Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-01-25

To The
We are glad 70 believe, from all the
i~nforlaauon we obtain from every quar-
Ter. thai there is a very general DISPOSE
ton on the part Of old proprietors, to
give the freedmen a fair trial during the
present year. Notwithstanding the
demonstrations Of entire unreIiabiliry,
OF which last season furnished such an
abundance, creating a bad state Of
feeling, the old sentiment Of kindness
towards the inferior which generally dis
ringuished the late slave-owners has
been revived, and the prospect now is,
thar qUiUe a fair breadth Of land
viii be put into cultivation, with
reasonable r0spectsO of producing average
crops. The freedmen, themselves, in a
very large degree, seem 70 have re-
covered from the delusi0u instilled into
their minds by evil disposed white per-
sons. that freedom means idleness, and
have been making contracts for work in
the country. There are, however, still
large numbers @ engaged in any regu-
lar pursuit, trusting, apparently, to such
chance Jobs as may fall in their way, and
20 the demand for labor which mag arise
II the spring, summer and autumn.
A great drawback to the settling down
OF the relations which the two races are
10 sustain TO each other in this State, is
the 1on-acti0n Of the Legislature in de-
filming, by law, the rights ofthe freedmen.
As vet, the poor negro is in an anom-
alOus position IN Tennessee. Made a free
man, whether hs wishes or pot, with all
the responsibilities OF free mar imposed
upon him, be is yet under many, If not
all the disabilities Of his former state Of
slavery. In that condition he had at
least a protector, who was bound by stat
ute Law, and by that still stronger
law OF popular sentiment and personal
interest to see that be- endured no
wrong. But now, ave and except the
incOngruoUs guardianship Of the Freed
mems Bureau, which cannot be ubiqui-
toUs, even Il il we're adapted, as it is not,
% supply the place Of inst laws Of known
universal application, he Is without pro-
lection. The courts have act been
opened 10 him, and his testimony, save
against those Of his own color, is without
value in the prosecution Of any right
be may be Supposed 10 have as a freed
man.
We DO not hesitate 70 say that the
hanging back of this prs-eminently
'l1yaE7-this radically loyal Legislature,
from the duty Of providing by law for
the changed condition Of the negro, is
the most hearuess exhibition Of stupid
incompetehey for the work Of legislation,
that has yer come 20 our knowledge in
the history Of legislative imbecility. The
to enfranchise their feIlow-citi-
Zens who were engaged, on she side Of
the south, in the late Civil War, might
be accounted for on the score Of those
Of passionate resentment which
iinger long 10 sullen and -ungener0us
natures, eveHiftls "CentralC Committee
IF the so-called "UBiOn party" had not
rs a clear solution Of il, in
he frank avowal Of the fear they
EEL that they would be turned out Of
,Hce by rebel votes, whenever true
outhern men are allowed 20 vote. But
here can be no such eKoQse made for
Reir harsh and neglected. dealing with
be freedman. Whatever fault may be
aid a. The door Of Others, the negro was
lot % blame in this matter Of bis being
ct fee. He did not make the war, be
I'd not demand freedom, nor, Of bis Own
participate il the war, on one
.de or the other. He was q passive
instrument in the hands Of the {
'ederal Government That power q
-tuck the mythical fetters from Z
Is limbs, and stood him forth q
5 3 freeman. He accepted the situation L
placed q uusket in his hands, and told {
ina 70 Use il Tor the suppression of he a
..oelion." He obeyed the order. d
throughout, be has been the submissive c
str1ment in the hands Of a superior
The war over, the representative
the Federel Government which set /,
10 free, RENTS the work Of giving him
lie ordinary rights ofa freeman, to the I
.uerosity Of the States wherein he y
wells, wherein, perhaps, he has shed his !,
.oDl. Z
And yet this Legislature Of Tennessee, i
assumes to be 50 much the incar- u
representative Of al the loyalty '
D the Federal Government that exists n
the state, that il has well nigh decla- SC
20 us sItungs permanent, neglects If il
oes not refuse 70 perform this work of e..
and mercy. We protest sgsinst %
~ inhumanity TO the black man1fo- i =
inhumsnity-and -denounee this neg. =
ct Of the interests Of the white race. n, ="
must b. manifest that, since the tv,, =.
ices are 10 live IN the same eommunitv ~
is alike for the welfare Of the inferior "
pc that it should have the protection Of p
.w, and the interest Of the superior race a
have the duIesof each clearly defined !
y the like h1eo authority. The Legis- :,
lures Of other States, whose members
Re stgmatized as rebels came frankly
70 Lne rescue Of tAe LeeQment and put u
en- under the shelter Of law. Tennes- N
apne, if We mistake not d
IT'D q Legislature pretending to re
most jealous for the authority Of es
G Federal Government, is least or
al in accord with the policy Of that ",
yvernment-least Of ali actuated by an
ose friendly and humane seatments ad
this unfortunate race, which has m
er been a Distinguishing characteristic it
the Southern gentleman. to
desire the peeple-the honest an
-ht minded and right hearted people je,
makes note Of ths record, Of this in
istory" which the Legislature Of Ten "a
see is making for Itself 90