Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-08

voice--"1el US where you stand.
just be steady and patient. Genera
Stokes declares that the franchise ques
ton and removal Of disabilities must b
attended to by the next Legislature. l
the NEXT Legislature must do it, why no
do il now. As we stand in Tennessee to
day, we are alone in the nation. Ther'
is not leading Republican paper, nor q
Republican of prominence and wisdom
at the North, in favor of keeping thu
people DISTINGUISHED. We cannot breas
the ocean wave of the popular sentiment
of the nation or resist inevitable truths
| will 20 this far. If elected Governor
of Tennessee, next August, as T Ger
tainly expect to be, shall recommend
to the State Legislature the removal oil
the political disabilities Of erery citizen
who pays taxes.
There no equivocation in that posi-
ton. There's no two sides to that propo
sition. When you come, General Stokes,
to deal honestly and candidly with hon.
est and candid people, there Deed be nc
turning and twisting for the start as in a
quarter race. This is no quarter race,
General Stokes, but full mile round and
repeat. You must come out fair and
square-come out honest, and no efforts
to fool honest men with mere bubble and
equivocation.
Me-. Stokes says he never sought this
office. / have no disposition to subject
him to REORGANIZATION, but will he now
resign his place in Congress2 No an
swerf Then silence gives consent
Mr.. Stokes had referred to the militia
being in the State at elections. He knew
as we'll as any man why. He (Senter)
| had disbanded them as fast as was proper,
in order to relieve the State of the ex-
pense, and they we're nearly all dis
banded. Lawless men would not misun-
derstand this. II elected Governor, and
while in that office, he would protect
every man, and especially the more help
| less, from all violence whatever, If he had
to call out every able-bodied man in the
State. Mr.. Stokes had endesvored to
make much capital against him about
railroad receivers, who were drawing
several salaries when they we're only en-
titled to one. Stokes had not dared to
make the charge direct, but by inuendo
it was implied He denied fatty that any
such state of things existed. II one man
was receiver for two roads he only drew
a half salary from each, making only one
salary in all. Senter then reverted
to the fact, which he said had be-
fore slipped his memory, that it was
the bogus Hunter delegation from Mem
phis which had broken up the
convention and prevented an organize l.
ton. and their conduct had since been
condemned by the Republicans of Shelby
county, by a majority of six hundred.
Senter then adyerted to the school fund
and to letters published IN q certain
paper (which asterwsrd was understood
to be the Press and Tines, containing
hints and limitations, which the writer
had not the manhood to come out and
make open charges, that he was in some
sense responsible for the loss OF the
money. He was proceeding in his de-
nunciations of this course when Colonel
Grisham, the editor of that paper, who
vas sitting Just under Senter on the steps
of the stand, rose hqrriedly and excited
| ", said something which we did not hear
aud sat down. Senter proceeded. not re-
garding the interruption; when Grisham
rose again aud denied las we understood
him) that Senter's name had been men
toned in that connection, asd an alter
cation Of words followed, during which
Grisham resumed his seat and Senter
| his sueech. lie said no blalae could at
tach to him for that transaction. No
cent had ever reached him in any shape,
| his garments we're clear of that sin, and
nd nan would dare charge him with it.
Every one knew be had voted against
giving Rutter charge of the money. He
wanted it pat in three banks--one in
Nashville, one in Memphis and one In
Knoxville, so that the same could have
been properly secured and no loss occur.
Men who mention the subject should To-
cate the responsibility where it properly
| belongs. He could mention names oil
men against whom grave suspicious were
entertained, who were now Stokes hench-
men and right hand supporters.
Mr.. Senter rapidly passed from point
to poiat, abiding to his aFregt By the
| Confederate authorities on his return
from Memphis his confinement in prison
for eight months. While describing this
treatment a man In the crowd inter-
rupted, asking, land are you now in
| favor Of giving the right to vote to these
men2' Senter answered in the sfiirma-
tive, but distinctly stated that where men
J were committing offeDses against per
sons and property and liberty, which
rendered them infamous, of course they
could not be entitled to it, and no good
man would be in favsr of comforting such
rights upon them. He spoke in glowing
terms of what the State had to expect
from internal improvements, such ss a
net work Of railroads which should bind
the State together like chains of steel
the people become prosperous and happy.
We had comparatively few msnufacto-
rias--ought TO have a great many. He
hoped to see the day whom there should
be hum of industry from one end Of
| the State TO the other. he concluded
briefly by assuring the people that if
elected he would administer the Govern
ment fairly, dividing justice equally
| hetyeen man and man as nearly as was
in bis poser, without fear favor or par
| TALLY.
Mr.. Senter was frequently interrupted
by the yelling of the negroes for Stokes,
sometimes sileneing him for a moment
or two, but he bore Il all with patience,
never once losing his self-poSssssion and
good humor.
STOKES AGAIN.
At the close Of Senter rem arks, Stokes
m 9unted the stand to reply. He said he
had planted himself on the broad plat
form of the National party, the party
which had saved the country.
he put the question TO Senter if be was
in favor Of universal suffrage2