Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-11
COLONEL YOUNG'S SPEECH.

Colonel III. Casey Ioungi tue Demo
cratic and Conservative nominee fol
Congress in this district, was serenaded
I last night ct the Peabody Hotel, A
crowd of more than one Thousand per
sons shortly assembled, and Colonel G.
w. CAN'T introduced the nominee to his
enthusiastic friends in few highly fe'
licitous remarks. Colonel Young re
sponded in brief and eloquent speech
which was substantially as follows;
Friends and Fellow-citizens:
II, in the coming canvass, should be
fortunate enough 10 meet only half the
expectations which may be created by
the eloquent eulogy which my friend
Colonel Ga NIT has just pronounced upon
me, / shall have comprised the full
measure of my ambition. When |
was an obscure little boy, living in the
humble country house where was
reared and lived almost to the years oil
manhood, / sometimes dreamed of a
brighter future, when for some good deed
or meritorious action | should be re-
warded with the applause and common
dation of my fellow countrymen, but in
the widest visions of my early youth or
the most sanguine anticipations of ma
ture manhood, / never conceived Of the
generous good feeling and warm affec-
ton which. the people of Memphis have
this night manifested toward me.
While / feel profoundly grateful for
this demonstration OF popular confidence
and Just, and / think, pardonable
pride in the high distinction which has
been conferred upon me. yet have not
the vanity to believe that 1t is an ovation
rendered to me TOR any personal virtue
which may possess or for any peculiar
hold which / have upon popular afec-
ton, but | feel assured that it is in
homage to the principles of the great
political party which has recently sent
me forth as its accredited standard
bearer in the approaching contest for a
seat in the next Congress of the United
States.
When few days ago. went before the
convention assembled at Bolivar, | met
as my opponents many gentlemen
who would have borne the
banner of the Conservative party
with more ability than / possess,
and who would have reflected great
honor upon themselves and their con-
stituents as members OF the National
legislature. But fortune smiled upon
me, and l, by chance, received an honor
which would have been well bestowed
had it fallen upon any one of my oppo-
! nents. 1t is a subject of great regret
with me that, though | have lived among
you for the greater part OF my life, |
have for the past few years been so much
engaged with the duties OF my profess
sion as to have prevented me from min
Cling with my fellow citizens enough to
have become personally known to every
voter in the city of Memphis. Bat be-
! fore this canvass is over | trust shall
not only be known but loved by them all.
To those who do know me | feel that
need make no appeal; to those who do
not l have only to say, give me your
confidence until you shall have had time
and opportunity to judge me fairly and
Justly. Give me your moral aid and
sympathy, and have no fears for the re-
suit of the coming contest.
This is scarcely fitting occasion to
discuss any of those great measures of
national policy which will engage the
attention of the next Congress. may,
however, say that every measure pre-
scented, from whatever source it may
come, which in my JUDGMENT is calcula-
ted to promote the good of the entire
country, shall receive my hearty and
cordial Endorsement. But, on the other
hand, should any policy be urged, either
by own or the adverse party, which
conceive to be hurtful TO the public good,
| shall meet it with stern and unyield-
ing opposition.
In the coming canvass / do not pro
pose to make war upon any man for
opinion sake. | shall have no quarrel
or petty pickering with my political OPP
ponents; yet / shall feel it duty to ex-
pose their party sins and denounce their
evil teachings / shall en1eavor to con-
vert them to my faith and win them to
my support by a manly tolerance, a calm
and digni6ed discussion of the questions
about which we differ, and before my
term of office shall expire (for feel no
doubt OF triumphant election) / feel a
confident assurance that every man in
this Congressional District will be my
friend and supporter, whatever may be
his faith or creed.
Proud as | am of the high distinction
which my fellow. citizens have conferred
upon me, yet my feelings Of gratifea-
ton are Swallowed with sentiment of
regret when l reflect that my ambition
has been grati6ed at the expense Of
other gentlemen possessing, perhaps,
more ability and greater claims upon
public confidence than it is nv good for
tune to have. 10 the list of nv oppo-
nents in the Bolivar Convention had
the honor to meet some Of the ablest
aud most distinguished men Of our State.
Colonel W. T. Avery, one Of my Oldest
and best friends. a gentleman whose
high talents and warm, generous in.
pulses, have for many years made him
the ideal Of the people Of West Tennes-
see, wss one of the most conspicuous
Of my opponents, and bore himself in
our recent short contest with the courtly
grace which has always marked bis de.
pertinent
Another one who met me with the
chivalry Of true knight was Colonel
Hosea Townsend, q gentleman who
came among us when our sky was dark,