Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-25
Full and Official Report of the Pro-
ceedings at Nashville.
Platform AdOpIed---C0IOneI IL,
M. Edwards Nominated
for Governor.

The national greenback laboring
mems party met in the house Of repre-
sentatives at Nashville, Saturday, May
%. One hundred and twenty-five
delegates, including five colored, were
present, each district except one in
the state being represented
The convention was called to order
by Colonel. A. j. Kellar, of Memphis,
who said:
As chairman of the state executive
committee of the national greenback
party, it is not only my pleasure, but
duty, to announce to you that the
committee, appointed on the 22d day
Of May, appointed Nashville as the
place for holding a state mass con
vention, not only for the selection of
delegates to the national convention,
tOmeet at Chicago on the 9th of June,
to select a candidate for the presi-
dency, but also for such other business
as, in the judgment and discretion of
the convention, it may deem proper to
transact. | desire to say just a few
words before we enter into the bust
ness which calls us together. | am
more convinced 10 day than | was in
1873 that, SO far as the south espe-
cially is concerned, there is no politi-
cal, financial nor commercial prosper
ity left to-day under the domination
Of the old party leaders, who are
to-day exhibiting to the American
people a struggle not for measures but
simply for men, 1t may be that dur
ing the sitting of the convention |
will have an opportunity of saying
more, but, for the present, in order to
get to the transaction of business, |
desist. / will suggest as the tempo
rary chairman, Charles G. Moss, of
Dyer county, and move that he be
selected.
The motion was carried.
Before taking his seat Mr.. Moss
said: Gentlemen of the convention:
! feel very grateful to you for the
high compliment you have paid me.
The convention was ready for bust
ness.
WI Conner, colored, of Shelby
county, was appoiEted temporary sec
rotary.
J, N. 0dell, of Haywood, moved
hat a committee of FIVE on permanent
organization be appointed. Carried.
and j. B. Black, j. b. Phillips, Lewis
Tillman, 7. p. Chambers and Writ
Hughes were appointed the commit.
tee. The committee reported for per-
manent chairman H.. NJ. Hill of Shell
by for secretaries, II. S. Bell. of
Davidson, and w. S. Conner, OF
Shelby.
Mr.. Bell withdrew his name.
The committee suggested S. A.
Taylor of Shelby, in place of Mr..
Bel.
The report Of the committee was
then adopted.
Writ Hughs, of Davidson, moved
that a committee Of two be appointed
to escort the chairman to the chair.
Carried, and Messrs. Hughes and Z.
J.. Chambers were appointed.
MIR. Hill said
Gentlemen Of the convention 1t is
needless Tor me to say to you that it
is d source Of great qualification to me
that you should have paid me so high
a compliment as to call me to pre-
side as chairman over the delibera-
tons of this conventions compli-
ment which every member ofthis body
knows, was unexpected and unsought.
And, while | feel unequal to the
emergency while | know there are
men here far superior to myself, far
better posted in parliamentary usage
l would be recreant to what [ con
ceiye to be a manly duty, were | to
decline the honor, for l feel that to-
day, in the capitol of Tennessee. has
been inaugurated a new era in our
politics, q new system in our govern
ment, that will bring forth from the
body OF the people a class ofrepresen.
tatiyes, who know the people, inter
ests, and their rights, and dare main
tain them Independent of the sneers
of the great leaders of the democratic
party; independent of the taunts and
jeers Of the leaders Of the republican
party; Independent of the bribery and
corruption Of railroad mOnopolies.
who have controlled the deliberation
of the state legislature from 1851 t
this blessed hour. Hence, here in Tho
light Of this new era in our state poll
tics, do | feel the Importance of tn,
position to which this enlightened
convention has assigned me.
The principles Of the national green