Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-20
DEmoCJRArIc CONVENTION.
CIose OF enc Proceedlngs.

Col. J. J. DuBose, ON the part of each
member Of the Executive Committee,
rendered the resignation of the same to
the Convention.l ~ II III
Geo. r. Phelan, Esq, offered the fol-
lowing:
Whereas, The members of the Execu-
tive Committee have rendered their resig-
nation to this body; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we, the Convention,
accept y With pleasure, and tender them
the thanks Of this body for the zeal with
which they have discharged the onerous
duties of the Office they have assumed
since the last Convention.
Colonel DuBose considered the reso-
luton Of Mr. Phelan unkind and un-
called for, The Committee had not failed
in its duty; he asked the gentleman to
point out one single instance in which it
had failed. He thought the words with
pleasure" in the resolution were ungen-
erous.
Mr.. Phelan offered to strike out the
Objectionable words, when DR.. j. L.
Taylor moved to lay the preamble and
resolution on the table. The motion was
put and lost, when Squire Crews offered
the following:
Resolved, The Executive Committee
of the Democratic party having rendered
their resignation to this Convention, the
same is hereby accepted.
Resolved That the gratitude of this
Convention, and Of the Democracy Of
Shelby county is due to the Committee
for the able, efficient and satisfactory
manner in which they have discharged
their arduous and complicated duties.
Mr.. Phelan said he desired to explain
the resolution he had offered. 1t was
meant to thank the Executive Commit
tee for the zeal which it had displayed
and for its good intentions, but did not
intend to indorse either the policy or
capacity of the Committee. He then
made some statements Of acts which, he
said, had aliessted the bone and sinew
of the party" forgetting that no Demo
cratic victory had been achieved since
the war, save the last one in this county,
except when the Radicals were divided
between Stokes and Senter. h. lf
Col. DuBose, in reply, said that, from
his position as editor of Democratic
journal and as Chairman of the Execu-
tive Committee, he was more cognizant
of the workings of the party than any
other person. The assertions in regard
to the defeats of March and May were
perfectly absurd and ridiculous. The
Executive Committee had worked faith
fully and diligently. had subscribed their
money, and had used every available
means to lead 10 success. The defeat
of the party alluded to was not caused
by any failure on the part of the Com
mittee. The same Convention that
nominated them had nominated man
who happened to be unpopular with
class, and man was brought out
against him. He alluded to Major Press
Strange, very popular and able gentle
man, which act caused division and dis
sension in the Democratic ranks. Cries
of That's So The Committee had to
work against this powerful influence,
and he would ask wherein did the Com
mittee make mistake? AS to the Rad
ical tricks alluded to by Col. Phelan, the
Radicals had three thousand negro voters
that they could vote or concentrate any
where in the county at twenty-four hours
notice. We stood by the party through
thick and thin. As to the enormous
Democratic majority spoken of by the
gentleman, he would like to know where
it is. The largest vote ever polled in
Shelby county was 1885, of which $3.50
belonged to the Radicals Wherein,
then, have we lacked zeal? Wherein
have we lacked capacity? Wherein have
we made a mistake? The attack on the
Executive Committee was unjust; it was
a mere TRADE against individuals, gotten
up, perhaps, for the benefit of some news
papers in this city. He closed with
few happy remarks, which were loudly
applauded.
After rambling discussion between
other parties, the resolutions offered by
Squire Crews were adopted, and the Elk
ecutive Committee reelected to serve
until the next Convention.
Col. DuBose, Chairman of the Execu-
tive Committee of the Democratic party
of Shelby county, returned thanks to the
Convention for the trust reposed in him
and his fellow-workers of the Commit
tee 1t was hard duty they had to per-
form, but they would do it to the best of
their ability and for the harmony and
success of the party Loud cheers.]
On motion, the Convention adjourned
sine die
MAGISTRATE AND CONSTABLE.
When the Convention adjourned, dele
gates from the Fifth and Fourteenth
Districts held a little convention of their
own-the former to nominate candi-
date for Magistrate of the Fifth Civil
District, and the latter to nominate a
candidate for Constable of the Four
teenth Civil District. On the first ballot
ex-Sheriff P. NJ. Winters was nominated
,, candidate for Maoisfrate and Mr. |