Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-30
rHE coNaREssIoNAL oANvAss.

THE CONGRESSIONAL CANVASS.
| We notice from our Memphis ex-
changes that the members Of the Dem
ocratic Executive Committee for the
Ninth Congressional District have
been called to meet at Humboldt, on
May 5, for consultation. This is one
of the districts which, through diseord
and a surplus of candidates, allowed
the minority to send a Republican,
David A. Num-, to the present Con-
gress. The counties now comprising
1t, cast ii ,521 votes for Gov. Brown in
1872, and 7,193 for Freeman. The
total voting population is 1881, en-
bracing 1888 white and 1901 colored,
the small vote of Lake county
not being classified. 1t will be enticed
that the vote cast was only about two
thirds Of the voting census, while the
closeness of the poll for Freeman, a.
| 1913, to the number of colored voters a.
sol, suggests that the mass of stay-at-
homes in that unfortunate canvass
were whites Anything approaching
full poll would have doubled Gov
Browns majority. From these facts,
the return Of a Radical from the Ninth
District next November, will be an in
exeusable blunder, for which Demo
Gratis will have no one to blame
but themselves. There is no
reason why we should not make
certain the election of seven Demo-
cratic Congressman this year, and We
are disposed to believe that a full vote
in the Memphis district would secure
eight. Perhaps the closest district in the
State is the third, but this very close
ness is likely to induce earnest work
there and secure the proper representa-
ton Of the majority.
1t is only through the Congressional
elections that Tennessee can contribute
her quota toward the needed work of
regeneration at Washington, and this
is an essential portion Of 1t. The cleo
ton of Democratic President, unless
supported by Congressman would effect
little. The Congressional elections
this year should pave the way for sub
stantlal and universal reform in 1876. |
Tennessee's part in the work is to
replace the bulk of her present dele
CATION by men more in accord with the
wishes of herpeople. By cooperating
for county purposes in August, the
spirit of Cancellation and harmony
needed for Interior success will be fos-
tered and cemented
1t is true that a Diversity Of views
on various State topics exist in Our
ranks, but there is a gratifying una
nimity on the objects to be attained.
The suggestions for improving the
assessment and collection laws are
various; but all agree that the thing
to be accomplished is to make
assessments more equitable, the collec-
ton of taxes more efficient, and the
whole machinery more economical.
There are differences as to whether the
rate of taxation can be lowered, and
how far; but all classes are equally anx-
ious to tighten the burden as much
as possible. There are various
opinions about the merits of the fund
ing law; but, being law, its main fea,
lures have passed from the domain of
legislation into that of the Judiciary.
There is a disposition IN some counties
to hold members of the last Legislature
for the enactment of this
law. But this cannot become a State
issue. 1t is a virtual confession that
the people of this or that county
elected men who were either cor
rupt or incompetent-wbo were
either bribed or deceived as TO the
merits of the measure. Even in this ex-
IRENE view it was local evil, with alocal
remedy, and the least we can ask of
them is 70 be sure to send honest intel
igence 70 the next Legislature. Ali
the improvements and emendations
needed In State affairs will be most GER
tain of accomplishment by the majority
of the people preserving control of the
State. To allow our differences as to
the ways and means to result In the
of the Radical majority, would
be the surest way to defeat all the ends
we aim at. Every motive of self-inter-
est, public spirit, and patriotism, COM I
bines with expediency to dictate the
unifcation of the Tennessee Democracy.
THE wOMEN'S KINGDOM.
In the Women's Kingdom, which I
some say is coming, l, projecting my
soul into the future, prophesy that I
great number of "disenthralled" 9
women will become farmers, and, more
over, the very best of farmers. Even