Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-20
THE MEETING
Yesterday at the County COuI t.ROeE to
Take Action on the Old City Debt
Well Attended.
The Report of the Committee of Sixteen
Read, and Further Action
Postponed.

The object of the meeting was the discussion
OF the report prepared by The Citiz ns' Com
mittee. OF course there were two opposing
parties present, each OF which was eighty
suspicious of the other. The result was
not altogether harmonious meeting, and an
adjournment until to-day, when the matter
will again come up for discussion. Among
those present were the following:
Thomas II. Allen, H. A. Montgomery, B.
NJ. Estes, Judge Elicit, I. J. Latham, c. Z.
Bryan, r. c. Williamson, President MADDEN,
G. B. Peters, c. W. Frszsr, A. HI. Douglas,
Justice Elliott, Minor Meriwether, W. J.
Smith, Laurence Lamb, Peter Tracy, George
Gillian, Ed Hart, Amos Woodruff, John r
Godwiu' !. n. SnowdeB, Thomas c. Barrett,
D. E Myers, Judge Samuel Walker, King
Poston, Mr.. Jones, P. }. Kelly, Mr.. Gala
CHER, John Overiou, jr., Napoleon Hill, jr.,
Pat Kallaher, w. A. Collier, ]. /. Jefferson,
J. J. Busby, j. ]. Duffy, w. NJ. Darlington,
w. NJ. Moore, J. A. Hayes, W. B. Gibson,
I. H. Milburn, john I. Mess, Capt. Hand
worker, Mr.. Sneed, W. 5. Bruce, Z. y. Snow-
den. Joseph P. Carey, Samuel Watson, Mr..
Mills. Mr.. Falls, w. j. Chase, Z. &. Gallo
way. Judge Eldridge, Charles Sslimsrsh,
CAPT. Smith, Andrew J. Harris, w. F. Tay
lor. Judge Clapp, Mr.. Goodleti, DR.. Good
wear, Minter Parker, j. E. Beasley, p. c.
Bethel, N. Gavin, L. 3. Mcfarland and
many others.
Mr.. julius A. Taylor called the meeting
10 order, aud placed in nomination Mr..
Thomas II. Allen as chairman, who was
chosen unanimously.
Mr.. Allen said he had only heard OF the
meeting to-day, and did mot expect TO be
called upon 10 preside.
Judge Elicit was called upon TO read the
WI
bean published in the APPEAL. When he
had concluded he said:
"The whole argument is embodied in this
report. The committee have not been able
to secure terms favorable to their individual
opinions. Every member has been Impressed
with the idea that il was his duty to make
certain concessions in order TO- insure the
harmony of ali. The pressing irsue Of the
hour has been the settlement OF the debt. l
have personally no interest ia the matter. l
am only a small taxpayer. l have small
family, and / hope before l go down into
the clouds of the valley, to leave that prop
erty untrsmmelled. The question is will
YOU settle? We are satisfied that we have
to accept the terms offered us, or to remain
under the conditions which now embarrass
US. The report is presented in the spirit OF
compromise. Slro3g opinions have been
yielded by various members OF the commit
tee. We know that the report will not suit
all opinions, but we offer it as the most
feasible thing to be done"
Mr. Meriwether moved that the report be
laid upon the table.
Mr.. Oyerton said that motion 10 lay upon
the table was not debata BILE, and he WAS will
ing TO have the matter tested then and there.
Mr.. Meriwether contended that he had a
right TO be heard, and bsgan walking toward
the platform with the evident detention OF
making speech.
Mr.. Ogerlon insisted on his point oforder.
He said the meeting was perfectly willing 10
hear Mr.. Meriwether, but he had shown
discourlesy 10 the members of the committee
by moving TO lay upon the table, which he
knew, W as not debatable. II he would With
draw the motion he could be fully heard.
The motion was accordingly Withdrawn,
and Mr.. l.. B. Mcfarland moved that i've
minutes be allowed each person desiring TO
speak.
Mr.. Julius A. Taylor moved, as an amend
meni, that Mr.. Meriwether be SLOWED TO
speak as long as be wanted to. Carried,
with applause.
Mr.. Peters moved that an adjournment
should be made until next Wednesday or
Thursday. He said he bad kilograms from
IL
they would line for the meeting to be ad-
iourned until next Thursday, in order to
give them a chancs TO be present.
Mr.. Overton wanted TO know whether the
dispatches were sent TO any Ct the majority
members of the committee.
Mr.. Peters said that the dispatches had
been sent 10 Mr.. John r. Goodwin. He
wanted the meeting adjourned so that the
voice of the people could be heard in such
a way as would secure the adherence of the
Legislature.
Mr.. Oyerton made personal explanation.
He said he had just come from Nashville,
and had seen DIR. Porter and Col. Paterson.
Those gentlemen knew of the meeting to be
held, and could have jumped upon The train
and come 10 Memphis as he did.
Mr.. B. NJ. Estes said that If the meeting
waited until next week, it would have the
portIy presence OF Col. Patterson and DIR.
Porter. He said that if Col. Patterson and
DR.. Porter came, they would simply be pres
emit as two citizens of Memphis, and not in
their official capacity as Legislators. Il wss
4 citizens meeting, and he saw no reason Tor
postponemeni because two citizens happened
10 be absent. Those gentlemen could do moth
ing more than expreas their opinions on the
matter.
Col. A. H. Douglass said there was an i'm.
piled reflection on his friend Peters, and he
desired to renew the motion to adjourn. He
first asked, however, that the dispatches
should be read.
Mr.. ]. A. Taylor asked how many repre-
sentatiyes Shelby county had, Two or seveni
II seemed that there were five other repre-
sentatives who had not asked for a post
ponement of the meeting.
pafoKa he motion n adinurn ron Id he mt
Mr.. Napoleon Hill said that it hsd been uu-
derstood that the report OF the committee
should be published several days before the
meeting, in order 10 give the people chance
10 read il. 1t was understood in the mean
lime that no member of the committee was
to take any steps toward defeating ii. II
had been published so as to give DR.. Porter
and Col. Patterson ample time 10 read it.
Col. A. II. Douglass began TO enter into
discussion of the city debt, when he was
reminded that a motion 10 adjourn was moi
debatable.
The motion to adjourn was then put. and
was decided In favor of the ayes by th,
chair. The chairman was evidently in error
as be himself subs quently acknowledged
A division was called for, but the question
was raised as to whether 1t was admissabl,
after the ruling Of the chair had been made
MIR. Estes thought that II was advisable tc
adjourn, anyway. He said that to prolonl
the meeting would increase the confusion i
was desirable to avoid.
As the motion to adjourn had been carrie'
without fixing day of meeting, the bod.
was called together again and adjournm en-
was moved until to-day and carried.
Meeting eff the Committee 10 be Called
II viov of the unisu nd raj andinu regard
ing the time to which the Citizsns' meeting
Yesterday afternoon was adjourned, viii
call the Committee Of Sixteen together thi
saturday afternoon to fix time and placs
for the submission Of our report TO the PEG
mr.