Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-13
NOT GUILTY OF BRIBERY. BUT OF
MISREPRESENTATION.

OUR NASHVILLE c"OTTeapOuututt IN one
Of his interesting letters, which appears
elsewhere to-day, devotes the greater
part of it to the charges made by the
New Orleans Times against the immor-
tai nine of Shelly in the matter Of
United States Senator, and he very
properly defends them against the accu-
sation. The LEDGER has done the same
thing two or three times--in fact, was
the first paper to do so in Tennessee or
elsewhere. We have always believed
and maintained hat the charge of
money corruption against them to be
basely false aud slanderous, and think
that SOM sort of personal malice insti-
gated it's putting forth, and we do not
hesitate to predict that such will be the
conclusion Of the Legislative com
mittee of investigation when its labor
closes. But the clearing Of these Repre-.
sentatives from such a stain will
neve relieve them in the minds Of thou
sands of Democrats here who supported
them in good faith, from the charge of
having shamefully misrepresented the
sentiments and wishes Of by far the
larger portion Of their constituency in
voting for Andrew Johnson as they did.
Nor will it relieve that portion Of them
who had given their promise to different
members of the nominating convention
before it assembled, that under " no cir
cumstances would they ever support
johnson for the high place of Senator.
Nor will it relieve Mr.. Finlay from the
awkward position Of, previous to the cleo
ton, being one Of the most openly
avowed enemies, political and personal,
Of Andrew johnson that we had
on the bluff; Of having on
many occasions produced more sound
and incontrovertible reasons why Demo
Gratis, and especially ex-Confederat,
ones, could not with honor to themselves
support him for anything, and then turn
ing right around and becoming his mos
jealous advocate; and Of leading us q
the party, who still hold to the sam
faith which he so ably preached, c
voting for him at the November electio
under the belief that he had been hor
estly opposed to johnson, when he sal
he was, and that we could safely supper
him in hat belief and trust, which "
did. His own words and acts led us
implicitly believe that though ever
other Representative in the Legislatul
should support johnson, he would no
that he would have resigned the plaC
first and returned home to the peop
who sent him. So bitter was Mr.. Finlt
known to be in his opinions of Johnson
un6tness to hold office at the hands
Tennesseeans that when the Democrat
County Committee chose him to gil Il
place on the ticket made vacant by d
withdrawal of Mr.. George R. Powell Il
Avalanche kicked up a terrible re
about it. SO intense vas Mr.. Finlay
hatred Of Andrew Johnson when be II
against General Cheatham for Congre
from the State at large that be wanted
well-known Democratic lawyer of Il
city to eject a young ex Confederate W
was reading in the Office into the str,
because be had voted for the form
The clearing up Of the charge of "brib'
and corruption" Of which no one abe
here for one moment ever entertained
slightest belief, we repeat, will not
fend these Representatives against
charges we make and which we can
tablish before any committee on ear
nor will it defend Mr.. Finlay's stral
attitude to hundreds Of his friends h
who ave him their support on the be
that when be protested to be the politi
enemy Of Andrew johnson he wo
never prove anything else. The lii
stone hills around the State capital
not furnish enough material to
whitewash the charges We make now
have made all along against the -"
mortal nine"