Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-11-04
POLITICAL.
Mass Meeting Of the Democracy
LEAST Efxnt.


hast Sight.
Last night the Gresnlaw Opera House
was crowded with people, all anxious to
hear the Democratic nominees express
themselves upon the important topics Of
the day, both State and national.
Mr.. B. NJ. Estes, acting as chairman
Of the meeting, introduced Mr.. Thomas
C. Lowe, candidate for the Legislature.
Mr.. Lowe delivered q very able speech.
He reviewed the State debt, its origin
and progress, aud its increase Of nearly
nineteen millions by the infamous
B~roEnloW administration. Immense
frauds had been committed by these
men in omnibus bills, ETC., SO as to sad.
Gle upon the people a fraudulent debt
BY the illegal Issuance Of bonds, The
speaker referred to the fact that the
COMMITTEES Of the Democratic Lsgisla-
ture 10 ls69-7O reported that oyer
eight millions Of these bonds had been
issued without the least authority Of law.
Mr. Lowe discussed these points and the
funding ring question in an elaborate
and abe manner, a style that showed
he bqd studied the question and was able
% give facts aud figures to sustain the
position he occupied. In reference TO
the safe debt o. the borrowing power,
be declared it vas his opinion that DO
State officer should have the tFemen-
duous and unlimited powzr Of Dor.
rowing money to pay out one cent, ex-
cept upon the express permission Of the
Legislature. (In this respect Me-. Lowe
is in line with the constitution and the
opinion Of Attorney General Heiskell
upon the late coupsnfpqyipg Of Governor
Pcrter). Mr.. Lowe declared that he vas
not Governor Porter's e%lector, and had
neither anything to say for or against
him. he Aowej being a nominee Of
the party, would vote for Governor Dor
ter aud the entire straight Democratic
ticket.
During the progress Of the speech
Mr.. Lowe was greeted with many ex
pressions Of applause, and as he retireC
he was warmly congratulated by BIZ
friends.
GEORGE B. PETERS.
The next speaker gss Mr.. George B
Peters, who is at present one Of GU
Legislative representative. blr. Peter
vent over the same ground as that fol
lowed by dr. Lowe, but be took a differ
ent road, and presented the question il
many new and attractive phases II
showed clearly that the last Legislator
had been in favor Of retrencbment an
economy, aud had saved the taxpayer
Of the State, and especially Of Memphi
and Shelby county, many thousands {
dollsT5. He referred to the aholisbmen
u county isE-colleotor, and making th
duties Of this Office incumbent upon th
trustee, thereby simplifying the mschin,
| y Of government, and saying to lh
| people over sl95, 900 annually. The o.
/ yerisements in newspapers. and el
i, penses incident thereto, relative TO d
liuquent taxes, cost Shelby county al
nually Sll 900. The Democratic Legi
lature abolished this law, and also tw
courts in Shelby county. Tae judiei,
system Of Tennessee was too cumbror
c and complicated. Another law OF Ii
# Democratic Legislature, Of which he VIZ
q member, repealed the law increasiu
. the feed Of prisoners from forty to sixi
cents per capita daily. This LogIslatuI
also enacted the Law taxing railroad
whereby the State receives a revenue
5000 annually.
% The new charter Of Memphis was aL
" = D beneficial enactment in favor Of reforI