Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-08-24
sELr-coNsr1rurEp CoMM1rrEE.

this paper.
Er-@..ss..z....r
SELF CONSTITUTED COMMITTEE.
We are enabled to learn from dispatches
this morning, the action taken yesterday
by the editors who met ct Brownsville.
1t was impossible, with surrounding cir
cumstances, that the LEDGER could be
represented at the meeting, although we
had signed the call for the proposed con-
sultation. And we now hope that our
brethren of the press may excuse us
should we, at this time, and in our edito-
rial sancium, express an opinion as to
what was done by them. In the first place,
il is an exceedingly delicate matter to
tamper with party machinery when it
has been once set a-going; especially this
interference should not be by those who
are protested friends When a call has
been published for convention OF sew
eral counties to meet, and it is under
stood and agreed on by the people. It
should not be changed for small cause.
Men will grumble and complain for the
reason things were not done according
to their peculiar notions, but after all
they will consent to govern themselves
by the suggestion made. five endeavor
to suit the views ofevery one, We will fail
perhaps to do the thing that is right af-
ter all. Now we object to the action OF
these gentlemen, as we understand II
from the report received by telegraph.
Here it is: a few editors, who are OF the
party, have met together and essayed to
alter and amend the call Of the member
of the Executive Committee, so as to
change the time and place of meeting OF
the District Convention. We have no
objection to this, of itself, but there is
wanting the color of authority in the
entire proceedings. These editors should,
if they thought proper, meet and
resolve to recommend whatever, in
their opinion, was regarded best to be
done to preserve the harmony of the
party, but before their opinions shall
have weight in governing the party, they
must be approved by, and promulgated
under the sign-mnnual of the executive
committee of the district They have
no more right, in their capacity as edi-
tors. to call conventions or change the
place Of meeting of one of them, than
so many of those who might be regarded
as the humblest privates in the ranks.
If Mr.. Stewart, constituting the ex-
eeutiye committee of the district
was present and took part in these re-
concentrations to the Democratic party
of the Eighth Congressional District, his
name is not published with those whom he
was expected to meet on the OCCASION
and neither are we advised that he agrees
to what was done or assumed to be done
by this independent committee of edi-
tors. We may be charged with red-tape-
ism, and correctly, too, for it is be-
ieved, that by strict adhesion TO
party rules, we'll laid down, that
harmony can be preserved, and with
it the achievement Of party success
Some, and in fact all Of the recommend
atoms by the committee of editors, are
peculiar and unprecedented. AS, for
instance, they recommend that the ratio
of representation or apportionment be
one delegate for every three hundred
voters. What do they mean2 Is it in
tended to give Radicals voice in the
management of our affairs2 Will Bar
bour Lewis and Ed Shaw (colored) be
permitted representatives in a Demo
cratic convention If not so, then the
basis is incorrect and should have been
in accordance only with the Democratic
vote of each of the counties in the
district We would thus respectfully
point out to our friends the hlunders
that occur in their published suggestions,
and if they intend the people to govern
themselves by the resolutions adopted in
Brownsville, it should be after first getting
the sanction Of Mr.. Stewart, who alone
has the authority in this district to con-
troll the organization. Any other course
would be wrong, and setting a bad ex-
ample that might be taken advantage of
hereafter by designing men, whose object
would be to set aside the Democratic or