Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-25
RATIFICATION.
The Entire Democratic Ticket In.
dorsed by an Immense Mass
Meeting.
speeches, Fire works and Enthu.
sfasm.

Memphis since the Seymour campaign,
was at the Greenlaw Opera House last
night 1t was no tame affair, got up in
the interest of few candidates or poll
ticians, but spontaneous outpouring OF
the people of all classes and professions.
The hard-fsted, practical workingmen
were there; the merchants, bankers and
lawyers were in the crowd; landlord and
tenant sat side by side and listened with
like interest to arguments and appeals
from the champions of common party
and cause.
The house was. brilliantly lighted, and
dazzling calcium light on the balcony
flashed its broad glare several squares up
and down the street on the crowds that
were Aocking to the music of the Old
Memphis Brass Band up to eight o clock.
BY that time the house was filled to per-
feet jam. Colonel j. j. DuBose, Clair
man of the Executive Committee, called
the meeting to order, and moved that
Judge M. l.. Perkins take the chair,
which prevailed. The Judge came for
ward and was introduced to the crowd
by Colonel DuBose.
Judge Perkins expressed his profound
thanks for the compliment. He could
not decline an honor coming from the
Democratic party, to which he was so de
voted. He would act fearlessly, and be-
lieved another local triumph for the
party was at hand. He felt that his task
as chairman of a meeting called to ratify
the late Democratic nominations an easy
one. Like a devout Catholic who be-
lieves in the infallibility of the Pope, he
| believed in the infallibility of Demo-
cratic conventions, come veal or woe,
and would support the nominations
IKE true soldier of the party.
Such he conceived to be the duty of every
Democrat. No convention ever gave
entire satisfaction to everybody. Such
a thing was an impossibility But it was
the duty of every good Democrat to sup
port the entire ticket. If we fail in the
election Saturday we are gone as party
The Judge was frequently applauded du-
ring his remarks. When he took his seat
the reporters of the press present were
requested to act as secretaries.
The chairman then introduced Hon.
W. H. Stephens, who was received with
prolonged applause. He spoke at some
length on the new Constitution. He said
the convention found Avalanche re-
portl that personal liberty was violated
the rights of the people trampled upon;
unjust and oppressive laws in force; the
people ground with taxes; the public
treasury despoiled brave men outlawed.
Our first care was to rectify all these,
and first to restore personal liberty.
| Applause. We framed constitution
restoring the right of suffrage to the
hundred thousand disfranchised citizens
of the State, restricting the power of the
Governor and Legislature, especially
with view to the rascally system OF
omnibus bills, which had involved the
State in debt to the amount of forty or
fifty millions; made it impossible for
legislators to apply the taxes of the State
in railroads or other jobs, etc.; lap
plause1 limited the veto power of the
Governor, etc A voice" How about
negro suffrage?"1 The speaker then re-
ferred to the dissatisfaction Of the mer-
camille interest with regard to the
system of taxation on merchandise
or capital employed in merchan-
dising, and said that so far
as this particular feature of the Con-
stitution was concerned, Mr.. Heiskell
and himself had done the best they could.
1t seemed to him very easy matter for
seventy-three to out vote two. Laugh
ter. If Mr.. Heiskell and himself had
been alone in the work, there is no doubt
they would have produced an instrument
that would have challenged the admira-
ton Of the world; but, unfortunately,
there were seventy-fve delegates. and
they found various clashing interests to
appease and mollify, and they had to
give and take; and, in giving and taking,
The result was, the Constitution, on the
ratification or rejection of which they
were soon to vote. That document was
his candidate, and he would stick to 1t
and see it through, Laughter. To a
great extent it remedie9 Wany evils, and
was alike protective of the interests OF
Inc rich and poor, and of all classes OF
the oeople. especially with reference to
the clause exempting homesteads to the
value of $1,000 from exemption he
was proud of the new Constitution, and
thought there could be no hesIta-
ton in selecting between it and that
of 1884 as it was changed in 1865 TO ITS
nresent outrageous form. If there were
any present who think they can produce
a Constitution more satisfactory in its
general features than that lately framed
at Nashville, the speaker would have
them try. There are many, he said, VINO
can see specks on the SUM- but who OF
them could make the sun, In all It's
glorious majesty. He behsyed the Con-
stitution would be ratified by five 10 one,
perhaps fifty to one. Applause.j The
time would then come when public men
and measures would be created by the
whole people, and not fragment OF The
people. There are some men who would
vote against it on sore-headed principles.
Such be would only compare to the
prisoner In the dungeon who, if offered
his liberty would decline it unless some
one were eBchained in his place.
[Cheers. There is but one thing to do,
to choose between the Constitution lately
framed and that under which we are now
governed. With further remarks TO this
effect. the speaker concluded amid loud