The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-01-23
An Interesting Letter from
Memphis.


The condition Of this city is matter of
interest to people in all parts of the State,
as this is Tennessee S commercial metrop-
oils. | am sorry to say things do not
look so cheerful and hopeful here as l
expected to find them. Many houses are
for rent the streets are in bad condi-
ton, the Nicolson pavement, which cost
the city so enormously. is fast getting out
of order, there being deep holes in it. No
steps, thus far, have been taken to I'M
prove the sanitary condition of the city,
in order to prevent future epidemics.
Many persons have very little confidence
in the present city authorities, and there
fore do not look for anything to be done
to benefit the city in any respect. Some
fear the worst, and would be agreeably
surprised if anything good comes from
these men, and if it does | will be very
ready to give them all due credit
Now is the time to improve the SANTA
~ condition Of the city, by removing all
all causes of epidemic diseases, as far as
possible. The cold season is the time to
cleanse and purify the city, Unless steps
are soon taken to remove the filth and
to purify the city, it will be too late.
Epidemics may again come, and then
there will be the painful reflection that
no steps were taken to ward off the dan
ger The mere fact that Republican
city council was elected is not the thing
that is so Objectionable, but it was the
manner of the election, the combinations
that were effected, and the principles up
on which the canvass was conducted, that
makes it so alarming. Whenever the
doctrine is established that elections are
to be carried by promises of custom hous-
es, postoffice buildings, and Mississippi
River levees, then indeed it is lamenta-
BILE condition of affairs. The only plan
for the Conservative or Democratic party
is to have thorough organization, and to
support no one who is not regularly NOM
mated This is the only way in which
we can prevent a complete Radical tri-
umph in this State, as it has already ia
ken place in the cities,
Candidates for Governor are as plenti-
full in this end of the State as blackberries
in summer. Whether any Of the men
now spoken of will get the nomination is
a matter of great doubt. No one should
be thought of who will not agree to sup
port the nominees of the party, for all the
subordinate offices, as well as for that OF
Governor. Opposition to proper organ
izatiOn and to conventions was the cause
of our partial defeat in 1872, and if the
same spirit of Reorganization exists now
as did then the Radicals will carry the
State. Conventions should represent the
people, and to secure this the people in
each civil district should send delegates
to a county convention, and the county
conventions should send delegates to a
State Convention, and this State Conven-
ton should select the best men without re-
gard to who are the candidates. You
have heard, perhaps, that all the Irish
supported the Radical ticket at the last
municipal election. | understand that
this was not the case, but many of them
voted for BUsBY, and if there had been a
regular Democratic nomination, many
more of them would have supported that
ticket There were over 5000 votes reg
istered that were not polled. If these
men had voted, LEAGUE would, in all
probability, have been defeated, 1t is
said BUsBY was injured by the imprudent
course pursued by some of his friends.
There were some reports that he was con-
nected with certain rings, and that lost
him many votes. | have given you the
impressions made upon me in regard to
the municipal election. | do not know,
and have not seen, either of the candl-
dates for MayoF ] would be rejoiced to
know that my evil forsbodings would
prove to be groundless. A few weeks
will show what the present Mayor and
city council will do. Let us hope that
those who look for no good from the pres
ent city council are mistaken in their
opinions, and that Notwithstanding the
combination which elected them, they
may do better than is expected. The
principles ayowed III the municipal con-
test by BARBOUR LEWIS, member of Con-
gress, were absolutely disgraceful, viz,
that it depended upon how the people
voted in city election whether this city
would get a custom house and postoffice
building, and such other improvements as
they needed and were of right entitled to-
1t was downright proposition to bride a
community by Offering them bounties in
the way of public improvements, if they
would vote the Radical ticket. What
effect this Radical triumph is to have up
on the prosperity of the city, remains to
be seen. Confidence is destroyed, and
it will take wise action on their part to re-
store it. They must improve the streets
by making the Nicholson pavement good
they must adopt some strong and decided
sanitary measures; they must elect good
men to offices, who will look only to the
welfare of the city-all these things they
must do if they wish to command any re-
spect. The best and wisest men in a city
should guide its councils. Is this the
case either in Memphis or Nashville ?
Thomas JEFFERSON said, Cities are can
GERS upon the body polite VIII they
prove so in Tennessee