Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-09-12
CONSERVATIVES TICKET.
pv.pRysIpENr JoHNsoKs SPEECH

The popularity OF Andrew johnson
was fairly tested in Memphis last eve
ming. Out of thousand citizens who
listened to his threadbare speech, about
one hundred applauded the sentiments
expressed by the great Comnoner. His
reception in Memphis was anything but
an ovation nor was he received by the
representative men of the city. A few
personal friends, and little knot OF de-
feated politicians, who just now believe
it popular to rail at conventions, clus-
tered around him; and it must have been
apparent to Mr.. Johnson that whatever
adventitious popularity he ever had in
West Tennessee has long since departed.
The speech delivered was rehash OF
those delivered at Nashville, Gallatin
and Columbia. 1t was dreary disserta-
ton on national politics, into which was
drawn the unfortunate Englishman Sir
John Trevor, who set an example to
Grant as gift-taker. Mr.. Johnson com
mented on the public debt-the rights of
States-parties--the homestead law and
the strangling Of Mrs. Surratt. His pic
ture of the latter was graphic in the ex-
IRENE. You could see the armed mob
of Thugs at Washington-the defenseless
and innocent yoman-the grim Presi-
dent in his executive lair : the
bloody military commission = the
spurning of Miss Surratt from the
door of the Executive mansion; and the
crimsoned curtain fell on the Johnsonian
order overriding the writ of habeas cor
pus granted by Judge Wylie. You saw
the choked woman whose body, sewed up
in sack, swayed to and fro beneath the
gallows. Even the lifeless body Of the
woman was withheld, by that Unsuitable
malice which pursues the dead, from the
hands of grief-stricken friends, and was
consigned to earth in the jail-yard at
Washington Mr.. johnson tells us all
this, and more. He referred to the ter
ror at Washington; that his own life was
threatened; that the Attorney General
ION the testimony of the convicted per
jurer Sanford Connover) gave il as his
opinion that the woman should be tried
by military commission-just such a
commission as has been splitting the
blood of French men, women and chill
dren on the plains Of Sartory; that Mrs.
Surratt was fairly tried, convicted and
executed. Mr.. Johnson adroitly endeav-
ors to impress the public with the idea
that Mrs. Surratt was guilty. Yes, he
also endeavored to impress the people
with the idea that Mr.. Jefferson Davis
was likewise guilty Of the Lincoln muir
der when in April. 1865, he issued a
proclamation stating that from evil
dence in the possession Of the
Bureau Of Military Justice. it APP
peared that Jefferson Davis was impli-
Gated in the assassination of President
Lincoln, and q reward of 100000 was
offered for his capture. etc. Mr.. John
sons speech was lamenteble failure,
aud has lost him votes in Tennessee.
His strength in Shelby county can be
estimated by the meeting last evening,
where no enthusiasm existed, and where
only one-tenth Of his auditors Endorsed
the palpable sophistries be expressed.
His strength in Shelby county is just
one-tenth of the voting population, ex-
GLIDING the Radical vote. From. today
the johnson element becomes weaker
and weaker, ana the political strength
Of that true Tennesseean, Frank Cheat
ham, will grow with wonderful rapidity.
Andy johnson will be badly and de-
servedly defeated in West Tennessee
and if the people of Middle Tennessee dc
their duty the Johnsonian air-bubblt
will he exniodad foravar