Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-15
POLITICAL.
Answer Of n. D. L. Stewart TO the crItl.
cIem Of the B~fowHsViile Bee-He De.
tends and VlRdIcatss Ne Course.
Answer Of George r. PheIan-He Reviews
the History OF the Democratic
Party, and Proposes Remedies
for Present Evils.
Congressional Convention Brownsville Bee.

Editors AppeGI-My attention has been
directed to an article in the BROWNSVILLE
Bee, animadverting quite severely upon
the call made by me for a Congressional
Convention on the lst of September next.
I regret exceedingly that | should thus
encounter his opposition in e~ndeavoring
secure success for our party in
the ensuing: campaign. | can as
sure him and the public that | have no
interest to subserve, and am not the adj
vocate of any ones claims for preferment,
and was governed alone by a desire to see
the nomination of good men upon a just,
equitable and Democratic basis. The
chairman of my committee at Nash:
vile having determined to act, L
was advised and persuaded to make
the call which 1 published. And
anv iptimation or insinuation of the Bee
of presumption on my part, is simply
frivolous and entirely gratuitous. With
reference tothe place designated, l have
this to say, that Memphis is most accessi-
BILE and convenient for three-fourths of
the delegates, because of her railroads
and other numberless facilities.
He furthermore objects, very seriously,
to the basis of representation recon-
mended by me. This is quite astonishing,
especially as he claims to be a Democrat.
I could think of no basis which, under
the circumstances, would be more just
and equitable than the one recommended.
No Democrat can ask for a representation
exceeding his vote; nor could any county
claim, in q Democratic convention, repre-
sentation superior to any other county
with like number of votes; to do so, TO say
the least, is a violation of the cardinal
principle of Democracy.
The ticket for Supreme Court Judges
- ol1atoA hoaor1oa fha conaa namnrrafiP
candidates were voted for in each county.
This gave Haywood the advantage Of
Shelby, because Haywood had upon that
ticket one of hermost gifted and popular
sons, and if she failed TO turn out in sup
port of such a ticket God forbid that her
faggards should eveT be represented. 1t is
fair to presume that a great many Demo-
Gratis of Shelby liz not vote on the Attn
inst, for we know that at least five hun
dred are absent East snd elsewhere; still,
she will ask a representation only for
those who voted. / am proud. however,
to say that our voters are of that true grit
who ALWAYS rally around the ballot-box
when the interest of the State and the
people is at stake. I did not, at the time,
know what was tie Democratic vote in
the counties outside of Shelby, nor did l
care, for I recommended a basis which l
| Thought all Democrats would readily APP
prove. The convention will have entire
control of the question, at all events,
and can regard or disregard my recon-
npeaddti0RSs I did not assume to dictate,
but to avoid confusion and misunder-
standing merely recommended a basis
which I learn is quite acceptable to all
rood Democrats. Upton and Fayette
| have not complained, although the
same delegates will nominate two addi-
tional candidates, viz: Senator and
Floater. 1 fear the Bee is a little selfish
In his objections. / did not consult with
any candidate or any candidates particu-
lar advocate before making the call, and
l appeal to the good sense of the Demo-
Gratis of this district to send us good dele
gates, devoid oflocaI prejudices and i'm
bued alone with a desire to nominate the
best men, and thereby BALD upour party,
fortify us with concord in u labors and
cement us with devotion to the best
interests of our common country.
Let US not initiate the example of our
enemies in qusrrelling and dividing, but
work all together.
Since writing the above I have seen the
Jackson Wing, and beg to reply to the
many frivolous and captious objections
presented by the senior editor of that pa
per. He likewise complains of the place,
and manner, etc, of holding the Couven-
ton. and also questions my authority in
the premises. 1 am sorry I wounded his
vanity in not consulting with him before
publishing The call. He claims to be a
member OF the committee with me- and
likewise makes a call. l was appointed
at Nashville on the 9th of June, 1868,
when only one from each Congressional
District was elected, constituting a State
Central Committee. l am willing how
ever, to resign in favor of the senior edi-
tor, and let him manage the concsrn-eall
it Democratic or Conservative party-as
NJ 7 - l., --.,UI hn N. 49,
successful as he was in his attempt to di-
vide our party and organize a Wing party.
The secret of his opposition to my action
is in my call upon the Democracy of the
District instead of the Conservatives.
He asserts that l owe my appointment to
a Conservative Convention. To refute
this, l refer him to the platform of the
party, adopted at Nashville on the
9th June, 1868, to which l owe
of which reads as follows:
First-The Conservative men of Ten
nessee, putting aside all questions de-
cided by the war, accept the title of
" Democrats" and formally unite them
selves with the Democratic party as it
now exists. (See Memphis APPEAL,
June ID, 1861 1 have no desire to OBJ
trude any recommendations, and feel
that 1 have simply, in the discharge of a
duty, and am confident that l AN sus-
tanned by all good and faithful Demo-
Gratis throughout the District, and upon
them the party relies for its success.
This much I have felt it my duty to
say, by way of explanation, not that I
care, personally, whetherthe Conventions
heldhere or elsewhere, or what the basis Of
representation may be, 1 dislike to see
these local ~jealousies and far-fetched Dbl
~iections made manifest, and if b coun
ties see proper to send delegates, as sug-
gested by me, very well, and If they do
not, 1 have no quarrel to make. 1 fear,
however, thst pretexts are being sought
tojustify opposition to our nomination.
Respectfully, NJ. D. L. STEWART.
ANSWER OF GEoRGE r. Ella