Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence PUBLIC 1rDona.l

Correspondence PUBLIC LEDGxR.1
WASHINGTON, March /, 1882.
EDITOR LEDGER:-I am really hurt
to think that my reference to Senator
Harris should be construed to do him
injustice. No one admires the con-
slstency Of the whole man more than
your correspondent. His frankness,
honesty Of purpose, chivalrous devotion
to friends, has ever commended itself
to me, and when 1 wrote what l did
| really thought l was paying him a
compliment.
Since he does not defend the Post
master upon either personal or political
grounds, allow me to call his attention
to the charges against her, and to in
sist that there can be no question
about one thing. She should either be
turned out for incompetency, or the
agents who made the report that you
published should be discharged for
lying and conspiracy against an official.
| have given the official charges against
the officer, which | had a right to pre-
sumo to be true. These charges are
denied by Senator Harris. Your cor
respondent leaves the question where
it properly belongs-with the govern
ment.
W
The Stalwart element Of the Repub-
lican party in this section, and possibly
elsewhere, appear to me to be laboring
under one very great mistake, and that
is, that the President is going TO de-
capitate all the half-breeds and reward
the other wing. II Mr.. Arthur we're
disposed to do SO, it is not practical,
and secondly, the policy would be
suicidal. The Republican party is very
strong, but it can no more succeed
divided, than could the Democratic
party in Tennessee. Mr.. Blaine and
gentlemen ofhis ambitions are expert
menting in a direction opposed by Mr..
Arthur. Nov, if a man is a Republi-
can-if he is active, honest and eff
fcient, | do not presume that it will
make a particle Of difference whether
he was for Sherman, Garfield or Blaine
in the past, so that he is in accord
with the leading ideas Of the party to.
day.
Charges are made against prominent
ofice-helders every day that they were
against Grant and for Sherman OF
somebody else. They have no more
weight than the paper upon which
they are written. They are alike, an
insult to the honesty and intelligence
Of the President. There will be no
appointments made by this admins.
tration unless other reasons are as
signed.
| see in your paper that there was
great rejoicing here when the Supreme
Court declared the 100 3 unconstitu.
%tional. 1t is possible that it is true.
but allow me to remark that | heard
Of no jOllifcation meetings, no brass
band demonstrations, mol even a ban.
quet in honor of the event. 1t is .
notorious fact that the entire State
delegation, except Warner on STATE
credit through and through, and !
think that | am safe in asserting that
they are opposed to any settlement
that is not acceptable to the band.
hOlder-that they consider foreiblt
readjustment as reputation and sub.
mission to the people, contrary to tn,
spirit Of our institutions. | do no.
believe that the decision has modified
or changed the opinions of a single
member.
Now, after giving my opinion o
what others think, allow me to say
that while | consider the decision a,
contrary to all Observation-Disclosures
temporarily to the prosperity of tn,
State, the principle settled for the
present, that one Legislature canno
bind another-that the people canno
be coerced to pay any debt, is tn,
wisest, and best decision that was eve.
made by a Tennessee court. | an
sorry that it was not possible for then
to say, I'VE will ratify this settlement
but gentlemen, in the future, you loar
your money, at your peril" cannot
to save my life, see why a State canno
do business like an individual.
The New York Times stirred up
little hornets nest yesterday, in charg
ing that Atkins, Neale and others wer,
responsible for the Star route frauds
The connection between Atkins anC
these Star route frauds is very remot,
not near enough to fuss over. Brad!
asked for appropriations-it wal
referred to Atkins committee, anC
by him to a subcommittee and by thu
sub, committed recommended, anC
passed by both Houses nearly unani
mously, and if Brady misappropriated
il, Atkins is no more to blame thar
the President, who approved it. At.
kins has as clean a record as any gen.
tleman in the House. As to MI
Neale, like Atkins, he is honest to az
alarming extent in the opinion Of al
iobbers. Z. II. B.