Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-09-26


agTsrianism among ourselves. Yet our
/ legislation in the southern states has pre-
cisely the effect as II il had been deliber-
stely planned for the disorganization OF
all reasonable harmony between the
! southern laborer and his employer; and
! the ignorant enthusiasm Of the negroes
has been reused by prOpagating such wild
notions OF agrarisnism as neither OF the
/ Gracchi ever dreamed Of Once again,
Pos Dictis! Unless some sudden inspira-
ton Of wisdom shall unexpectedly pos
sess the government, the south has this
year seen the best year II can hope for
through long space in the future. But
we have said that the financial future Of
the south is bound up with the future OF
her politics. What, then, is the future
she has to look forward tO2 Let ustsee.
The plain meaning Of the pseudo
reconstruction acts Of congress, now
being pushed 90 their most neFeiless con-
sumstiOn, is simply thist 1. To regis
ter in the south the entire negro pOpula-
ton and such whites as may unite with
them Ia supporting the radical party in
congress. .. TOprOhibit the registration
OF the vast majority Of the whites who
have real interest ia the quiet and
prosperity OF the country. 3. To submit
to the voters Of the states thus registered
the question whether they will or will
not hold a convention fOr the FeeOnstruc-
tion Of the states under the congressional
plan. Under this mode q procedure, it
may be seen what a hopeful future lies
before the whole south and the whole
country. Either the states will vote for
convention or for no convention. The
white vote will be largely east against
convention; for the present military rule
with all its Disadvantage, at least affords
protection while reconstruction, such as
has been perpetrated in the state Of Ten
nessee, gives little protection but to Sc
gro brigands. The radical whites and
the negro voters who are interested in
subverting all decent ruls and authority
will, Of course, unite in favOr Of cOnven-
ton. Now, suppose-althOugh the case
is hardly pOssible-that the convention
is by such mockery of suffrage rejected.
Then the radicals viii avail themselves
of the cry Of southern eOntumacy
Mr.. Stevens mild oonfseation is
brought into play; the south is
wholly ruined by this viIlainoUs atrocity
for merely sa ying as our generous con-
gress has invited her to say, that she
prefers the rule Of military satrsps to the
hsrLier rule of uninstrueted negroes and
white braves. On the other hand, sup
pose-and this is the only suppositiOn
justified by the registration which is
being made-that convention is desired.
Then it is practically negro convention.
1t will frame a constitution that VIII
throw the whole power Of the state into
the hands Of negroes, and white men
who hope to profit by the suffrages of
negroes. The prescription of white men
will be more sweeping than congressional
prescription. Conhseation Of the prop
erty Of white men by their negro rulers
will be sure to follow; and the
indirect confiscation will be more
destructive than confiscatiOn out
right. The ruling class, having no
property themselves, will look upon the
transfer OF their subjects property into
their own possession as the one great end
Of government. With penniless, negro
legislature 70 tax, and defeussless white
men tn be taxed, the issue cannot long
be doubtful. In every county taxes will
be laid in the same way by negroes upon
white men. In the towns and cities
negro eouneilmen will vote themselves
large salaries, create unnecessary offices
for purposes Of plumber, and for like ends
undertake enormous Jobs of fanciful pub
lie Improvement. Justice administered
by-negro magistrates will be q farce; re-
dress Of wrongs viii be impossible. Lib
erty Of outrage will be amply secured.
The liberty of death will be the only
liberty secured TO men whose crime il
that they were born white.
Let the northern people ask themselves
whether this IS what they mean. If not,
it is high time that they bestir them
selves, for it were better to have taken
the advice of certain gentle congress
men, and put to death the men, women
and children Uf the south at once, than
to deliver them 20 such a fate as now
lis pends.