Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-03-15
THE MoMENToUs QUESTION,

servative triumph may appear. 1t Is In
possible to become Indifferent TO il
chances of disaster. As the preparatio
for the grand decisive encounter pre-
crosses, passions assume additions
warmth, and develop the irreconcilabl
character of the controversy. The. mat
ter in dispute is comprised in the ques
ton: What shall be done with tn
SOUTH" One party, headed by Presi
dent JOHNSON, has adopted a policy o
Cancellation, and the readjustment o
the relations of the Southern States with
the Union, with all the rights and priv.
leges of the most favored States To
that end, it favors the admission Of the
Southern members into Congress The
other party assumes that the Southern
States are not in the Union, and opposes
their admission. 1t denounces the South
ern people as rebels, and denies tolthem
the privilege of free government 1t
would maintain over them for an ihdeh-
mite period, standing army of blacks
who had recently been slaves, and more
recently instructed to hate those who
had been their masters Il would confis-
cate their property and outlaw them as
race
To prevent such an outrage upon hui
mainly, the Executive department of
the Government is exerting its influence,
and welding its tremendous power. In
antagonism TO it, the Legislative depart
ment appears with strength most form
liable, and it will not be overcome eN-
cept by actual disaster. What the result
is to be, Heaven only can know. Mean
while the suspense of the South is becom-
ing intolerable. Its industry is retarded,
and its energies paralyzed. Its broad
and fertile fields are becoming commons,
and its public works are languisbing. If
it turn from the mournfal ashes of the
past, it discerns no glimmerings OF hope
in the future, save such as may chance to
break through the dust and smoke of the |
contest now going on. Whom the victory
shall crown will determine its fate. If it
crown STEVENS and SUMMERS party,
there will be nc hope for the Southern
people. If not forbidden, all who can,
will leave the South, nor care what land
the emgrant ship bears them to,
so not again to this In their places
would come the mongrel hordes of every |
country on EARTH and be diffused like a
vast and variegated wave over the fair
est, and richest, and dearest land on the
face of the earth 4
How the poor freedmen would fare in
the midst Of the new population, is an
important question. To what extent the
instincts of race might give way in such
an eventuality, and what the product
might be, is an interesting inquiry for
the sarans of New England We will
not discuss so forbidding topic. We
are content with suggesting it The
finest cotton country known to the world,
abandoned to Incidence and stupidity,
to the inertia of the negro, and, perchance
the apathy of the Monaghan The Gov
eminent would be sadly embarrassed by
the loss Of the executive talents Of the
Cavaliers. Though STEVENS might rule
or SUMNER reign, the South long
moist with the tears of those who made
it inhabitable and rendered it the bull
wark of the national prosperity, would
lapse into primeval wildness and be-
come terror to the dwellers upon the
inhospitable hills of the North. In vain
might the West struggle under the load
Of the national debt. Like rolling ball I
of snow, it would gather circumference
and diameter, and at least provoke the !
people to throw off the intolerable burden 4
1t is inexplicable to us, how men in
the South, who intend to make it their
home, can sustain the cause Of the Rad
ical party. Nursing all the hatred which
the white PHILLIPS or the black DoUG-
Lass feels for the Southern people, these ]
men solicit our custom and support.
And yet, so mean spirited, or so poor are
many Southern born men, that they put
clothes upon their backs, bread in their
mouths and money in their purses. Is
our pride inferred with our wealth. For
bid it, Heaven! Shall men who demand 4
our enslavement, command our purses
and dictate to us new rules of conduct
and unaccustomed modes Of thought I
If this shall happen, then has a new
element been discovered in human ma
ture, and a new significance given to
subjugation. But We should not despair
There is humanity in the North, and our
trust is in its ascension above the pas
sions Of the hour A free people win |
never enslave those who deserve 30 be
free Many Of the strongest and best
men of the Republican party are ready
TO welcome the South back into the
Union Reunion, upon equal terms, i
demanded by great party in the North,
and though il may be defeated in the
FIRST contest at the polls, we should not |
despair, fot it viii rally again and again I
until it shall become either victorious or
be exterminated in its success is our