Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-03
rhe ). rIoater Question.

| judge from the efforts of Dem
ocrat," in late number Of the
Appeal, that an effort is to be made in
the Convention to nominate candidate
for Floater, and to rob Memphis of her
just right to fair representation in the
Legislature. Democrat" who profess
edly halls from Covington, says that here
tofore in Conventions, the selection for
Floater has been referred to the Upton
delegation. That is a mistake, as seen
in the fact that Mr. Sherrod, from Fay
ette, was nominated by the last Conven-
tion-neither Shelby nor Upton having
any aspirant. But if even such were
the practice, why should such a wrong
be continuously perpetrated? Have we
not had Constitutional Convention, and
adopted new Constitution, since the
last selection for Floater? And is it
not true, that, owing to the jealousy of
the country against the city, and the
fact that the latter are always in the
minority in Conventions and legislative
bodies, Memphis has not obtained
just share of representation in the Gen
eral Assembly? Instead of having two
members, fair apportionment would give
Shelby county at least four members of
the lower House and Senator other own.
But instead of that, a city that pays
four-6fths of the taxes of all West Ten
nessee, and embracing population
greatly in excess of all others in the
State, is cut off with only two members
that she can call her own. Her Senator
she shares in common with Fayette, and
her Floater she shares in common with
both Fayette and Upton. So far, there
fore, as Democrat would make it ap-
pear that Upton furnishes the largest
proportion of the population represent
ed by the Floater, he misstates the facts,
and would perpetuate the injustice to-
ward Memphis.
In 1880, the population of Shelby was
not half the number that it is to-day, and
yet it has no more representatives in the
Legislature now than was conceded to it
forty years ago. Can Democrat sag
as much for Tipton-that was then so
small that it had no right to one repre-
and has made no such pro-
gress as Shelby has since? But the
strong ground on which Demo
crat' asks us to give away
our just Representative in the General
Assembly is, that unless Upton
has the Floater their home interests will
be msrepresented Not so. Did the
home interests of Upton suffer under
who was from Fayette? And
why is it more likely that they will be
now by Shelby county
man than they were under Sherrod? But
if any community is to be "misrepre-
sented, had it not better be Upton
which has so little interest to be repre-
Shelby, which has such vast
and complicated interests and is unjust
ly shorn of her fair representation on
account of the unworthy jealousy against
Besides, has not Upton her
just share of representation in the Sena-
torial district, while even in that body
Memphis has been despoiled of her Just
rights? But there is way open to pre-
vent all controversy Mr.. McCloy is an
old citizen of Upton, and is as much
identified with the people of that county
rs any other who aspires to represent
their interests in the Legislature He
has large interests in Upton, and is
.he second choice Of every Demo
,rat in that county, and the first
choice of many He now lives in
Memphis, and carries on business in l
10Th Upton and Shelby counties. |
he is acceptable to the people of the I
,ntire Floaterial District He has been
ndorsed by every Democratic journal in r
he district He is honest, capable and
aithful, and possesses all the elements /
hat are necessary to make most faith l
ul representative. Why not, then, cease
over this county or that and
mite upon the only man who can poll
he $500 Democratic votes in Upton and
he 10000 in Shelby with all that there
re in Fayette? With McCloy as the
standard hearer. strength
nd not weakness Is added to the ticket.
.et us, then, harmonize all differences
y selecting both Upton and Shelby
ounty man, in the person of W. A. Nc a
10y COMPROMISE.