Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-04-06

ing for supremacy aud empire, for many
years prior to the war Of secession, or at
least in reference 10 one or two meas
ures laving the foundation Of the great
changes produced by the result of the
late sanguinary struggle.
on the great and vital question OF q
sesfrictcd franchise, the whigs, as a po-
litical party, may he said 10 have been
| overthrown. At al events it gave to
| that grand old party its coup dc grace,
or exterminatiBg blow. But a little
while and the democratic party itsek fell
to pieces, crushed by the overpowering
weight and burden OF its own principles,
which were not few, nor far from being
desuItory. With the wbig party which
ID {" overpowered," !" it now lies dead and
buried, and third party, unlike and
without the merits Of either the former,
asserts its reckless empire. But It also
must soon suceumb to some other con-
quering party, and amidst the general
rejoicing of all lovers of civil liberty and
genuine republican government.
The whig party persistently main
taiDed the virtues of restricted fran
ehise policy, and never abandoned ii to
the day Of its death while the demo-
crats were for renting all restrictions,
and trundiing every sort Of body to the
polls, from any and all quarters OF the
civilized and uncivilized globe, and
made veting as nearly as possible q
free thing.n It was immensely popular,
a. a matter of course, with all foreigners
emigrsting into the country, and the
great influx Of them then pouring into
the northwest territory, and turning, as
from a mill, with amazing rapidity,
huge EN- bryO states, almost yearly knock
ing at the congressional doors for admis-
sion into the northern cOnfederaey with
their two senators, fiocked in body
around the democratic standard. The
southern wings, apprehending ultimate
danger to the country from a too free
propagate from this exotic element,
refrained from paying il court. IL would
indeed have cost them nothing but
little sacrifice of principle to have al
least divided with the democrats this
powerful auxiliary of party strength.
But that little they thought too much OF,
thus even to sacrifice. Against all
"hlibustering eonquests, and q too
hasty expansion Of empire, its policy
was more restricted and national.
Hence, in this point of view, as well as
Others, il may be said they fell as party
by the weight Of their own virtues. The
democratic policy was redOlent with su-
perlicial attractions, Ike huge many
colored showbill, and bent all its pow
erful energies, with but little
scruple to party ends. Their free trade,
free voting, free banking, free Oregon
free filibustaring and general free free
dom, won the vociferous shouts, as well
as votes, OF the " masses" The demo-
cratic south went hand in hand in all
this with the democratic north. Their
nartv discipliue and eXactiOns were OF
the most rigid character; and passive
obedience to its hehests was a cardinal
requirement as we'll as test of loyalty,
without which merit no political favOrs
were granted. The southern democrats
won golden opinions from their northern
allies, generally receiving in the division
of the spOils after a presidential victory
the best half Of the cabinet and diplO-
matte places, Is e reward for yield
ing to the north the president.
Their united votes 10 congress and
out Of congress went for free suffrage.
The north, in her great anxiety rapidly
10 build up new states in the nOrthw est,
TO retain the political supremacy and 70
present that proper equilibrium OF repre-
sentative power in congress, between the
two sections, which Mr. Calhoun was
so anxious to msintsin: the southern
democrats to be true to their party
and to share the rewards Of its tTiumphs.
But now the north is munching the
toasted chestnuts, while the south is
blowing its wretehedly burnt fingers. The
southern democrats, by their free voting
policy, stimulated emigration and thus
aided in the building up some half dozen
hinge western abolition states-a colossal
power inimical to the sOuth-whOse
hundreds OF thousand Y comets turned
against them in the lslc5 war between
the sections, unquestiOnably gave the
victory to the north. And now
the free-voting or free-franchise demo-
cratic policy is eliminating in all its un-
restrained and fragrant glory. Shsks-
pesre certainly must have had in his
eye the present franchise era
Of this country, as well as his plebald
hags whom be addressed as