Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-25
rvv VoNINAr1oE LAST NIGHT,

A cheerful crowd met at the Greenlaw
on.ra House TO witness the formslity OF
bringing out candidate for Mayor
There were probably FIVE hundred per
.ons nresent The active participants
numbered twenty or twenty-five; those
,vho voted when a division was called
Cor not more than one hundred and nifty
.ttbe outside. The others were interested
snectators, who occasionally added TO
the enEvenment of the proceedings by
voting "ays" or nay" as their fancy
Oromuted them, when not required 10
rise 10 their feet The assemblage eoa-
sisted mostly of intelligent. representa-
tive meu-the mercantile and probes
siopal classes, perhaps, in larger proper
ton than usual at promiscuous meetings
We are thus explicit that the outside
public may judge fairly to what extent
the voice OF the people was heard. The
6fty.uiue signers TO the call which
hraaeht the meeting about are men who
seldom participate in public affairs,
and on comparing the list with a
,enort Of the meeting, we find lew,
ifapy. of them 10 the latter. II present,
as some of them doubtless were, they did
not take conspicuous part in " hat was
done: but the gentlemen who made mo-
,ious. speeches aud nominations mostly
we think. used to take q part IN Demo
cratic Convsntions with very fair sue
cess 1t also happened that the e'eger
gentleman who carried the call around
for signers was impeiiee to nominate
Major Busby for Mayor, aGd when me
name of John Overton, jrp was
mentioned, thereby creating round
of hearty applause, it occurred TO
this sane gentleman that it would be
a good time to adjourn, but his motion
TO that effect Sas lost, and his iayoSte
afterward nominated. 1t IS, further
more, we'll known fact that many peo'
nile on the street yesterday seemed TO
l,noSy who was TO be NOMINATED, ana eA'
aetlv THAT the mass meeting was called
for The result simply shows that out
of FIVE hundred good citizens aoout
one hundred and fifty were decided
enough in favor OF the nominee to
rise in their places and vote Tor
him. Half as many more sose tel
vote agai0st the nomination. Had the
name of Oveston, or some other good
man, been presented first, he would
quite likely have received a similar en-
dorsement. The expression OF the pub
lie, as far as it went. was highly compll-
mentary to Major Busby, who is wor-
thy gentleman, but it did not ring with
that spontaneous tone which comes from |
the people when they speak authorlta'
lively. The mass meeting, as 1T was
called. committed nobody but those
who stood up aad voted for the
nominee, and not even them. except
as they feel morally bound by Their
voluntary action. 1t is not improbable
that other candidates will be brought
out by their friends also, and when all
are in the field the people can take their
choice, as we expect to do. The press,
we regret to see, is not a uslt on this
important question, nor likely to be.
We had hoped until two or three days
ago to have perfect concert OF action.
But as all are working for the good OF
Memphis, and not from any selfish mo-
lives, we trust that the end attained
will subserye the common interests
of all. Whoever may be elected vii
have TO assume unusual responsibility,
and will be held to very strict account
by the press and people. 1t is not for
us to PREJUDICE any man, or attempt to
forestaIl public opinion. With the next
Mayor we propose, as with the present
Incumbent, to deal fairly aud 70 judge
by his official conduct Nevertheless, We
NAV have somewhat considerable TO say
in regard to the aspirants between now
aud the 6rst day of January, aud The
people will say q great deal on that day
when they make their New Year calls
at the ballot-box.