Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-29
GAN SUCH THINGS BET

CAN SUCH Thlhuo DE
To the fraudulent instruction
vote, which was placed in cigar boxes
for Andrew johnson for United States
Senator, at the late election, we have re-
ferred every day during the past week
We have told Of its monstrosity. and
have published communications from
our citizens to the same end. But Of the
action of some of its msnipulators to
make il binding and effective upon onr
Legislative members, we are going to I'M
fold q most remarkable phase of the
matter. which has just been related to
M by reliable authority. To the amaze
mept OF Democratic veters here, we
learn, It appears at this late day that
their selected Representatives have
signed a paper handed them by Mike
Waldron, one of Johnson's partisans in
this county and the Chairman of the
Democratic Executive Committee,
the contents OF said paper being
10 their constituents even now
unknown. Why was it not made
public before the election; and
what. we ask, even at this late hour,
does il contair2 If they desired in
structions as to who was the choice Of
the people for Senator, so that their
votes should be cast in accordance with
that choice, it was plainly duty to have
published the agreement they entered
into with Mike Waldron; for it is fact
not susceptible of being controverted
that the friends of Brown, of Bate, OF
Stephens, Of Savage and of others,
almost 70 complete silence, refused to
inter a voice in thSt election. And why
so? Because those of our Democratic
ueopls who wished to leave their Repre-
sentatiyes uniustructed we're told it was
simply unnecessary to vote at all, for
that it took a majority of all the votes
cast to instruct" for anybody. Colonel
Stephens, for illustration simply, did
not get twenty-five votes at the
cigar boxes, when it is known
that be can get, under any ordi-
nary circumstances, a far greater
Endorsement of the Democrats Of Shelby
for the position Of United States Senator
or President. But yet, We are told.
under these peculiar instructions Of
Mike Waldron. our Representatives are
going TO vote for Andrew johnson. We
cannot believe it. for we have an abiding
faith that they are too fair-minded, tc o
well qualified to Judge, and too honor
able to misrepresent the Democratic
party, to conclude this case in such
manner, when the testimony which bears
upon it most strongly adverse has not
even been asked from those who would
enter q protest, and who are entitled to
their respect. We ask Of these Legisla
tors, in no spirit Of unkindness, but ask
them as the chosen power to reflect the
will Of the party which elected them, to
weigh well their action in the matter
Of United States Senator. Gentle
men, we ask you 10 again hear
the facts which surround this cigar
box instruction" II is ineontro-
VERBALLY in proof and from most
unexceptionable Democratic Witnesses
that there we're many others besides an
ex-United States official who cast votes
into the johnson repositories on election
day. Take the testimony Of those
Judges who had charge Of them as the
" side show" Of legal ballot as TO how
many negro votes were dropped into
each? Inquire how many Radicals, like
Patrick Winters, were busy instruct
ing" you Democrats in these boxes,
while they labored from the opening to
the close to defeat your whole ticket
with Etheridge's Independents, at the
authorized polls To the people Of this
State the question of who shall be their
Senator ia the most. serious one which
will be presented to the General Assem-
bly,, for we have been without one since
our restoration 10 the UnioR; and 10 the
Representatives Of Shelby county there
are turned not only the eyes Of the
whole people Of the State Of Tennessee,
but of America, for il has gone from one
end Of the county 10 the other thai
theirs arefhe votes which shall deter.
mine whether or not, for six years, An.
drew johnson is to be made United
States Senator to impede the progress Of
the State and prejudice the nation
against her welfare. Can it be thai
Mike Wsldron holds so uRheard OF
pledge from the Democratic Representa-
tves from the great county Of Shelby
UNITED STATES SENATOR.