Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-17
THE BLUES
Hold a Small Ratification Meeting at
the GreenIaw OperahOuse Last
Night.
The Plight OF One Of the Speakers
Speeches by Judge Wright and
Others.

The sky-blue people had limited "rati-
6catiOn" last night at the Greenlaw Opera
house. About $50 people were present,
most Of whona VIII vote the straight Demo
cratic ticket Most of them were attracted
by desire to hear Judge A. Wright, whose
views on public questions are always enter
tanning. The meeting was an unlucky one
in many respects. The first speaker, Mr..
S. L. Wilson, recalls an anecdote concerning
q man who was booked TO make speech on
an important anniversary.
"Ladies and gentlemen" said be, i'm
pressively, "forty years ago this was howl
log wilderness" Pause.
Forty years ago this was q bowling
wilderuess'-in a louder tone of voice.
"Forty years ago this was bowling
wilderness, and wish 10 hi ii was howl
:ng wilderness now"
Mr.. Wilson was fully as unfortunate as
this orator, but he didn't use any "cuss
words.D He was the first speaker and he started
off very we'll, but after few sentences his
supply of language gave out and be had to
draw out his manuscript and refresh his
memory. Hardly had he got started
second time before he stumbled and had to
be picked up by his manuscript again. The
audience had now become hilaIious. The
speaker made several fresh attempts TO
storm the rampaIts of oralory, but the
crowd was in a funny vein, and he had to sit
down and give place 10 Mr. w. III. Robin
son, one of the candidates for the Legisla-
ture on the sky-bIue ticket.
Mr.. RoBtNsoN's REMARKS.
Mr.. Robinson said ne wss only scouting
before the heavy guns which we're 10 follow
him. He said he would briefly refer to the
State debt. Every Legislature had ratified
the bonds issued and declared them valid.
The question with the people was whether
the people would indorse a settlemeut or
tender. The June tender a subterfuge,
and if the veil was taken away you would
fud the form of repudiation in The en-
braces of Edward Shaw and John II.
Savage. This was the Savage who yir-
tuslly wanted to repudiate the National
debt "God forbid" said the speaker,
that the mantle of Shelby's senator should
fall on such unworthy shoulders. He urged
that the settlement of the debt be sustsiued.
He did not intend TO indorse the last Legis-
lature. He did not know whether il had
been corrupted or not; the people were not
interested now in the morals of that Legis-
lature. He urged the young men, who bad
the same hopes with himself, to make last
rally in behalf of State credit. He called
attention to the school system, and said that
it was cumbersome and ought to be simpli
fed. The people needed fewer managers
and more concentrated effort. 1t should be
modelled after the Taxing. District govern.
meni, which in his judgment was the best
under the SUM-
When Mr.. Robinson had concluded Mr..
Wilson, faint but fearless, still again came
to the front, determined TO knock the stuffipg
out OF that speech.
COME AGAIN.
Mr.. Wilson said it was his purpose to ad-
Il lalhx h.. q
the day. He had been chosen by the true
Democracy of Shelby as a candidate for the
Legislature, and it was a source of pride
to him to be associated with such list
of honorable gentlemen. At this point Mr..
Wilson had considerable difficulty with his
manuscript. The boys in the audience be-
came hilarious, but the speaker kept
bravely on. He said that the whole
State of Tennessee couldn't run him from
the platform; and he continued pluckily on
until he had finished. Mr.. Wilson very
frankly stated that he had never made
speech before, and did not have his facts
upon the end OF his tongue. He rs evidently
q 10 anly, modest fellow, and he has no rea-
son to feel Inundated because of his failure
to speak glibly. Loud calls were next made
for
JUDGE A. WRIGHT,
aud after a stirring bit of music from the |
as follows:
The embarrassment of his friend Wilson |
spoke we'll for him. Some of the most prom |
inent men, the finest orators he had ever |
known, frequently sat down overwhelmed |
with confusion. Mr.. Wilson would do better |
when he got under way. The speaker said |
be would fret address the audience upon the |
State debt. Every citizen ought to ascertain
or himself whether the State owed the debt
NJ NOT He wanted IN know If thera
my instance of a calamity overtakiDg a
lebtor, destroying the debt? That was
that should be addressed /
o the creditor. He wanted first TO dis
FUSS the railroad debt, as there was
,ut little controversy about the other part of
ne debt. EleyeH railroads had proved de-
inquent, or in other words didn't pay their
interest. A receiver was consequently APP
pointed by the governor. The roads lost |
money for the State. This state of things
lad to be stopped. He said he would dis
pose of the eleven railroads, and he would
how that every bit of the railroad debt was
WED by the State. There were hundreds of
heories about these bonds, but the question
vas a very simple one when understood.
Hundreds of wild men were running over
he State and they didn't know anything
bout the question. With others he was ap-
pointed as a commissio uer to sell out these
oadr They could not make q sale; and so
exported, unless bill in equity should
,e filed on behalf of the Stale, in
which all parties interested should
We brought before the court. II was
simple question as to whether the mort
,sge should be foreclosed and a fee-simple
o the roads be given TO the purchasers. A
ale was made and confirmed by the
Jhancery Court. Unless it could be shown
hat the decree was void, then the State
wed these bonds. These bonds were scat
cred all over the world. He heard Savage
ay the other night that personal debt was
more sacred than a security debt. 1t was
lot true. The amount due by the eleven
Dads was $500 900. The only remedy
he State had was to sell lhe roads. That
ettled that question. He now proposed 10
ettle with the seventeen other railroads 1t
vas concluded by the State that probably
he had better get rid OF her connection with
he road-. Ii The State thought these bonds
we're fraudulent, she should have reclaimed
hem before they got into the hands of inno-
cot parties. He said Gov. Marks's message
vas heresy from head to heel. There was
lot a word OF truth in the message unless ii
Vere the statement of the debt, and he didn't
'elieve that was accurate. The message was
Eritten, unfortun aiely, for buncombe. Judge
Wright entered into the State debt in detail,
nd when he had finished that discussed the
sriR