Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-05
PUBLIC LEDGER.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The new Commissioner Of Registratic

announces that he will commence the
registration Of voters for Shelby county
to. day. After careful survey of the
situation we think that the setting aside
the old registration and ordering the
new will not work to the entire disad-
vantage of the Conservative party, pro-
vided the men of that party viii 90 to
work. We believe that we have every
thing to gain and nothing to lose, and
their schemes for holding power until the
last crack of doom may, by organization
and efficient work, yet be thwarted.
The Radicals cannot possibly register
the number Of colored voters they regis
tered last fall. They are not in Shelby
county, and it is not reasonable to sup
nose that they can be brought from the
neighboring States to register and vote OF
a special judicial election. They are
busily employed in the country, and will
not be disposed to leave their situations
at the dictation of party leaders in Mem
phis. They are fast losing confidence in
their leaders, having been so often de-
ceived by them in the past. On the other
hand, the Conservatives have lost few, il
any, voters since the last registration
In fact we believe their numbers have
largely increased. They compose large
proportion of the business community,
and those who have employment in the
city. We have only to fear their apathy
and unwillingness to take the time and
trouble to register. Many of them will
probably feel disguised with repeated
registration and conclude TO abandon
their right to the elective franchise.
When they consider the magnitude of
the issue to be determined, they viii at
once see the crimiuHl follyof sach neglect.
By their own act they would saddle on
us q eorup. and weak Judiciary for eight
years to come. Furthermore, from what
we have heard lately Of the character Of
the new Register, Major Williams, and
from bis declarations. We are inclined to
believe and hope that his registration
will be fair; thst be will give the Con-
servstives en- equal chance, which is all
that they have ever asked, and which
they have never been able to obtain from
any OF his predecessors In Office. We
know that during the last registration up
TO the Presidential election, hundreds Of
Conservative voters, justly and legally
entitled to their papers. were prevented
from obtaining them by the partial and
partizan course of the Registrar, and that
facilities we're granted 10 the freedmen
for registering which were never Afforded
to the Conservatives. This unworthy
example, in orr opinion, will not be fol-
lowed by the present Registrar. So that
by re-registering, our voters Who have
been registered, together With
registering thcse who were wrongfully
from registering last fall, and
registering only those freedmen who are
residents of Shelby comfy, and legally
entitled to their certificates. will give us
. msjority Of the registered vote.
Therefore, Il must be apparent to all
who desire to preserve the last bulwark
of the peoples liberty" that the neces-
sity was never so great for thorough or
ganizaiion of the party and registration
of every Conservative voter 10 the
county.
A committee on registration, composed
Of some of our best and most faithful
men, similar to our COMMITTEES Of last
fall, should be appointed at once, whose
duty it will be to afford every possibls
facility for voters to regis.er. Also, let
the same committee have charge of the
important matter of naturalization.
The voice of the party is unmistskably
for delegate convention to nominate a
regular ticket for the coming Judicial
election. We know whereof we speak,
aud we say 70 the gentlemen of the Ex-
ecutive Committee Of this county, tina;
that voice must be respected and obeyed.
The people make committees and can
them. The committees are the
agents Of the people. IL they differ With
the majority Of the party on 8 question
Of policy. let them resign and give place
TO men who will carry out the policy In
Let them prepsre Immediately for q
viEOtous campaign. Let them take the
Democratic vote at the last election, and
fix the ratio Of representation for each
ward and civil disirict-so many dele
gates for each ffsy or one hundred voters;
then order primary elections to be held
in each ward aud civil Gisuiet on a GER
tain ssF to elect said delegates. TO meet
ia convention 81 some subsequent Dag 70
nominate the ticket. By this means 8
will be held, about which
there car be no cAviL Such-B cOnven-