Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-02

circulation Of the APPEAL is steadily
Increasing? If so, that Is all well.
But the test Of superior circulation,
it might be proper for the
GOV ernor to inquire into, at least be-
fore ne makes the announcement Of
superiority for a journal, which, as his
supporter, may be regarded as his
present favorite. If our neighbOr is
so successful as he would have it be-
Iieved, we have no right to object to
it, but on the contrary should give
him all the credit, and wish him all
the advantage which may l~egitimateiy
result from such a state of facts.
But, as to such an appointment of
the Governor we deny all right to
make it-frst on the ground assumed
by him, the existence of which
is unknown to the law under
which he acts; second, on the
ground that litigants and the
public should be allowed to judge
for themselves and make their own
selections; third, on the ground that
the press should not become a public
stipendiary, but remain free as here
tofore to competition; and fourth, on
the ground that a law authorizing the
Governor to select at all is essentially
ubiquitous as has been proved by ex-
perience, Is a mischievOus partisan
power which ought not to be confided
70 the Governor of the State, and is a
law which, for a multitude of reasons,
ought to be repealed. By the same
party which made offices for the sole
purpose Of making officers and COM
polling tax payers to support its crea-
lures it was set up as a means Of pat
ronage, and a bride for party control,
and it ought not to be allowed to
cucumber the statute books for
the best reasons of public pol
icy. We have opposed it in times
past, as a mean of partisan reward in
Radical hands. And we cannot sus-
tain it as any more right in principle
in Democratic or Universal Suf-
frage" hands. We might ike the pc
cuniary profits to be derived from it,
if we were the participants. But we
could never bring a reason to justify
such a law, or advocate it as Cdmissi-
bic Oh any public grounds whatsoever
That which is wrong in principle and
calculated 10 work mischief in the
8 hands of one party should not be en-.
trusted to another. And now that thI
people of Tennessee are again il
power we trust they viii not continue
a law which has heretofore been tn,
! instrument of cOrrupting the press ant
| done injustice by hiding the notice
. in obscure corners, which it is tn
policy of the law, and the very Objec
, of the Courts to give. This should no
be done for the benefit Of friend 0
foe, and we hope the newly eleote'
. Legislature will too much respec
: itself to continue Ia operation an &c
which many Of the members and tn
t great body Of citizens have d%enounce,
( As in contravention Of sound publ
i policy, while its administration wa
in the hands of their antagonists. TIL
. doctrine was never true that " to tn
vfctors belong the spells and W
hope the party in power win seek tn
public good, rather than build for Ia
e future on q foundation and principl
} so unworthy the recognition of on
statesmen, and so unlike the disinteI
: ested government Of their ancestors
> who would not grant ever 10 Wasl
d ington a power they would have will
u held from the meanest of America
rulers.
'e That our neighbor Is well worthy
y pubic patronage, 1t is not our purpOs
l. or disposition to deny. But we hOI
it to find him arraved with US again.
the fmpolicy Of this Radical inveI
+ tor and Ubiquitous law, the %inlustiC
st of which has been seen and general
IS conceded by all intelligent Conservi
N tives from the day it was incubate
y until the present time. He shOgl
l. i2iR hands witn US in supporting Il
y right principle Of action, and for Il
to rest, with us, take his chances.
e. not that rights