Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-24
THE DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMIT.
TEE


would not say q word in regard to the
matter; but when to a knowledge of their
lack Of authority or capacity, is added the
fact of a general deep and growing discon-
tent at them and thsir doings, l feel 1t my
duty to the party to speak freely and
openly in regard to the matter.
The present Committee were appointed,
| believe, at the February Convention.
Since that time we have had a fall Coun-
ty Convention, in April, and yet the Ex-
ecutive Committee did not resign, but
continue to old by the assumed virtue
of their original appointment What is
the end they propose for their term of
office? What is the goal of such usurpa-
ton? Does Washington loom up in their
i-maginations at the end ofa long official
existence, or do some Of them dream of
our humber Nashville?
By the plsinest rule of party ~organiza-
ton, the IN the Chairman of the
April convention called it to order, the
authority of the existing Executive Com
mittee expired by the incidents of its
own creation. During the period of its
sitting the convention had direct and
supreme control of all party affairs, and
when they adjourned, unless they delega-
ted their authority to some special per-
sons, it fell back into the general mass of
the party, TO be brought forward only By
a new convention. The former Execu-
tive Committee had dissolved, and it
is as ridiculous for them to claim
authority under their appointment by
the February convention, as il Would
have been had The chairman of that body
claimed to preside over the elaboration
of the n OF April. There may have
been a mistake OF oversight committed by
the convention in failing TO appoint such
a committee before adjournment, but that
does not revive the former committee.
AS well might the appOintees of coaven-
ions held years ago claim to act by virtue
of their appointment. And however dis
agreeable it may be to any one desiring to
use the partY.prganiZatiOn for the attain
ment of Congressional or legislative
hOnOrs, 1 am compelled to declare that
the persons assuming 10 act as the Demo-
cratic Executive Committee nave no more
authority than any other members of the
party, and that all their acts as such are
but usurpations upon the rights, the Gus
toms and the principles of the party.
For one / protest against it, and believe
that to be the general sentiment on the
subject.
Now, L take it for granted, that as the
Committee is charged with the virtual
management and control of party affairs,
they should properly be the best men of
the party-men Of influence, of expe-
rience, of superior talents and well known
to all classes Of the people. Does any n
member of the present Committee pos
sess any one of these requisites?
Colonel ;. J. DuBose is the head and
front of them in every respect. An an
tagonist who should take him for a mark
from among the lot, certainly does them
more than justice. And yet, what are the
gallant ColOners claims to the leadership
and direction of the Democratic party ?
Does it lie in the giant shadow of his mill
itary achievements cast over Memphis by
the setting sun of Arkansasf
/ gladly grant all he may claim on that
score from those he led in battle, but this
is no claim for political prominence, inter
tegeS, GTmG silent.
Is it on account of the influence of the
little evening paper he edits so well, or
of the vast amount of political expe-
rience acquired by shipping for its col
umns
l hardly think he would claim, or
could, the command of the party upon
any such grounds; and 1 am sorry to say
that 1 believe the public have never
given the Colonel credit for that fire of
genius which can supply experience and
creates Even if they did, the
sll-pervading discomfort at his course and
prOscriptive politics, the defeat of the
party at the March elections by a gross
and palpatle Radical trick, the alienation
of both the foreign and working ele-
ments, and the absurdity of an Imperial
guiding the campaigns of Democracy
would be tough facts to dispose of.
The arrogance of still assuming to act
as leader in the face of these plain facts
raised a sentiment of censure against
him, and he well deserves il, but were
the Colonel to retire gracefully TO the edi-
torial chair of the amusing little Ledger
would find the great heart of the peo-
pie warm for his well-meant, though
eXertions; they welcOme8
the prodigal all tina more merf11y because
wore the Imperial diadem and brought
the fatted calf along wish him, and the
voice which irritated subjects, would give
Joy to equals and friends.
There is another member ofthe commit
lee of whom 1 dislike 10 speak, solely be-
on such a subject silence is the best
but a position of response
frequently secures to its occupant a
Of attention and remark he could
otherwise have obtained:
AS in amber we observe the forms
Of hairs, or straws, or dirt, or grubs,O or worms
The things, vel know, are neither rich nor rare,
wonder how tn devil they got there"
This is Colonel, or Msior, or Mister
James BrizOlari. While no one has any,
hing to say against this gentleman-at
east 1 have never heard unfortunately
40 one has anything to say for him; and
lOt to be known, is certainly the first of
objections to a person occupying his posi-
ion.
He has sprung up with unhesitating as
Iurance, in growth as rapid n green as
lonas' gourd, and we now find him push
our seniors away-grasping the party
lelm with all the rash confidence of his
and inexperienced youth, and ready
mi eager TO pilot the party amid The
torn of Radical opposition, intrigue and
patronage. He seems to regard the DegI-
'cratie party as Ancient Pistol did the
world, sit is the oyster which his sword
hall Ope;" and his efforts have been sue
so far as giving his intellectual
nite, by attempted assistance, TO the
and defeat of the party are con-
True, he is an Italian, and L am {
Had to say we have an increasing number
f these good citizens in Our city, but l l
.eny that the Colonel represents this ele-
nent further han perhaps the immediate /
ircle of his well-knoTn and respected {
and they control hin certainly as {
1uch as he could control them. '
Let him remember, when he TRUSTS s
so boldly before the gray-baired, I
leaders of our party, thai L !
skes the genius OF a god to support a q
abe among the elders. i
These w are certainly example enough {
D prove my charge against the body, es- J
when the body consists of Major
,arbiere, the BOabdil el Chico, whose T
ASKING blade smote the Democratic a
anks with such signal and fatal success t
f others, whose names, in common with C
he other voters of the county, / ana una il
le to remember, and when the only
man on the Committee, Mr.. Goode, Il
as apparently found himself in uncon- il
email company and lost all interest in
These men, save those tine c
lred with imperialism, are to be sure, I
emocrats, but so are others Democrats. +
ham G.. Harris is a Democrat, so is Mat. n
its very foster parent in Shell :
y-so is VIM. III. Stephens, so is Geo. :
ixOn, +. A. Tyler, j. j. WOrsham, John >
lancy, Mich. McGiveny, Arthur K. q
ayler, James Coleman, Il. D. Baugh, T. =
Bleckley, C. b. Church, T. A. Nelson, .
Z. t. avery, A. II. Taylor, w. r Hunt, I
% Specht, A. Seessel, H. M. Lowen- =
elm, 7. B. Micou, T. B. Norment, w. =
/. Harrington, n. d. Menken, B. Vacca- q
and others. And if called upon to y
sumo the cares and burdens Of the d. !,
ction of the party which has honored a
"a sustained them, they cdn not-they !,
u not refuse the sacred trust. Such as :
.ese are the gentlemen who should be y
here Messrs. DubOse. Brizolari and Bar y
ere are. and the mind loses itself in a u
mparison of the vigOr and success Sc n
red by their, direction, wisdom and -
.'pularity, with the inane and Quixotic "
ans and helpless exertions of our pres n
: Committee. W
Next August we are to have an impOr- in
ut election, extending all over the q
ate, for Judges who for the next eight OF
ars will have the Interpretation of our DE-
In the November following we are az
elect members of the State Legislature N
10 will possibly have to elect a United to
ates Senator, and to send some one to re-
ashington to directly represent in m
8 Federal Congress, the interests and w
iniOns of this District. ga
These matters are thus of the most vital 1t,
.portance to the Democracy. They ex- pa
I'd far beyond the narrow limits of our co