Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-10-06
rHr mrrTINo 10. NIGHr-Irs DUTY

A meeting OF Tue JohNooS Oo"oS1'"
tives is called for tonight at Exchange
Building. The object of it is stated to
be to consult, etc. We are not informed
whether it is the intention of the meeting
to make or suggest nominations for the
varions Offices 1t is quite evident that
there are too many Conservatives
aspiring TO Office. This should moi be so,
and the people should remind them that
as they cannot vote for all, some had
better withdraw. 1t is better to do this
than to find themselves on election day
distracted by the alleged strength OF rivals
"a distraction that may result in the
election OF one or more Radicals. The
Conservative people Of Shelby county
should not, viii not consent to run the
hazard Of losing a victory by pandering
TO individual claims Purely per
sonal considerations should bow be-
fore the majesty OF an oppressed peo-
pies aspirations to be free. We want
the moral affect Of great victory, and
the pretended Conservatives who shall
place themselves ia the way of its
achievement can have no future here.
Let them take warning in time, and If
they are not the choice of the people as
indicated in primary demonstrations, let
them make all haste to get out OF the
way. We want no bread and butter con-
test. We want one Of principle, and we
will have it. We should class every
man who talks Of half way ground, or
compromise on white franchise and
black suffrage, as Radical, and not fit
to be trusted He is mean slave who
consents to slavery and be who is rot
for an unconditional repeal Of all acts
which discriminate between the rights of
white men, is unfit TO vote and should
be scorned at the ballot box. 1t
is no reason for voting for disfran-
chiser, that you have managed to squeeze
through the bars of registration. The
will to disfranchise you was as good as If
you had been a Confederate soldier
While you congratulate yourself on get
ting through, remember that thousands
of your friends, quite as good as yourself,
cannot. They are driven from the ballot
box as criminals viii you vote for a
man who so brands them? Shame on
the Southern man who will do it Let
the people come out tonight and resolve
that the Conservatives are, and shall be,
unanimous in sentiment and infexible
in action. Upon this subject we subjoin
q communication from an intelligent and
patriotic business man
EDITORS PUBLIC LEDGER There are
occasions which justify all citizens in
manifesting deep interest in political
questions. And although had deter
mined TO give nay time and attention
wholly to other objects, and leave the
filling of important civil trusts, State
and Municipal, to those preferring to in
terest themselves in them, the magni-
tude of the questions involved prohibits
my pursuing the course have ordinarily
followed, of refusing to take any special
interest in the selection Of men 10 Eli
the important trusts committed us. The
exigeneies Of the times demand our best
men for every position to be granted by
the people The issues presented in
yolve the Acknowledgement of large
portion of our people. The pacifica-
ton of our country is only TO be attained
by the success of the Presidents policy
of reconstruction. We should then,
for every position, State and Municipal,
select men openly committed to his
policy. And trust the club meeting to-
night will select men, not only to repre-
sent Us in the Legislature, but to serve
us in the various city offices, who, while
good and true, are fully identified with
the motives and aims Of the Federal Ex-
ecutive. / am a candidate for no posi-
ton whatever, but desire to express my
want of sympathy or respect for any man
who. refusing to sympathize with our
people, is willing to deprive them of their
political rights and reduce them to Gas
saIooe. while he would fstten on their
Substance
HOW THE MATTER STANDS.