Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-19
THE SPEAKING.

II
General Stokes in this city last Saturday
was not as largely attended as the I'm.
nortsut issues before the people would
have suggested. Several reasons may be
assigned for the comparatively small
crowd. The day was very hot, and the
Mace of speaking was too far out of the
civ This is busy season, and but few
of The farmers could afford to leave their
work. Several places had been appointed,
and the people we're misled both as to
time and place. Hence it was that when
General Stokes wiped off his besk with
copy Of the Chicago platform, and an
nounced in his hard-shell style that he
was a candidate to be Governor, there
were Just people enough to fill the single
row of benches arranged to assimilate
prize-ring around the speakers stand.
A full report having been made day and
a half in advance of us by the morning
papers, it is unnecessary that we should
follow the speakers at length. General
Stokes was chaperoned by Mr. ]. M. Tom
envy, of this city, who has several dull axes
to grind, as soon as it is determined who
will run the griudstone Of the State gov
ernment Those who have heard Stokes
before say that he went over the usual
track, but made rather q better effort
than usual. he was doubtless cheered by
the sight of so small crowd, hoping there
would not be enough to tell how badly he
was used up. His party here fell upon
happy expedient to keep away the ne
groes. They informed their col
ored allies privately that the
speaking would take place in grove on
Dunlap street. The negroes assembled
there in great crowds and prepared q reg
ular barbecue for their chieftain, and
waited long and patiently; but he came
not, for it was not on the programme
that Stokes was to be heard by the ne
groes, unless on the bluff where Senter
could be hooted down. Three-fourths Of
the crowd present we're against Stokes,
but they listened to his dreary, self-de-
fensiye speech of two mortal hours with
patience aud respect. He undertook first
to prove that he was the regular Republi-
can candidate "a matter of very
small Importance to the crowd-and
he proceeded to argue that Grant never
had come cut for universal suffrage. He
alluded to the respective platforms adopt
ed by the Democratic and Republican
conventions last summer; then reviewed
the political history Of the country, and
particularly the South since the death OF
Lincoln. He claimed the honor Of having
written the Fifteenth Amendment, and Of
introducing it in Congress, and he urged
its adoption. After this, he undertook to
show that Senter was not with the Re-
publican party. Next, he tried to
prove that be was the first man in favor Of
a State convention; defended his celebra.
ted Duncan letter, and denied that he had
ever been much. of Confederate. He was
in favor Of convention in0ctober, where
as Senter's plan would take two years.
BE attempted here TO make the point that
he was ahead Of Senier on the suffrage
question. He charged Senter with having
been recreant to both governments, and
of being the head Of all the bad rings in
the State. These were his principal
points.
Gov. Senter opened with a stirring al.
lusion to bis distinguished competitor,
known by so many names. After refer
ing TO the occasion, and the greatness Of
Memphis as = commercial emporium, be
spoke of the responsible Office he
held, and said that be would
be led by no man into thai
which was not right He proceeded t.
answer the nomination business at Nash
vile, and made that all clear enough. Il,
was particularly severe on Stokes. SaiC
the old man had been writing all owe
the country that he did not want to b,
Governor, when everybody knew that tina
WIS his weak point, and his cherishe,
dream was to be made some day Gov
eruer. After the election be will hav
10 be sent to the lunatie asylum at Nash
vile. % Sugar Hamilton be was mos
sarcastic and scsthiug. He took a