Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-09-20
ON A WAR FOor1NG-A PICTURE.

A Radical organ in Washington City
is urgent for the passage of laws by Con
gress 10 organize the negroes Of tbs
Southern States on a military footing
1t says that lit cannot be expected that
the State governments (South) will or.
ganize on any basis the loyal black mil
tia. Congress must take the matter in
hand. The black militia can be organ
lied into separate companies aud regi-
ments just as they were during the war.
The negroes North and South must be
educated to become soldiers"
In this connection, we give deelara
ton by BRowxLow, in his speech at Phil
adelphia;
We have but one more law to pass, and
that is, law enfranchising the negro,
and we will do it next winter. We have
two reasons for doing this, the first is a
selfish one--it is necessary to sixty or
seventy thousand votes to kick the beam
to weigh down the balance against rebel
ism. The second reason is because 1t is
proper and Just, and we will simply be
returning TO where we were in 1888 The
negroes used to vote in Tennessee. Old
Jackson and JOHN BELL, and FELIX
GRUMPY used to treat them with liquor,
and electioneer with them for their votes.
JOHN BELL once beat FELIX GRUMPY for
Congress in the Nashville District, by a
few votes, and should not have done ii
but that he got the negro vote. This was
prior to 1888.
Subjects of this kind should be treated
with great prudence, touched with
great gentleness, for they are prolific OF
mischief There are, before us, some
very rough places, and we should GO
slowly over them. The air is charged
with electricity and should not be rudely
disturbed. While the republic is passing
through the agony Of restoration, ex
IRENE propositions should be avoided.
That Of organizing the black MALTA in
the Southern States is dangerous to the
repose Of the country-to the quiet ofthe
South. 1t is not proper to discuss the
consequences Of such a measure. 1t is
enough to say that it is impracticable
though urged with the last degree ofven
ON and strength possessed by its friends
The selfish reason given by BRowELow
for enfranchising the negroes of this
State, is thrust into the very vitals o.
society Suppose, before the war, eithei
the Wing or Democratic party had at
tempted to disfranchise the other, or &c
eniranchise the negroes for the openly
avowed purpose of acquiring political
aseendency. Civil war would have re
suited. The aged men and tender boys
ihronging to the ranks of the mastering
manhood Of the prescribed, would have
swept to resistance. The delicate wo
man, emerging from the hearths and the
bowers, would have cheered on th'
army of noble patriots Then, WI
had liberty, fraternity, peace. Ever!
white man, without regard to the com
plexion Of his sentiments, was a voter
Elections were carried by influencing tn
largest number Of voters, not by acts o
Acknowledgement But we have passed
from that It is boldly announced tina
the negroes are to be clothed with tn
franchise, while more than three-fourth
Of the white men are driven from th
polls. Imagine an election for Cover
nor, Congress and the Legislature. Tn
polls are open-say in the fourth ward o
this city. Twenty white men dc
post their votes They are adjudge'
TO be loyal In the presence Of FIVE hun
dred white men, two hundred negrOe
walk up, shove them away, and vote
These white men own all the property
possess all the intelligence, and bear al
the burdens Of government Two-third