The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-02-03
TriHes of Travel-Memphis.

ranged. we have yet to see. L. B.
TTfffes OF TraFel-Memphis. e
There f'rime and Folly throng the way,
And Pride and. Envy rule the day; L
Loose Revelry and Riot bold,
In freighted streets their orgies hold" Be-
Sodom and Gomorrah, We are told,
were utterly destroyed by the AL
mighty in consequence Of the iniqui-
ties practiced in their midst. And
were those infamous localities i'm
brued in gross vices and henious
crimes to the same extent in which
the inhabitants of the city under
our notice are STEPPED, we do not
wonder at the retribution visited upon
them. People now days are apt to
imagine that because no such signal
examples are exhibited as those just
mentioned. that the Ruler of the Uni
verse has ceased to to Ike cognizance of
the depravity of individuals as well
as of whole communities. This is an
egregrious error. individuals may
for years pursue course of villainy
successfully; but time comes when
they are detected exposed and punish
ed. It is the same with communities.
Industry ,sobrlety and integrity are SIM
pie virtues, yet they only are capable
of producing greatness, prosperity
and renown.
Know then this truth enough for man
That virtue alone is happiness below"
HAS MEMPHIS ALTERED SINCE THE
WAR?
It has, but sadly. in our belief, for
the worse. 1t was to be expected that
immortality would rather increase than
diminish in city, In and about which
so large a number of troops were con-
stantly kept; but when they were
withdrawn was it not reasonable to
anticipate that more healthy moral
condition of society would immedi-
ately succeed? Yet, the fact is, that
to-day there cannot be found city of
the same population in which life and
property are so insecure.
When the war ceased, Gen. Wash
burn, who then commanded at Mem
phis, surrendered the control of the
government of the city to the citizens,
who proceeded with haste to install
in Office the obnoxious persons who
had been elected the year previous,
but who had been prevented from
taking Office by Gen. Wash burn, on
account Of. their well known rebel
sympathies and proclivities. John
Parks became Mayor, and John G.
Creighton, Recorder, with a City
Council to correspond. These indi-
viduals selected for all the minor Off
ces In the gift of the corporation, as
far as practicable, paroled rebel SOL
diers, particularly on the police. This
system could have but one result,
viz: the destruction of order.
The rebel element having obtained
the power. they quickly assumed the
right to Cypress all and sundry
who had in any way aided the Union
cause, and to show favor to none who
had not abetted the rebellion. Many
persons who had served in the Union
army had located there for bust
ness purposes; but sagaciously dis
corning the cur:e nt of events, they
wisely pulled up stakes and moved
away; while others, yainly hoping
that better things would happen, held
on, and now, almost bankrupt, they
heartily regret their stupid infatu-
alton. Secesh lawyers, secesh doc
tors, secesh ministers, and secesh
merchants, only are patronized. The
client, the patient, and the penitent,
though In the most desperate situa-
ton, would deem it an insupportable
affection to have to receive legal ad-
vice, medical assistance, or religious
consolation, from a hated Yankee.
Retween the State Of Tennessee
and the City of Memphis so far as
the government of each was con-
cerned, there was irreconcilable en-
nifty, and each pulled in different di-
rections. The powers at Nashville
aimed at carrying out certain policy
which the Memphis powers detested.
This game at cross purposes con-
tinued until certain enactments by
the Legislature at Nashville, deprived
! the abettors of crime and misrule, of
power to work mischief This whole
some regimen has not, however, suf-
feed to put the moral condition of the
inhabitants of Memphis, where its
best citizens would like to see it.
Whea the war closed, all property
in use by the Government was re-
stored to the owners. They set to
| work Immediately to renovate their
estates, and now one scarcely recog-
nizes. the Overton Hospital as the
| Oyerton Hotel, or other buildings
similarly used IN their present use
and appearance. Fort Pickering and
our old camp grounds are. dotted with
modest STRUCTURES, and scarcely
trace remains to showfthat hostile
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