Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-10-22
WHAT SHOULD THE SOUTH DO :

"a
ing interrogatory: "Under the present
state of things, what should the Southern
people do p 1t is not easily answered,
but certain suggestions occur to us: The
people of the South are in what the law
yers term a state Of allegiance. They
possess no rights at all, but only privi-
leges which the conqueror may take from
them at any time. The only issue at the
North is involved in the question. what
shall be done with the South? Two par
ties are struggling to solve it, but they
differ widely and angrily. tits unneces'
sary to waste words in stating what this
difference u.s. 1t is enough to know that
the Radical party is in the majority, and
will probably overthrow the Johnson
government. 1t is useless to suppose
that out of conflict between the Presi-
dent and the Radicals, a state OF things
will arise favorable to the South Con-
gress controls the purse, and that is ON
nipotent Without dollar, the Presi-
dent is impotent. He could not raise an
army; or, if he could, it would desert
him and fight on the side Of money.
But the people of the South need not
remain idle. As the world is governed
by money, let then get money. When
they do, they will be respected. They
will be caressed and slobbered over by
the wretches who now hate them because
they are proud and have no money.
Hold on to your lands. The money
lords of the North want to dispossess you
of them, for then they know that You will
be in their power. So long as You hold
them you are masters of the situation
Act upon the fact that the Radicals are
attempting to impoyerish you and drive
YOU out Of the country With this ever
in your minds, grasp your lands with
death grip, and, if necessary, face starva-
ton itself before you give way. If they
cannot dispossess you by purchase, they
will resort to legislation, and attempt to
ak you into acquiescence.
1t has been suggested that the three
cent tax may be avoided by manufacture
ing the cotton in the district where il is
grown. That, if practicable, would be
only temporary relief Your enemies
would tax it at the gin, in the boil, in the
blossom, and, if necessary, in the ground.
They intend to tax it out ofexistence, If
they fail to drive you from your planta-
tons.
As SHERMAN s army is disbanded, you
may safely rebuild your houses and re
construct your fences These men are
not likely to visit you again. The jew
elry you have lost, You need never ex-
pect to repossess 1t is gone forever
If you have no time-pieces, breastpins
and finger rings, it is not a matter of
much importance You can get on with
out them.
Go into the hog and hominy business.
Raise corn and slaughter pork. Cover
your hills with cattle, and punctuate
your pastures with sheep, mules horses,
and flavor the whole with showers of
goats.
Teach the freedman that be is a
Southern man, TO the cabin born, and
that his destiny is launched on the same
billow that now heaves beneath the white
man. Be just to him, and the day may
come when you may lean upon him as
upon o rock
Cultivate the earth TO the best edvan-
tage, and never fail to have your barns
full. But do not neglect to cultivate
letters. Arm the youth with knowledge;
rear great orators, poets and statesmen.
The women of the South are already
great. Become worthy of them.
As the North is still hostile to you,
you have no government and can expect
no favors. Having no institutions you
can call your own, learn to govern your
selves. You may set the world an exam
pie of people more oppressed than the
Poles, trodden lower than the Irish, and
beaten with more stripes than the Hun
garians, rising, through the force of vir-
tue and intelligence, to nights yet unat-
tanned by those who boast of their insti-
tutions of freedom.