Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-11-13
SHELBY COUNTY.

Nashville American Explains the
Matter.
The Nashville American, funding ring,
high tax, coupon paying, Porter and
anti. Memphis organ contains the follow
ing cheerful explanation in its issue of
the llth instant:
To the American;
MEMPHIS, November 9, l876.--We have
succeeded in electing our Congressional
candidate and our whole Legislative
ticket. Etheridge is again beaten for
the Senate. Dorsey B. Thomas carries
this county by about 200 votes. This
may appear strange, but those who are
acquainted with affairs in this city are
not surprised at the result. About l400
men who voted for Tilden vo'ed for
Thomas and the Democratic ticket ex-
cept Porter. These l400 men did not
like Governor Porter's administration,
especially the payment Of the coupons,
and they preferred Thomas platform of
non.payment and of reducing the taxes
so as only to raise a sum sufficient to
pay the expenses Of the State Govern.
ment and support our charitable institu-
tons. These men, combined. with the
Radicals, gave the county to ThoEas
The Radicals Of this county should
never hereafter say anything about State
credit or against reputation.
A large majority of the merchants and
solid business men Of the city voted for
Porter. Not more than one Democrat in
five voted for Thomas, bat these held the
balance of power and gave Thomas the
county by a majority of 1926. Many Of
the men who voted for Thomas are as
strong Democratic any in the city; at
least, so they say, and | will not coutro-
vert what they say. AS we have elected
Porter by a large majority, and have the
Legislature, and also a Democratic Pres
ident, | hope these men will hereafter
act with us in supporting Democratic
candidates. We have been successful
and we can afford to be %magnanimous
/ hope something will be done in regard
to our State debt, so that we will never
have it again in a canvas to divide the
Democratic party. A great responsible
ity rests upon the next Legislature, and
l hope they will meet it ~manfully.
W. j. s.
Several errors are contained in the
above communication. The whole Legis-
lativs ticket was not elected, Colonel
DuBose having been beaten for the Sen.
atorship by H. G. Smith, and Colonel
M. D. L. Stewart by l. NJ. Hill. The
fourteen or fifteen hundred sterling
Democrats who voted for Thomas did
not combine with the Radicals for any
purpose, because they voted for Thomas
on his low tax platform and believirg
him to be at least as good a Democrat
aSJames D. Porter. The fifteen hun
dred Democrats who voted for Thomas
voted for the nominees Of the Democratic
party Porter ~excepted) on the Demo
, cratic ticket from "eend TO eend," as olC
John Harper said, or from stem t.
stern" as President elect Tilden said
Numbers Of the most substantial mer
chants, bankers and other business mel
voted for Thomas. More than one. fourtl
t of the Democrats in the city did tn
, same thing, as appears from the vot
given to Tilden and the Democratic
vote given to Thomas. The Democrat
who voted for Thomas will hereafter, a
as heretofore, act with the Democrat,
party, to which they belong, but Porter
ism, as developed in coupon.paying
must not be made the test by him or am
other man who rum for Office. II th,
Memphis Porterites cannot afford to b
maguanimous, what of it2 No Democra
who voted for Thomas asks them to dis
play that virtue or any other. Let then
nurse their wrath, to keep it warm 70
future elections ii they please. TIL
Democrats who voted on principle 70
Thomas will take care of themselves.
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