Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-23
Representatives.
mons LoAGuEl NationaN.

Inc sunIGNN VI tAiN ANAAV wins ohNNNA
is one of the members elect from Shell
BY county to the State legislature.
He isat present engaged at his profess
sion, the practice of Flaw. Mr.. League
was born April LIST, 1929; he is a ma
tive of the maiden city, Londonderry,
Ireland, where he resided until the
age Of nineteen during which time he
learned the art of coach-painting, a
circumstance which caused him never
to forget, for a moment, when an OPP
%portunity offered, the interests of the
mechanic and labOring classes. He
i~mmigrated to America in 1874; resid-
ed several years in the middle and
Eastern States. He has been in the
South since 1853, and resident of this
city since 1860. 1t may be said Of
him that he has filed more of the diff
ferent and important Offices in the gift
of the people of this county and city
than any other citizen, either native
born or adopted. In the spring of
1863 we find he was nominated by ex-
Mayor Park and elected by the board
of aldermen as clerk to the assessors,
a position which afforded him an ex-
cellent opportunity to become ac-
Quainted with the people. In June
of the same year he was elected
by the people tax-collect0r on privi-
leges, and reelected in 1876. He
was twice elected a school visitor.
During the military occupation of the
city in 1864 by General Washburne,
who set aside the election by the peo-
pie and appointed others, Mr.. League
was one of seven to whom the admin
istratiOn of city affairs was intrusted.
He was a member Of the State eonsti-
%tutiOnal convention in January, 1865,
and hOnored by that body BY being
elected as one of its secretaries.
On that occasion he earned and re-
ceived the thanks Of his fellOW-citi-
zens for the manner in which be dis
.cusSed the revenue laws of the State
the object Of Observation-Disclosures
on the subject being to impose a tax
upon all purchases. for sale, whether
in or out Of the State. He was suc-
cessful in having the language of the
resolution so changed as to apply only
to the invoice cost Of the goods
brought into the State for sale at the
place where purchased. 1t was on
that occasion he met for the first time
ex -President johnson, then military
governor Of the State, and received at
his hands a most cordial greeting.
On the 2lth day of June, 1865, the
day on which his fellow-citizens
elected him for the third time TO the
Office Of tax-collector on privileges,
his exoellency President johnson ap-
pointed him to the office of surveyor
Of customs for the port Of Mem
phis. He resigned the former to ac-
cept the latter. The able and Impair
tial manner in which Mr.. League per-
formed the duties Of his Office during
the time when the military was giving
way to the civil authorities, secured
for him the thanks Of the government.
He did not, however, continue long in
that Office, but resigned and became
in March, 1866, a candidate before the
people for the Office of County Court
clerk, and being elected thereto he
served his term Of four years ending
April. 1870. In December, 1873. he
was nominated by the Republican
party and elected to the Office of mayor
Of Memphis. During his term Of
Office as mayor the people became
thoroughly aroused as to their con-
dition on account Of their indebted
ness, much Of which was placed upon
them without their knowledge or con
sent, and was illegal and void, as was
afterward shown in the courts of
the State. His administration was
not what we would call an harmonious
one nevertheless, he suggested and
had the satisfaction of seeing many
important reforms. His first recon-
mendation reduced the city's rate Of
taxation from four per cent to $3.50
on each 800 worth of taxable prop
erty. During his term the system Of
police and fire commissioners was in
augurated. The present city charter.
which he contended, if not hampered
by the courts by extraordinary pro-
cesses, would by its excellent pro-
visions soon relieve the city Of al Of
its embarrassments, especially refer
ring TO that portion. of it which fixes
the rate of taxation within the ability
Of the people TO pay. The sufferings
Of the working people, brought on BY
the want of employment, has been the
occasion Of much study to Mr.. League.
and finally induced him to take sides
with the National Labor and Green
back party, with the hope that with the
success Of that party the intelligent
mechanic, the willing and honest la
bOrer might find employment and not
w hbNnANh ID u tlilulildl std
to State often unable, though will
ing to work, to receive even as a char
ity the bare necessaries of life. A.
we said at the commencement Of Thu
sketch, Mr.. League is one of the re.
Gently elected members of the legis.
lature which meets at Nashville OF
the first Monday in January. when il
is to be hoped that the experience h,
has had in our State, county and cit
affairs, when aided by his able asso'
ciate, legislators, that something ma,
be done to place US again on the high
way to prosperity. We do not at chi
time pretend to say what are his view
on the financial embarrassments 0
the city, but we do say that he is YER
grateful to the people for his recen
election and their continued conf
deaee as expressed through the ballot
box.
On the Both of November last MI
League was presented by his Iris