Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-10-28


In December, 1858, when the Legislature
of Tennessee was discussing measures OF
relief for helpless railways, the Messrs.
| Cooper, who have since become somewhat
famous in Tennessee politics, defeated the
| bill, The measure was reconsidered n
again discussed in the General Assembly
on the following 10th of January. Henry
; Cooper hsd been spending some time N
| New York, and returned TO an
| active opponent of the bill. He and his
| friends did all they could to defeat it.
They stood firmly by the bondholders
who had bought the discredited Brown
low bonds on their own terms. We adj
vert to these facts because they may ex-
plain others to be hereafter developed at
Nashville. But a more important subject
for the consideration of the legislature is
found in the conduct Of McGhee's ring.
Brownlow had made his arrangements for
the prompt payment in New York Of in
terest on Tennessee bonds. he author
lied a distinguished citizen of Tennessee
to announce the fact in Wall street. The
declaration Of this purpose OF Governor
Brownlow appeared in the Times and in
the Herald, and Tennessee securities
went up, At that time McGhee's ring
were buying mineral Home" and other
spurious, frsudulently issued Tennessee
paper. This announcement in the New
York paper was eminently distasteful to
the godly RI lg. Brownlow's bank in New
York was already supplied with the
means Of raising money, and Wall street
knew that the credit of Tennessee would
be protected. What was done by McGhee
and his associates? They filed a bill, in
some corrupt New York court, and abso-
lutely prohibited Brownlow's bankers
from paying the July interest. Tonnes
see bonds again went down, and McGhee's
ring "went in" Was it not a foul shamef
Ahslfdozsn fellows in Wall street subor-
dinate the fame of q great State to their
own petty selfish purposesl And what is
McGhse doing to-day? he sits by Govern
or Brown, sleeping and waking, and fills a
place on the floor of the House, and with
a grimsce, pirates about the ssnctity of
the States faith. The devil on the noun
tain offering brides to our Savior was the
impersonation Of no diviner modesty than
this Of Charles McGhee. He has achieved
his unholy ends. He used rotten bonds,
bought at rotten prices, defined by rotten
agencies, to pay the debt due by his own
road of which his stockholders have been
prsbsbly robbed, and now, when other
roads would redeem themselves And the
State by the absorption of evidences Of
State debts, Mr.. McGhee lifts up
his oily voice against it. Let General
tell why he exchanged State
bonds, the new for the old with
McGhee, how much he paid for the &C.
oommodstion, and her let us inquire why
McGhee could use bonds in settling with
The comptroller that were valueless in
Msney's hands.
Mr.. MCGEE, if he will not resign his
Iest in the legislature, should at least be
while this question of taxation is
discussed. He is the last man who should
lsve proposed to force West Tennessee
Dads into Tom Scott's pocket by restrict
ng terms and conditions of settlement
With the State; snd we would fsin hope
some friend OF MI. McGhee will sd-
Use him how to conduct himself.