Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-26
TIE INSTRUCTION FRAUD AGAIN.

We wish to recur once more to this
outrageous attempt by few partisans
VI one man, TO claim the united support
ofShelby's representatives in the Legis-
lature for United States Senator for that
particular person. We desire to state
the plain facts in the case. A few days
prior to the election, the Executive Com
mittee of the Democratic party, adopted
a resolution by which a primary election
vas held 10 enable the qualified Demo
cratic voters to designate at that election
their choice for the high Office of United
States Senator. 1t so happened, that
az the meeting Of the committee but one
member was present who was not a
johnson man, the supporter OF the
resolution or neutral Us to it. There
fore the resolution which was adj
opted, and under which the eiee-
ton was held, was so entirely in
,yohnson's interest that no safeguard OF
any kind, character or description was
placed on the ballots cast; no names OF
the voters casting them recorded; no
effort made TO prevent fraudclsnt voting,
and on the contrary at the election two
thirds of the votes cast for him were
either repeating votes or Radical negro
votes. In other words, there was not q
single other candidate Tor the Senate
who Of his own knowledge had any COP
ception VI what was being done in
Shelby. 1t was forced issue upon him
and his friends, and farther even than
this, It was an unknown fact to the mass
of the voters, that it would be regarded
in any other light by the Representatives
TO be elected than the merest subterfuge
10 alisy the storm that the Independent
aud Radical candidates, aided by the
nnderhand influence Of Mr.. Johnson's
partisans, had raised. 1t was under
stood, it was known publicly, that the
Independent and Radical candidates
we're pledged to vote for him to q man.
1t was also publicly knowR that Mr..
Roush was the only man on the Demo
cratic ticket who was for him, four-6fths
of the others having solemnly pledged
themselves never to vote for him 10 at
least twenty well known gentlemen
who we're members Of the con-
vention which nominated them.
If an issue was to be tried. if fair.
minded men were konorably seeking af-
ter the expressed will Of their fellow
citizens who were in accord with their
political views, il was alike due TO those
citizens and the honor Of their candi-
dates, that the case In issue be fairly
stated and as fairly tried. Was it done2
Did any public print contain line from
any candidate Saying he desired insirne
tions and would obey them2 Was the
voice Of one Of them heard from any
public stand saying as much2 What
chance then had Mr.. Johnson's competi-
tors to contest with him in Shelby2 Did
one OF them know Of what was going |
90; did one OF them have q single Radical
10 help him1 But it was generally con.
Itrued that the resolution Of the com.
nittee contemplated that majority Of
be voters should instruct-in fact it was
tAted by different members of the com
nittee, that those who desired 10 leave
heir representatives unrestricted need /
lot vote. Casey Young received S84l
democratic votes in this eOunty-vstes
scorded-deposited BY sworn officials in
legal ballot-bOx, properly counted and !