Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-26
The United States SenatOrship---
All the Republican Men,
bers for Andrew
Johnson.
Claims OF Isham G.. Harris and
p Archibald Wright Freely Dis.
-r cussed.
More and sweeping Reforms = A
Monopoly Brought Down.
NAsurILLr. pecember q. ls74.

election has intensified the interest in
it here even in their absence. 10 ap-
pearances, prospects Of the aspirants
remain unchanged.
The speech Of Judge Stephens at
jackson was well received, but was Offset
by Colonel Edmund Cooper's before the
Supreme Court SO laudatory OF Mr..
johnson, which from him was ill timed,
out of place, and regarded as exceed
ingly damaging to Judge Stephens, who
is the brother.in-law Of Mr.. Cooper.
General Bate still appears to me formid-
able, but he is quiet, and tojudge from his
personal movements, taking but little
part in his ewn candidacy.
The feature Of the contest, which it was
hoped would be avoided, is even now
cropping out in every circle, when the
election is discussed, and to such an ex-
tent as make it look like contest not
among Democrats, but between the
Radical and Democratic parties. l
allude, of course, to the bitterness be-
tween the friends and enemies OF Mr..
Johnson. A sample of praise and abuse
give your readers not before published,
| but common in private circles. His
friends openly charge that Jere Black,
of Pennsylvania, during the impeach.
ment trial, approached Mr.. johnson and
uositively assured him Of his acquittal
| Il he would send ship to some island
in the Pacific whereby improperly o
"ring" IN Washington could realize an
almost fabulous sum of money. As they
tell it, Andy would suffer his arm sew
cred, etc, before he would do such a
thing, and Judge Black, for that reason,
declined to be of his counsel IN the cele-
brated impeachment trial. Now for the
reverse, which is not praise, but on the
contrary smacks of corruption. 1t is
charged that upon the impeachment
trial. the vote Of Senator was purr
chased by Andy or his friends, and the
money paid through prominent John.
son man now residing in Tennessee, and
that since the acquittal the gentleman
has repeatedly acknowledged having
paid the money.
The strength developed by Mr.. John
son has alarmed his enemies. The eight
RADICAL members, under the leadership
Of Henry r. Gibson, tina representative
from Union, Campbell and Scott, are
for Mr.. johnson, warmly and earnestly
for him.
They are an element Of strength for
him to the number OF votes they can
cast, and Of weakness, because it is a
difficult matter to induce the great mass
Of the people who constitute the Demo
cratic party, to believe that Radicals,
aud especially one so bitter, so violent
and OF so much ability as Mr.. Gibson,
will support for the high Office of Sena-
tor Democrat who deseryes veil Of hia
party and his country. Verify, politics
make strange bed.fellows when the party
associates OF the Twelve Apostles Of
1858 vote for ex-President johnson in
1875
The names of quite a number OF promi-
nent men who are not avowed candi-
dates are freely canvasse,i: Two citi.
zens of your city, Isham G. Harris, who
has national reputation as a states
man, and Judge Archibald Wright, who
has q national reputation as a lawyer;
Judge Marks, OF Winchester; Judge r.
L. Oaruthers, of Lebanon, and Col.
James 4. Bailey, being the best known
Of them.
For the lesser places to be filled the
candidates are very, very numerous.
About twenty for Comptroller, and at
least dozen for Treasurer. aHeng them
Colonel Marsh Rolk, Of Hardeman, q
nephew Of James K. Polk, and worthy
Of bis great uncle, for this common
wealth has no pureF or traeF son than
Marsh Polk.
Thanks to the kindness of another,
am enabled to lay before your readers
some additional measures, which will be
presented to the Legislature:
A bill to reduce the cost Of tax sales,
reducing the fee Of printer, collector and
clerk to twenty-five cents each, instead Of
81 so each, as the law now is, and re-
curing the tax collector only one lot of
each tax payer. instead of advertising
each piece of property upon which taxes
are dde.
To repeal the penalty for non-payment
OF taxes
To reduce the fees of jailers to forty
cents per day for board Of prisoners.
To repeal the law giving 5000 per an
nun to the superintendent Of weights
and measures and public arms. and i'm
posing his duties upon superintendent of
capital.
A bill to repeal the Law appropriating
$500 per annum for purchase Of books
for the State Library
A bill 70 authorize ehsncellsrs to
grant same relief upon allegations in
answer, that is now granted upon cross
bill.
A bill to increase jurisdiction of jus.
tees of the peace to $500 on open &C
count and $1,000 on notes, and TO make
judgments from their lien upon real
estate after registration in Registegs
Office.
A bill to stay the collection Of all |
debts twelve months.
Ii looks as though a rev code would |
be in order after all the reforms Of which /
! laid before your readers, together with /
othefs Of which ! have no knowledge,
will have been passed upon by the Gen
eral Assembly. The poverty Of the !
masses has much TO do with all this.
Change" is needed by almost every
body, and the hope Of getting il by re.
modelling laws is largely INDUCED ia.
The Nashville people last week forced
the street railways into terms. and now
every line land there are several in
Nashville, end not 3 monopoly as You
have in Memphis) charge five cents, as
they are authorized BY law to charge.
Corn.
Anu Dnnu II Al d =. 4 I