Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-15
Our Nashville Letter.

two Houses of the Legislature had a
quorum on Tuesday the 10th, ana al
dressed themselves to the work before
them. This is no idle play, as they
must pass many general laws adapted
to the changes made by the new Con-
stitution.
The Legislature is a body of work
ing, practical, sensible men, with
some decidedly able members. The
Cooper brothers possess both that gen.
eral information and legal acumen SO
essential for lawmakers, and their
SudUiter in modO makes them general
favOrites. Etheridge is a man whose
brain never seems TO sleep; who APP
parently courts no popularity, but Is
the most Rnpular man in either House,
and who, with all the earnest vim OF
his character, always advocates what
he thinks is right, not because the
"dear people, think with him, but
| because he has and can always give
| cogent reasons for his course. He Is
| the most fearless, independent public
man l ever saw; and this very indie
pendence wins friends, for all know
he could not be this and be a dema-
gogue at the same time. Cub
bins is a constant, matchless
working man, and the interests of
Memphis and Shelby county are safe
in his hands. He has a stock of prac-
teal sense which nothing betogs, and
always knows where and how to
move. Conversation with many Sem
ators has convinced me that, in car
rying his points, Cubbins is as sue
! eessiul as the most adroit legislator in
the Senate.
Dorsey B. Thomas, the Speaker Of
| the Senate, is a dignifed presiding
officer, with parliamentary rules at
/ his fingers end, and gives universal
satisfaction in his decisions. His well
known courtesy is just what 1t was
when l first knew him seventeen years
ago, and the Senate has never had a
more popular Speaker. Clear in his
conceptions and prompt in his decis-
ions, he is the fright man in the right
place."
There are other Senators of promi-
hence, among them Hall, of Gibson,
the youngest member of the Senate,
but one of the brightest intellects.
Slaughter, of Upton, is a man of fine
sense, reminding one of the indepen-
dent, ~courtly, country gentleman who
feels it his duty to watch over the
charge confded to him, but who does
it without vanity. The Senate has
but twenty-five members, and they
work together with the utmost har-
mony.
The House has e~ighty-four MEM
bers, practical, intelligent gentle
men, who are well informed
upon most subjects, and, bet
ter than all, honest and determined
to protect the interests of their con-
s%tituency. You know the Legisla-
lures of the past f~ouByears have been
composed of material collected here
to S10indIe those whom they claimed
to represent; and the change from
1866, '67 and '68 tOo1S70 is a very pleas
ant one. 1t may be safely said that
no member of either body has any
ak to grind" but all legislation
looks to the good of the whole people.
Townsend stands very high in the es-
timatiOn of the House. Modest, but
frm, clear and fOrcible in whatever
he attempts to express, he has great
and merited influence. Jones is the
most industrious man l ever saw; is
the best worker, and can do more by
quiet manipulation than any n in
either house. He seems to have a
warm friend in everybody, and then
has a power always exerted for good.
! Caldwell, of Weakley, is n OF the
most impressive men l have met
with; and his ringing voice, with its
distinct enunciatiOns, must make him
a formidable opponent in politics.
while his well trained voice enables
him to present any question in its
most conspicuous light. James, of
| Hamilton, is as ready as a lucifer
match, and his powers of debate are
acknowledged by all, while his ge-
| NAL, warm manners make him a
universal favOritea If space allowed,
l would say something of Others of
both Houses. Enough to add that
the Legislature is n in which the
great interests of the State will be
carefully considered and provided for
under the new constitution.
A general law for corporations will
I soon be framed, under which all new
railroad companies, factories, banking
establishments, insurance companies
must proceed to organize themselves.
A bill was introduced this morning to
| abolish the office of tax-cOllectOr in
all counties, and lnake the constables
collect the taxes in their Districts
giving bond and security therefor. A
bill for a new county (Etheridge), to
be carved out of Carroll, Gibson,
Madison and Henderson, was intro
duced, and one for Crockett county,
north of the FOrked Deer river.
Other similar bills will follow, and
the feeling seems to be in favor of
giving the citizens in the new coun-
ties all they ask, as counties are or
ganiZed to benefit and not TO injure.
Counties are never enlarged, but al
WAYS reduced; and no man in the old
county feels poorer or more enslaved
because a part of it is cut off to make
a new me-. The member from Obion
will divide his cOunty-it being too
large-ReelfOot lake to be the line.
The Secretary of State, Comptroller
and Treasurer will be chosen on
Thursday, the 18th, and there are
many candidates for each. For the
first. West Tennessee has one; Mid
die Tennessee, five; and East
Tennessee, none. For ComptrOl-
Ter. GSL lEuucoSCG has LMOs
Middle Tennessee some half dozen,
and East Tennessee one; while each
division has one or two candidates
for Treasurer. There is a growing
feeling that Middle Tennessee has the
lions share of the good things, though
the recipients are worthy of all they
have, The Speakers of both Houses
/ are from Middle Tennessee. So of the
! clerks and several other lucrative Off
ces; and the demand of West Ten
nessee that she shall no longer be
pushed aside, is universally conceded.
OF course, the friends of the candi-
dates are working hard.
Nashville, as q site for a lefoaocitv.
is undoubtedly the most besi1ti31l md
commanding on this continenf Is
beauties grow on me every time I
visit it; and though | have seen every
large city on the continent except
Mexico and San Francisco, l have
seen none whose natural attractions
approach those the eye can here see.
In all directions, but especially South
and West, it stretches away for miles,
swell and hill rising above and be-
yond each other, until it is q
panorama of enchantment when
bathed in the sunlight. There is
much more solid wealth here than in
Memphis; and this is evinced in the
many elegant and costly mansions
on some of the streets. That of j. M.
Lea will be the most elegant in the
whole State when finished. The city
has upward of 10000 people, and is
growing quite fast, real estate having
taken a decidedly upward tendency.
But | will close this desultory letter,
promising to write again soon.
Yourn5 AAMoLAnr