Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-18

Pursuant to a resolution Of the Shelby
county Democratic executive committee
a large mass meeting assembled in Coch-
ran Hall at IL o'clock this morning. The
meeting was truly representative and
such as evidenced the interest, strength
and status of the Democracy of Shelby
county.
Among the prominent citizens present
we're General A J Vaughan, Judge q W
Heiskell, B NJ Estes, County Attorney
Taylor, Judge Stockton, Judge 7 W
Brown, William Harrington, Colonel ]
] DuBose, Henry Lynn. VIM Fl Moore,
Judge Elicit, Major Frayser, Jerome
Hill, Colonel George CAN'T, Colonel
Robert Looney, Hon Luke Finlay, Hon
George B Peters, P NJ Winters. Colonel
J T Petit, Colonel William NJ Duff, N
NJ Brown, Judge john D adams, Judge
Thomas H Logwood, Judge J W Clapp,
Napoleon Hill, Charles Beehn, Judge J
E R Ray, Coloael J W Williamson, ex.
City Attorney Hanson, Colonel NJ D L
Stewart, Captain Tobin, Colonel Josiah
Patterson, Colonel Gregory, Captain W
C Fowlkes, J W Moores, Captain Humes,
B B Barnes, Major Jack Hays, DR. John
II Erskine. ] W Godwyn, Major West
Rhea, Hugh Brinkley, Attorney General
Ksppington of Dyer county, DR. D D
Saunders, City Attorney Walker, Thos
Il Allen, Mayor Flippin, Attorney Gen
eral Wright, and others.
The meeting was called to order by
Colonel John Donovan, chairman of the
Shelby county Democratic executive
committee.
COLONEL DONOVAN s REMARKS.
Colonel Donovan, upsn taking the
stand, explained the objects Of the meet.
log and said:
Fellow Citizens of Shelby County:
In pursuance of a resolution of the
Democratic and Conservative executive
committee Of Shelby county, you are
called together to-day in mass conven.
ton for the purpose Of selecting delegates
to represent you in Nashville, on Wedues
day, the Goth day of May, 1878, to nomi-
nate candidates for Supreme judges of
your State. The term of your present
executive committee having expired it
will be your duty to elect their successors.
| indulge the hope that your action to-
day may be governed by wise and patri.
otto motives, and may be conducive to
the best interests of your county and
State. of harmonizing all elements OF
the Democratic and Conservative people
of this county. | now declare the meet.
ing ready for business, and the first thing
in order will be the selection OF your
presiding officer.
PERMANENT CHAIRMAN.
Hon. Luke Finlay nominated Judge
J. W. Ciapp, aud Colonel NJ. D. L. Stew
art nominated Judge Tom W. Brown for
chairman. Judge Clapp was selected
chairman, and beieg escorted to the chair
by Judge Elicit and Colonel Estes,
made a few remarks, ssying that this was
the first time be had ever been a mem.
Der, much less q chairman, OF such a con-
vention. The stability and intelligence
of the meeting established the fact that
the great Democratic party was souud
and awake to the great interest OF justice,
liberty and freedom, which it has ever
protected and advocated from the date
Of its existence. The Democratic party
had clsnored for peace, and attempted
to stay the hand Of violence which went
outsid, of the constitution. This great
party, which had endesvored to recon
cile all sectional strife and has
done all it could to bring back
the government to its ancient land
marks, was 6tly represented to-day.
Never at any time was more determine
ton, energy, unity Of sentiment aud bar
mony Of action required. While De.
mocracy might diGer relative to little
personal matters, every Democrat
will rally and stand shoulder to
shoulder with each other in mat.
tiers Of Importance. Judge Clapp
referred 10 the Importance of the selec.
ton Of go)d men to the Office Of So.
preme judge. 1t is our interest as much
as the interest Of the man in Masaachu.
sets to do as much as we caa for the
preservation Of the republic aud the
maintenance of its institutions. We
would be derelict to the highest obligs.
tions Of men did we not c]riticise the con
duct of public men and seek to preserve
the integrity Of the Judiciary. He asked
the aid Of the convention in the admins
t%ration Of hi; duties, for he knew no IAN.
didate, no friend, no man. He asked a
consideration and fo%rbesrance, which be
was assured wcul1 be accorded. The
next thing was the election Of a perma.
nent secretary.
On molten of Jerome Hill the meet.
ing elected Henry J. Lynn permanent
secretary,
W. W. McDow wei moved the appoint.
ment Of a committee Of one from each
ward and district to present suitable
names for members OF the executive
committee.
Hon. Luse Fulay moved that this be
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