Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-07-27

by General Sale is as false as the heart
which concccted the charge Is black and
corrupt. have always voted the Dem
ocratic ticket; voted for Andy johnson
against Gentry when johnson crushed
Know Nothingism to the earth. And as
to my record on this score ! refer to Pat
e. Meath and Paddy Kearns, who knew
me then and many years before.
The inquiry in regard to my having
voted for Bill Mclean against Captain
Stratton for Tax Collector, was answered
by me some time since through the press,
whilst Taxpayer was in New Or
leans spending his Honeymoon; but
again / will state that did not vote or
work for Bill Mclean, but on the con-
trary, cast my vote for Captain Stratton
in the presence Of reliable gentleman,
who will bear me witness thereto.
In regard to any letter that | wrote to
Bill Mclean, have this to say One
of my friends came to me before the
election and said that Mclean had pro-
posed that if my friends would vote for
him it would give me position in his
office. | declined to enter into any such
arrangement, saying to them that i was
bound by the action Of the Convention,
and should vote for Mr.. Stattop.
Again, in September, 1870, some
other persons asked me why I.was
not in McLean's Office. and said
they had voted for Mclean, and
had fully expected that, according TO
McLean's proposition, | would have sit.
uation in his Office Being almost out Of
employment at the time, and having a
family to support, | thereupon addressed
Mclean q note in December, 1870, ask
ing him if he had agreed with any of my
friends to give me situation in his OF.
fee. He did nos reply to my note, and
never got the situNtion; and if he had
made any such Arrangements with my
friends, / did not then, nor do | now,
know it. AS to the part taken by Mr.
Jones and Mr.. Wright, they can answer
and explain for themselves; but | will
state, however, that if they did anything
in my interest it was done by them on
their own accord, without my knowledge,
authority or consent.
In regard to my taking part in the
movement by the County Court to exact
an exorbitant bond from Mclean, the
charge or insinuation is basely false. |
never spoke to single Justice in regard
to the matter, and appeal to them to
bear me out. And when l was asked by
Mr.. Cherry whether there was any i'm
or risk in his going on Nc
Leans bond, told him none whatever,
that being my opinion then.
In reply to the inquiry in regard to
the part taken by me in instigatiHg the
before the Grand Jury i have
this to say that was simply subpenaed
to 90 before the Grand Jury to tell them
what books were necessary and required
to be kept by the Tax Collector In his
office. | appeared and answered the
questions put by the Grand Jury. This
was the part taken by me, but will here
state that the insinuation that insti-
gated the proceedings by which it has
been developed that thousands and thou
sands of dollars ofpublic money havebeen
does me more credit
than is due me, for if through my hum
BILE exertions, these startling disclosures
have been brought to light, then not only
Mr.. McLean's sureties, but the State and
county and the true tax payers owe me
a debt of gratitude they should not be
slow to pay.
Now, having fully answered, | desire
10 volunteer one statement, which | am
ready to substautiate, and which alone
in this community would have been
sufficient answer to his communication.
That is, that " Tax Payer is no less an
individual than James o. Duff. 1.-THE
remainder of this paragraph is couched
in such personal language that it cannot
appear in the columns Of the LEDGER. ]
| ask pardon for the length of this
article, and say that | shall acrite no
more, trusting that | am too well known
IN this community to require more than
have stated.
Respectfully, GEO. R. POWELL.