Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-06
VOLUME XXXIII.
MEMPHIS RIOTS.

cal sort, of misshapen heads, like that pretty
Uranium which rises, a gorgeous temple o
thought, from the shoulders of Smith, O
Hardeman, have exhausted the force o.
nasal melody and humdrum philanthropy
in lecturing blacks upon dignity and the as
sertion of social and political rights. We
would not object if blacks understood the
sensible and just Of their teachers, or if their
stupidity did not cause sable auditors to eX-
act respect for themselves by its absence in
their own conduct towards others. Their
unwise teachers cause negroes to 60 arm IN
arm along the streets, compelling men and
women TO yield the footway. Lessons on
African dignity, taught by sermonizers and
inveterate hatred to Southern people sought
to be inculcated by political preachers in
African schools and churches have begotten
much Of that ill-feeling between races which
has been developed in violence and blood
shed. The Civil Rights bill has been, of late,
the exhaustless theme of discussion among
blacks and negrophilists of this city. Suits
pending, involving the constitutionality of
the measure and social privileges given fresh
impetus to the idea that African manhood
where be asserted.
discharge, in this city and adjacent States, Of
vast numbers of colored soldiers. Hither
they came from all points on the Mississippi,
Memphis was overstocked. As day laborers,
they could find no employment. They
lOunged about cabin doors, crowded side
walks, committed petty thefts, filled the
calaboose, loitered in sunny places, and then
made nights hideous by bowling in churches
or by depredationsu private property. OF
late, however, burglaries had been less fire.
quent than during the winter; but all who
had suffered were not oblivious of facts, and
when a popular citizen and officer was slain
those who had been robbed or insulted prof
tied by popular excitement to pay debts of
vengeance.
1t followed, that many acts of violence
and wrong, utterly indefensible, have been
perpetrated. Preachers of that Gospelwhich
expurgates the writings and philosophy of
st. Paul were not forgotten. Pious expOund
ers of civil Rights which became UNI
civil wrongs, as practically illustrated, were
not neglected. Churches were destroyed,
wrongfnlly and unwisely by the maddened
mob. Innocent and guilty, the godly and
impious, christians and those canting hypo-
critics who come hither to do the dirty work
of extreme Radicalism-tO array whites
against blacks in deadly enmity that there
may be pretexts for despotic measures
these have been COMPOUNDED by an exasper-
ated populace.
And yet it is true that the great mass Of
the negroes are innocent. They have suffer
ed, in many instances, wrongfully. Blacks,
long residents in the city, had no share in
the violence done or contemplated. They
are not of those whose names 50 often grace
the records of Justices and Recorders
courts. The exasperated crowd which had
all this mischief made no distinc-
tons. A sick ragged ex- Confederate soldier
was mercilessly maltreated by those whO at
night, mistook him for an African. A black
who accompanied his master through the
war, and still adhered TO him, was killed at
his gateway; hackman was shot as he drove
along Main street, and many balls penetra-
ted the carriage, fortunately unoccupied. 1t
was proposed at one time, TO destroy a print
ing establishment, which was prevented by
an editor who happened in the vicinity But
worst, most unfortunate of all incidents Of
these unfortunate riots, was the burning of
negro abodes and negro churches. Not only
must Memphis suffer abroad; not only is her
political condition rendered more insufer-
able; not only may military supplant civil
law, but all losses sustained, damage done
and houses destroyed, must be paid for by
corporate authorities. Tax payers foot all
bills incurred by this folly and madness.
This may signify nothing, since there were
wo classes of people that failed to partici-
late in all this mobocracy. Neither tax
PAYERS, nor ex-soldiers, nor officers partici-
lated in these indefensible infractions of law
md order. So true is this, and so well APP
oreciated the fact, that petition was yester-
lay sent to Nashville signed exclusively by
urging the Legislature TO enfran-
,hise, at least in municipal elections, all cit
zens who are freeholders or pay rent to the
amount of $500.
Upon the same subject the argus says:
1t Is to be hoped that this whole affair."
md particularly these inexcusable acts of
ncendiarism, will be thoroughly investiga-
ed, and that whoever was engaged in burn
ng churches, and school and dwelling hou-
les, may be brought to justice. 1t is GRIM
nal enough that such outrages should be
in the height, and in the vicini-
V, Of raging mobs but some Of these acts
# deliberate arson were perpetrated after
he riot had subsidized and in places remote
rom the scene of violence-the 'seat of
var" as it was commonly called. One
hing ought to be remembered by the ag-
,rieved parties The city treasury will
AVE to suffer in consequence of these burn
ngs, TO- at least, the extent of replacing,
precisely as Il was, every church, school and
iwelling house burned by mob which the
ity failed, as in duty bound, to control and
uppress.
The same paper adds:
The Memphis Post in its reports Of the |
lot here has proved recreant to the first |
,reat principles Of a sound, respectable, |
trustworthy journalism-fairness truth, and |
andor 1t seems To have prepared its ac-
cunts solely for Northern political con-
Il has neither stated the origin
4 the difficulties truthfully, nor given the |
ubsequent details fairly. 1t represents
very killing Of negro as a cold-blooded,
murder, when the truth is, that |
nearly all Of these homicides were commit
ed either in self-defense, or the parties were
esisting lawful arrest; or they were acct |
lental-that is caused by random shots, as
5 usually or very often the case in all mobs
md riots