Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-01
Nearly $500 Polled Between 9 am.
and 1 p.m.-Half OF them Col
ored.
How the Election was Conducted
\ In the Different Wards.
No Disturbance Of any Kind-Uni-
versai Good Order Prevails.

No Disturbance OF any Kind-Uni-
versal Good Order Prevails.
Business in almost every department
is nearly suspended today. The major
ity of our business houses are open, but
the greater portion Of their inmates are
either on the streets or at the polls. The
day has been given up to voting, cleo
tioneering and speculationG on the cor
ners upon the probable result
The newly made citizens are every
where to be seen, looking as happy as
though a perpetual holiday had been
decreed them. OF the thousands we saw
during the forenoon at the polling booths
and elsewhere, none appeared excited, or
disposed to engage in any violence.
Many could not repress the happiness
they felt in being able at last to vote like
"white folks" They marched up to the
booths chuckling, with their faces
in broad grin, and answered
questions respectfully aud straight
forwardly. Occasionally the answer
to some question of the judges
would excite the risibles of those in hear
ing, and a general guffaw would follow,
accompanied by marvellous display of
ivory. Such names as Louis Kossuth,"
Pompey Washington, Augustus
Jones'" Hannibal Smith, were plenti-
fully sprinkled in the list of the colored
electors, the announcement by the clerks
of some Of which at times created no
little merriment
Our white citizens conducted them
selves properly, as usual. They voted
promptly, and those of them who re-
solved to canvass for votes did so earn
estly. No intoxicated men, white or
black, were to be seen anywhere about
the polls, and the police had nothing else
to do than to keep the masses from
crowding the polls We visited the diff
ferent voting places during the forenoon,
and subjoin such facts as could be OBJ
tanned:
FIRST WARD.
The polls in the First Ward-Market
S1uare-were occupied altogether by
whites, the colored voters of the Ward
voting in the Second Ward The polls
opened about o'clock. AT II o'clock
nearly 400 votes had been cast. Every
thing was being conducted quietly, there
not being even the slightest manifesto
ton of disturbance AS nearly every
voter was known to the judges there was
little challenging during the forenoon.
Nearly the entire vote is Conservative.
The average is about l4e per hour.
SECOND WARD.
The second ward precinct was desig-
mated for colored voters. One of the
vacant storerooms in Exchange Building
is being used instead of the bluff, as
originally,intended. At IL o'clock, when
we first visited the precinct, $50 eolored
votes had been polled. Applicants were
challenged whenever it was deemed
necessary. AT II o'clock, about 400
votes had been cast. Large crowds we're
in waiting, and the clerks and judges
were not allowed an idle moment The
average vote here during the forenoon
was l4O per hour. There were no drunken
men about the polls, and good order
reigned throughout the morning.
THIRD WARD.
The election here is being held in the
vacant space on the southeast corner of
Second and Washington streets. This
has been the grand center of voting. AT
Ills about 700 votes-all white-had
been polled, and the voting was pro-
crossing rapidly. Doubtful parties were
being challenged, though the majority
passed upon application, being known to
the judges. At Ills colored voters
began to arrive from the Eighth ward,
where the voting was progressing slowly.
At II o'clock over 500 votes had been
polled at this precinct. Good order
prevailed.
FOURTH WARD.
This precinct was set apart for colored
voters exclusively, and was so occupied
+Lrouobout .ba foranoon. Tho nnlls ware