there was honesty
and capacity and economy in the public
service; when courts and their adjuncts
were few, social wars and onmites were
unknown, and tax-gatherers we're not
highwaymen plundering the people by
insufferable exactions. Now we have
universal suffrage. Less than two
years ago the very man who
precipitated this public calamity
was unwilling to have foreigners exer-
else the right conferred for partisan
purposes upon those infinitely less ca
pable of wise political action thar the
least informed of European exiles. If
the glory of Raleigh has departed its
losses have resulted in little gain to the
city which has absorbed its Importance
and drawn away courts and lawyers.
The court house, Jail and gallows still
stand, memorials Of the former great
ness of the little village. The voice Of
juridical eloquence is silenced and
dramshops, whence oratory often draws
its finest inspirations, are closed for
ever In their stead, strange as you
laay deem it, this people have discov'
cred distilery whose proprietors per-
petrate no frauds upon revenue collect
ors, whose products give health, whose
sparkling liquor is distilled, first, in the
skies, and then percolating through beds
of iron and sulphur come to the sur
face, that health may paint the cheek of
beauty, and strength defy disease, sick
ness and death.
Raleigh has lost nothing by changes,
to which l have adverted. Robbed of
courts and lawyers, the loss has been
remedied by the discovery of springs,
which attract greater number and bet
ter class of visitors than they who were
accustomed to make this village a tenn
porary abiding place. On lofty emf
nence, visible from every point in the
village, the gallows still stands, monu-
msnt to departed lawyers, while the court
house and Jail are to be transformed into
school rooms. The people Of the village
will decorate the public square, streets
will be matted with grass and shaded by
evergreens. Aside from its attractions as
watering place, Raleigh will contribute
largely, in future years, to the wealth
and intelligence of the county
If Memphis City Fathers would come
in body to Raleigh, they might learn
how valuable park may be made, and
something Of the virtues of unmixed
water. Since the contract for street
paving is disposed of, and there is lull
in the tempest, which, for months past,
has shaken the city government the
Mayor and Aldermen would do we'll to
devote a day to the inspection of the
peculiarities of Raleigh, destined to be-
come most important suburb of Mem
phis A sheltered highway, like an end
less market house, viii connect the viii
lage and city; and each day, in future
years, hundreds of vehicles shall bring
visitors to the Springs, which now give
renewed health and strength to
CIToYES