Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-04
Judge Morgan's Statement.

Judge MOrgan's Statement.
In Sunday mornings issue Of the AP-
PEAL appeared communication from me
upon the State debt question and the recon
ciliatiOn OF the different wings OF the Demo-
cratic party of the State. In that article my
purpose was to be conservative and concilia-
| tory. Many friends have commended its
tone. / impugned the motives of no one.
said that this vexed question ought to and
could be settled inside of the Democratic
| party. This was the purport of the article.
On Tuesday morning there appeared in the
AuoLanehe the following editorial:
Private r: J. Morgan is an Amiable straddler
| debt question. A sort of Jack Bunsby with a
| Bunthorne feature, who keeps a weat er-eye on
right-a little more to the left-Mrs. Wragge-
young man. who perhaps has small hopes that the
senatorial lightning may again strike q dark horse
as IL did last winter
This editorial appeared in Tuesdays issue
of the AralaHche without any reference to
my article in the APPEAL. 1t was often
sive to me- and would have been to any gen.
tleman. My personal relations had been
very pleasant with the editor of the AUa-
idnche for several years, and with the pro-
prietors. During the whole of Tuesday /
said nothing about this editorial, except to a
very few friends, thinking that probably the
offensive article had gotten into the paper
without the notice of the editor, and that
Wednesdays issue of the Avalanche would
have some reference to it that would explain
it. There was no reference to 1t in that
issue, but criticism upon my article in the
APPEAL. This criticism, while in itself
not particularly offensive, there was suffi-
cient in it to show that the editorial of the
day previous was deliberate and intended to
wound me. 1 made up my mind, after ma
ture elaboration, that j would not submit TO |
such outrages. / called at the editorial |
Il IL l..
alone. l found the editor, Mr.. Nichols, in. |
stated to him that his editorial |
of the day before offensive to me;
that l could not comprehend it /
or its purpose. He stated that he
thought it was legitimate. 1 went on to
show him wherein It was offensive. He then
said had begun the matter by allusion to
the Ardianche in an offensive manner at the
Operahouse in speech made at the ratif-
cation of the Hadden ticket for municipal
offices. | said there was nothing personally
offensive in that speech, and that if he had
heard it he would have thought 30, but at
any rate he had disclosed motive for the
attack in the editorial referred to, and that
he could not place it upon the ground of just
and rightful criticism. / then said to him,
with emphasis that / would not submit to
such editorials, and that would hold him
personally responsible if they were contin-
ued. This is substantially what occurred,
and the language was unmistakable.
On Thursday morning the following edi-
torial appeared in the AUaIanche:
R. j. Morgan called on the editor of the Araiancie
at his office on Monroe street. and in a grave
and determined manner informed the aforesaid
printed in Tuesdays Avalanche:
Private R. J. Morgan is an Amiable Straddler
and something of Artful Dodger on the State
debt question. A sort of Jack Bunsby with
Bunthorne feature who keeps weather eye on
QDrni n = A % q |
right-a little more to the left-Mrs. Wragge-
lightning may again strike dark horse
The editor said he did not think there was any
hing in the article derogatory to the judge. The
udge seemed to think differently, however, and
he paper about him he would hold the enitor {
1ersSnally responsible or words to that effect
! neither by sS ton OF He be. by me code" or by
tate This threat, of course rendersit absolutely
ength and breadth of the above paragraph: |
,traddier:' A propounder Of views on the State
iebt question who does not precisely define posi-
erm frequently applied 10 supporter OF the I
i'd time trimming policy OF the Democratic party :
very W Nth rthy gentleman Who was in The habft Of
'romulgating profound and oracular opinions c
rary aestheIe who had clever knack of tacsling t
he most abstruse political subject with empty and
espectabie old female who wabbied on the sud.
con, and who WIS immortaliZed by Charles Dick
ms, Esq. The Democratic policy off going
tile that way toward liquidation was doubtless y
his phrase is Internationally withdrawn. 5. 1t
not an improper motive in any citizen 10 aspire
} the high and honorable office of United States
enator or to the equally honorable Office of COVER
or of the state of Tennessee Hereupon. in order
reconcile these differences OF opinion between | e
ld meaning of the alleged offending paragraph,
le Avalanche hereby agrees to submit II to high
Law
nd six Journalists the members of the commits
on to be e., selected BY the Judge himself The t
the parties OF the first and second part n. B. -
1ldoze the editor of this paper on account Of so
ivial ''bit of pleasantly as is contained in the
lending paragraph above quoted n B~No .
he judge is wont enjoy his own little bit of
easantTy" with great gastO, and he should have
$50 re- viii n1n-e nhi1oso a n..ie oit ol
Tineed in this instance, but if he is sensitive
bear 1t he should bear it as well as he can.
This editorial was an sggravation of the :,
.ticle of Tuesday, and more offensive than =
lie first. Many of my friends said that
was an outrage upon me. l was deter =
ined to act IN this matter very prudently l
Id not place myself in the wrong. On
thursday one OF my most intimate friends
nd q gentleman of high character in this /
immunity, came early in the morning to /
Y Office and asked me to take no steps in
lie matter, and not even to make up my
ind at to what l would do until he saw me
the afternoon. / consented to this In 4
lie afternoon he came to me and said that he
i'd two other gentlemen had seen Mr..
ichols, the editor of the Avalanche, and that
! had reason to think, from that interview.
at there would appear in Fridays issue of
e ApaIdRche an editorial that would be sat- 1
factory to me and my friends. / rested
thursday night satisfied that the mat
r would be amicably adjusted. Fridays
sue had nothing satisfactory, but an arti- 4
:, evidently intended as a vindication
his course and his assault upon me per- j.
nally. After the article of Friday morn
g several friends of high character came to
2 and requested that meet them at l
,lock. l met these gentlemen; there were to
ven of them-gentlemen of the highest &c
rsonal character in the city When | met