Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-14
FALsEHooDs EXPOSED.

A falsehood, when told Tor no especlal
purpose, is evidence rather of general
lack of moral perception than of inten-
tional wrong When told with no mo-
tive to deceive, or to induce people to act
upon an incorrect statement Of facts, II is
comparatively harmless but when some
especial object is to be gained, and can
only be gained by it, it becomes omnlp--
otent for mischief, and is a crime against
society not inferior TO arson, theft and
robbery When resorted to by an indi-
vidual to gain some private end, detec-
ton does, or should, exclude him from
association with gentlemen. But when
great party manufactures facts that
are not facts, upon which to construct
their political edifce, there are no terms
in our language capable of describ-
ing the magnitude of the wrong. To
allege, therefore, that the Southern
people are hostile to the Government,
that they are cruel to the negroes, that
Northern men and capital are unsafe in
the South together with long cata-
logue of charges equally false, and known
by the utterers to be so, is crime, not
only against abstract truth, but against
the human race itself In every form,
these falsehoods have been disproved,
but as quick as one is crushed, others
take its place, until the number becomes
perfectly overwhelming. To submit to
a refutation of them, would be TO submit
10 destruction as party. 1t could not
exist an hour after its false foundation
was knocked from under it.
A gentleman has returned to Wash
ington after an official tour OF several
months through the Southern States.
He presides over an Important Executive
Bdreau, and more than confirms the re-
ports of STREDMAN and FULLERTON He
says of the Southern people, that every
where he found them peaceably and in
dustriously engaged in repairing the des-
olatien Of war and, except when dis
turbed by the hateful presence and ope-
rations of the Freedmen Bureau, the
most harmonious and kindly relations
existed between the planters and their
late slaves. He scarcely heard the sub
iect of politics discussed; did not hear
a disloyal expression; but, on the
contrary, found the people resolved to
maintain the Union, and to deal justly
and humanely with the emancipated ne
groes. The prevailing sentiment was,
that it was not only the interest, but the
duty of their late masters to ameliorate
the physical and moral condition of this
unfortunate race; and, under the inhu
ence of this sentiment, the churches of
the South, of all denominations were
actively engaged in this benign work, in
which they had the hearty cooperation
of the great body of the white people.
He further states that, from many
conversations with intelligent negroes,
he found they regarded their former mas
tiers as their best friends; and that those
who for time abandoned their homes
under vague but delusive ideas, inspired
by bad counsels and by sudden change
of condition, we're fast returning to their
old masters for employment All at
tempts to coonize the freedmen in sepa-
rate villages or settlements, have been
utter failures, fruitful only of idleness,
vice and death
he confidently expresses the opinion
that the Freedmen's Bureau is now the
chief obstacle to harmony, order and
prosperity in the South All that is now
required for the complete rehabilitation
of the Southern States, is to admit them
to the complete enjoyment of their rights
in the Union, and to leave the relations
between the two races to be adjusted by
themselves, free from all outside
interference. At the same time
that oticlous dlctatlon or intervention
from abroad is distasteful to the whites,
and injurious to both races, he found
the people ready to welcome among
them from any quarter, peaceful aud
philanthropic auxiliaries in the great
work of material and moral res
toration and progress. They do not
want incendiary agitators and malig
nants-fomenters Of hate, discord and
anarchy. Such are the views of an i'm
partial and discriminating observer, and
they nail the charge of falsehoOd to the
forheeads of those who, for party pur-
poses, tell different story.
WHAT WE WANT.
IL. Co,,tb meade and wants DODulatiOp