Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-30
WHITE.
His Response to the Structures of the
Appeal.
He Does Moi Fear that John League
Can Give him He'll.

Editors Appeal: In your yes
terday's paper you pay your respects
to me in two locals. The first asserts
Z" that Commissioner White says thai
hereafter contracts for county WORK
are to be given out 10 the highes, bid.
der" / never said anything of tbs
kind. But 1 have from the first day
| entered the Board upto the present
time advocated and urged the letting
out OF county work to the i05ceSf bid
der. This vas my position in letting
out the county printing, in which
was sustained by Commissioned Mer-
riman. / also advocated on one oCea-
sion giving il to the paper having the
largest circulation, we firing q reason
a5ie price for the work. In this l was
also sustained by him. Thus the
greatest number would be bene-
fitted, and when the number is con-
sidered, even if the price was some
what more than a paper of small cir
culatiOn would do il for, il would
really be the cheaper il the advanta-
geS were considered.
The object IN publishing Il orders
and proceedings is to make them
known to the people. II there is any
exception to the principle of letting
out to the lowest bidder this is one.
The second item says: my com
munieation docs not satisfy the pub
lie" never did anything with the
expectation of pleasing the Ehoz
public. Some people would not be
pleased with a cushioned rocking
chair in Heaven, or a seat on the
throne beside the Supreme Being.
1t may he made up Of speculation
and guess work" 1 grant that / can
not tell Just how many paupers may
die and have TO be buried at public
expense. If as many as last year,
under the proposition of Owen Smith,
there would be saved over $4,O0O-l
only claim $1,000. | cannot tell eX-
actiy how much stationery may be
purchased, but if for the balance OF
the year, in proportion to the bills for
this year, over $1,000 will be
saved. l only claim $4,000,
1t is a fact that the general character
of the bridges is good. / said $600t
would be saved. could have said
seven or eight thousand with almost
a certainty of being correct.
! said we had taken up $1,000 OF the
warrants issued by Judges Petit and
Leonard. There may have been some
thing over this amount. l thought il
best to give it in round numbers.
We paid last year $55OS for index.
ing. We have only paid so far this
wear 1854 40Ia allowed Sl5t0 this veal
and 500 more Will cover it.
The past due Indebtedness of the
State Asylum was in round numbers
correct IL
The item of taxes refunded was
where they had been wrOngfully paid
or paid twice over.
Istated that / could not give ex'
aetlv the Criminal Court expenses,
simply because they have not been
always kept as One item. ! frankly
stated my estimate. If parties ART
not satisfied with it, | cannot help 1t,
They must make the most Of it. No
body is obliged 10 receive my deduc.
tions drawn from the figures and
statements. They are plain. But one
fact / shall stand by most earnestly,
that is, that il Memphis and Shelby
county have a fair chance, and are not
kept back by narrOw-mindcd, con
tracted Ostracism on the part Of any
portion Of her people, the taxable
property viii be at least fifty, yes sixty
millions in seven TO ten years, andthf
population Increased One-half, yes
doubled.
As to the "rumored acts OF bribery
and corruption and extraordinary
expenses" As to the latter ] refer
Won to my votes. If they We're fully
understood by the public, the reason
for John Leagues book, that he in
tended giving me he'll nom the word
60" might be understood. l have, no
doubt, in cases, voted ErGng.
In one case / know / did, bat
did 1t ON the assurance Of & NEAR
Der of the board that the money was
due To the party for it. ] should be,
and expect to lie blamed.
As 10 the 81 bribery and corruption"
I say to son % said TO the Grand
jury, DEFY examination, 4ap natthe
guardian or ~confessnr of the other
members of the Board and cannot an
swer for them.
DUl tIiN 1luNA Cdfi EtN Nit&A itGNN
often been approached by respectable
men, with assurances that if certain
ends could be accomplished it would
be worth so much to them, and they
could well afford to be generous, and
the like.
While / regret their mistaken way
of endeavoring to bring about their
desires, l have thrown the mantle Of
charity Oyer sgch acts simply because
/ know that the severe trials and
troubles incident to the late war, and
the knavisli character of many officers
stationed here and elsewhere, caused
many persons to get into the habit of
approaching them in this manner, and
they seem still 10 think il the only
possible way of succeeding in their
purposes. / am sorry to add, l fear
this course may have been successful
with some men.
In private life, as amongst military
men, there are many honorable men,
while there always have been, and
probably will be, sneaks and corrupt
men, especially Ofiice-holders, and it
may be on grand juries. / positively
deny stealing from the future to
Yhitewash the past" My statement
of county affairs was simply intended
words of earnest thought to the
Board Of Commissioners, and they
were given to the people because l
candidly believed they made the fu-
ture look bright. They Were prepared
and handed to the press before the re-
port Of The Grand Iay Uos published.
When l take an active part in politics
and party matters, or ask the people
TO elect me to Office | may be right
fully accused OfendeaYoring to white
wash. Respectfully,
Nm. II. WHITE.
THE Huntsville Hotel, in the beau
tiful hill-begirt little town whose name