Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-20
County Democratic Ticket.
SHELBY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CON-
yEETION

The Democratic Convention of this
county terminated its labors yesterday
afternoon after protracted and excited
session of two days. Greater interest
seems to have been felt in the final &C.
ton of this body than any one of a
similar character that has before assem-
bled in Shelby county. This was par
tally owing to the Importance of the
offices to be filed and the apparent ne
cessity of selecting such candidates
as would meet the unqualified ap-
proval of the city and country people.
The choice made for each of the Offices
can and must suit the taste Of the most
fastidious, who heretofore, have been SO
hard to please We congratulate the
Convention and the people of Shelby
county upon the opportunity they have
of voting for a ticket that recommends
itself in every particular. The first. of
the important positions was that of Pro-
bate Judge, to which J. E. r. Ray, a
well known citizen Of Shelby county,
was thought most competent to fill.
This gentleman has not merely a
local reputation with the people Of his
county, who know him best, but as the
former Secretary of State while lsham
G. Harris was Governor Of Tennessee,
he is familiar to the great body of the
people of this Commonwealth He will,
when elected, without doubt, perform the
duties of his complicated judgeship with
an ability which he is wellknow to pos
sess. 1t is not merely idle and unmean-
ing words to say that perhaps better
selection could not have been made from
the entire bar of the county than
was in this instance, and we
feel that the people, when the day of
election shall come round, as soon it
will, will not refuse to give their
hearty concurrence to this choice
of the Convention. For the Office Of
County Register protracted contest
was carried on between the friends Of J.
o. Durff and John Brown, which at one
time threatened dissolution Of the Con-
vention. Mr.. Brown was the favorite of
the country delegates, while large
majority of the city delegation stood
with firm and unbroken phalanx for
James O. DurG. Doubtful hung the
issue for long and wearisome time, and
then the friends of the party were thrown
into a state of uneasiness for fear their
organization would be broken up, which
would have gratifed the Radicals beyond
measure. Thanks TO our lucky star,
such was not the case, and, after the pas
sions and excitement Of the hour had
been permitted to cool, during short
part Of the night given to repose, the
morning brought with it a better
and more compromising spirit be-
tween the rival aspirants. Mr.
Durff seeing to what a deadlock the
Convention had come, and apprehensive
of injury to the party should such state
Of affairs continue, magnanimously and
noby withdrew in favorOf his opponent,
John Brown, who was then declared
the preference Of the Convention. Mr..
Brown is an old resident of Shelby
county and is so thoroughly understood
and appreciated by our people that a
word fromsus as to his character and
capabilities to FIJI the Office would be
superfuoas. His election is beyond
cavii. while his nomination will add
strength to the entire ticket II
was thought by the Convention that
Captain Albert NJ Stephens was the
pronar man for the Office q Attorney