Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-08-01
PUBLIC LEDGER.
REyoLur1oN1sTs VS.. THE PEOPLE.

What howl there must be among the
Radicals Of the North occasioned by the
in,hroelio in New Orleans The air is
full of sounds, mixed and mingled IN
every conceivable way from the sky
screaming treble of the female voice, down
through the gamut to the tar barrel ut
terance of the gray boards of Radical
ism. To make their grief the more eff
fective, the report of the Congressional
Committee on the Memphis riot makes
its appearance simultaneously with the
telegraphic reports of the Convention
war in New Orleans. There seems to
have been conspiracy of circumstances
to render our Jacobins as miserable as
possible. Congress adjourned, and in the
light of swift pursuing events, 1t was the
greatest mistake, or error, OF all the
mistakes and errors of that body Had
il been in session, a committee would be
at this moment on their way to the Ores
cent CITY to investigate the matter, and
report for the benefit of the fall elections,
and for the edifcation of Plymouth
Rock generally. But if it cant be done
in that form, the opportunity will be
duly improved A host of correspond
ents, employed expressly to write of
horrors, are on the wing with their quilts
behind their ears, and their eyes fixed
in blood and thunder stare. They will
manufacture what is not true, and belle
what is, to harmonic the agony of the
occasion and round off the chapter of
terrors for consumption North
The truth of the history is too plain
however, for honest rnisconstruction.
A revolution was attempted, and that
attempt was met and overthrow. The
existing State Government of Louisiana
was not what the Abolition adventnrers
of New Orleans desired 1t did not give
the Offices exclusively to a handful of
radical politicians, and the franchise to
the negroes 1t did not take the ballot
from the hand Of the former master, and
give il TO his former slave. 1t did not,
in short, insure solely to the benefit of
grasping, DISTINGUISHING, revolutionizing
individuals whose idea of government
is. that it is a piece Of machinery only
valuable on account of the personal
uses it can be put to. We rejoice
that President JoHNsoN has dispelled the
revolutionary dream of these revolution
lists of New Orleans and this class of
persons everywhere had better make a
note of the circumstance. Constitutions,
be tells them, must come from the people
Then are the source Of power, and they
will be protected in maintaining theit
rights No clique of political wolves ar
raved in the stolen and desecrated robes
of loyalty, shall be permitted TO steal
their liberties, or domineer over them.
The right Of the people to alter or abolish
their State Constitutions is admitted;
but no power that IS not the power
of the people can assume it with
ont committing treason. The people
of Louisiana hare the right to call a
Convention. There is no pretense, that
they called this Convention Its attempt
10 reassemble was VIGOROUSLY for the
purpose of DISTINGUISHING the people
the source of all just government II
was bogus body of Adventures, intent
on acquiring illegitimate power, in the
enjoyment of which they we're mad
enough to suppose the military would
protect them. The people Of Tennessee,
DISTINGUISHED as they are, have a right to
call Convention, amend the State Con-
stitution, elect their officers and admins
ter the State government Every State
has that right.