Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-01-02
NASHVILLE.
Ii flngwell and Other Prominent Can.
didates for Comptroller
III Work Laid Cut for
the Legislature.

NASHVILLE, TEyS.. january 1. 1875.
To the Editor of the Ledger:
The advent Of the new year is gloomy.
The rain pours in torrents. greatly to
the discontinue Of the ofice-seekers,
who are here numerous and importunste;
at least q dozen or more for every Do
sition, and that many also for every
member of the Legislature now present
in the CITY, All the Senatorial candi'
dates are at the Maxwell House except
Bate, who is q citizen of Nashville. The
speculations as to who will be the sue.
cessful man are rs varied as the prefer
ences Of those who indulge in them. To
be brief and unbiased in giving your
readers the situation. it is not at all On.
couraging to the opponents of johnson.
His strength is an nabrcken phalanx;
his opposition divided in guerilla bands
all fighting him, and some Of them
each other. The opposition is strong
enough to defeat him easily, but 1t will
require concert of action, personal sacri-
fee Of cherished ambition and skillfal
g~eneralship to do 80. 1t is stated even
here, that the vision Of Judas is con.
stantly before the ex-President at this
early stage Of the contest. II defeated,
it will again be his cry, and woeto those
who do not 81 act as to escape that
stigma from him.
Some few members are now here
Bond, Of Haywood. and Cummings, Of
~Tipton-both candidates for Speaker Of
the House, and, ! think, both competent.
Cummings, for a Young man, is a fine
parliamentarian, quick, ready. and agree
able in the chair, and can do as much bust.
ness in the same length of time as any
presiding officer. Bond is of nervous
temperament. and If as we'll posted as
Cummings, is as well qualified for the
Speakership.
Captain Lefingwell, Of Shelby. Gene
raj Dunlap. Mr.. McClung and Colonel
Burch a.e the most prominent for Comp.
%troller.
Colonel Park, DR.. Morrow and Mr..
Doroh, for Treasurer.
Mr.. W. D. Stratton. of your city, is
here and is a candidate for Chief Clerk
Of the Senate, and has fair prospects Of
election.
The State officers are busy night aud
day on their reports.
Governor Porter is expected to.mor-
row.
The General Assembly will early com.
mence on railroads, and a bill to tax
them will be introduced by Colonel An
derson, from Davidson, who claims that
Senator Carpenter, Of Wisconsin. enun.
ciated the correct doctrine as TO their
relative status. which was:
First-Thst railroad companies are
the mere creatures Of law, drawing their
breath Of life from the Law alone, capable
Of doing only what the law permits them
TO do. and holding their lives and their
powers at the mere will and pleasure Of
the Legislature:
Second-That the business these com.
panies are engaged ia is one which even
natural persons could not carry on with.
out permission Of the Legislature.
Third-That the companies are oh.
liged to carry passengers aud freight for
reasonable compensation, and subject
themselves to suit for damages, and to q
forfeiture Of their charters. if they fail to
do so.
Fourth-That railroads are public
highways. the title vested in the corpo-
r%ations, but vested in trust forths St ate;
that the companies are merely the
agents of the State for the operation and
management Of these great highways;that
the money invested by the companies az
compensation for lands condemned, or
right Of way purchased, and to build,
equip and operate the road, is regarded
IS consideration paid TO the State for
the franchise conferred by the State
upon the companies. And,
Fifth-That the charters granted IN.
der the constitution are not protected by
the constitution Of the United States, as
construed in the Dartmouth College
case, but may be altered or repealed BY
the Legislature at any time.
1t will be a vigorous battle between
the people and these corporations.
/ learn also that a resolution TO in.
struct Mr.. Cooper to vote for Grant
subsidies, ETC., for the Northern Pacific
railroad, will be offered. / don't much
think that it will pass, for the Democrats
here don't want any subsidies to corpo-
r%ations to 20 before their constituents
with two years hence. Corn.