Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-03-08


stinate msn." Mr.. johnson smilingly
observed that he had heard that some
such quality had been attributed to him
self, but of course there was nothing in it.
Card from Judge Barbour Lewis.
As requested, we will with pleasure
give space TO the card Of Judge Lewis, as
published in the Nashville Banner on
Saturday last Bat before the reader
shall peruse tina. nicely-scented epistle,
would he be kind enough to first read the
evidence of Mr.. Rutter before the special
committee from the House Of Repre-
sentatives known as the School Fund
Committee. Mr.. Rutter being sworn,
was asked the following question
20. What persons received money
from you in connection with the passage
of the bill to manipulate the affairs Of
the bank.
"a. Some of them are Messrs. Arnell,
Mullins, W. Spence, 7. B. McElwee,
General John Eaton, jr., j. d. Davis,
Senator w. R. Hall, W. Wines, j. s.
Molloy, F. s. Richards, d. A. Num-,
Wilson Duggan, Barbour Lewis, r. S.
Parham lobbyist, Hepburn of Mem
phis, formerly of Iowa, and John Martin
(defunct) gave Duggan gold-headed
cane. There we're several thousand dol
lars spent Spence and McElwee made
propositions as members of the commit
tee appointed to settle with me, looking
to little peouniary accommodation"
MExPHIs, March 4. 1869.
To the Editor Of the Republican Banner
A friend has kindly sent me the follow.
ing slip from your paper of recent
date.
ut is intimated that Garvin who was
elected Revenue Collector in Shelby
county for 1861, gave no bond what
ever for the latter year, Barbour Lewis,
President Of the Board of County Com
missioners, having dispensed with that
little formality in consideration of the
sum of $1,000 That is the way the State
lost 100000. Nothing can be made
out of Garvin."
Allow me to inform you that the above
gentle and delicate intimation" is en-
tirely untrue. Mr.. Garyin has never
given, or even "intimated any wish TO
offer, me any pecuniary consideration
FOR my action or any subject whatso.
ever, The BOARD of County Commits
sioners of Shelby County came into Office
in April, 1867. Mr.. Garvin had pre-
viously given bond that was deemed
good for his whole torn of office. Not
one county in twenty in the State, / am
informed, has ever required more than
one bond from Collector for his whole
tern. Upon our coming into Office,
however, we required an additional bond
from Mr., aarvin, for greater security
and caution, ! urged that the new
bond should be for S250,000 The
Board, however, foslly, upon Mr.. Gar
wins urgent representations, reduced
the amount to 100000. He was dealt
with more literally because be was q
leading Democrat, and our insisting on
very heavy bond was deemed by his party
friends TO be species Of persecution be-
Gauge hs was a Democrat. The bond
for 100000 was signed by wealthy men
and respectable citizens, all Democrats,
and then worth more than half million
Of dollars. There is reason TO believe
that Mr.. Garvin aud bis securities will
yet pay ell bis liabilities. You will please
observe that Barbour Lewis, though
President of the Board of County Com
risslopegs, could bsye no more power
to dispense With the giving of
bond by Mr. Garvin than any other
Of the FIVE members Of the Board
Will you permit me, while am writ
ing, TO call your attention 10 another
slight Injustice which your able and in
faentiaf journal, 10 common with some
Of yogr contemporaries, h.s done me in
relation to The School Fund" which
wes administered upon so unfortunately
by that great fnancier. Mr.. Rntter. /
never knew anything of that gentlemaa's
business 10 any way until the month of
March, 1867, more than nine months
after he took charge Of said funds, and
some three months nearly after he had
restored f340, 900 of it. | was then, in
March, 1851, employed bY him as his
attorney to erdsavor TO obtain fair set
tlemeni with the GoveFnment and the
other Commissioners appointed by the
Legislature to settle with the bank As
his avowed attsrney had many inter-
views with the Commissioners, and
made various propositions for settle
mept, which l deemed fair and
just, ssd the beet sitaipaSls for
the interests OF me state. One or two
such arrangements we're drawn mp in
writing and signed, as telegraphed to
Mr.. Ra,ter, and one IS nov in my pos
session. Certainly no intelligent or reF-
sonab'e man will think for a moment Of
ceosnriDg me becsgte beoAne counsel
or iazyer k's q man nine months after
be committed the ohense with which he
is charged
By Publishing the above plain and sim
pie statement of facts You will confer
favor upon me.
Yours resp'tfnlly, BARBECUE LEWIS
PS.-Any journals which have pub
lished or referred TO said charges will
Ssslige me By Publishing the above.