Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-08-28

Inever heard Of case in which in
justice was done to a suitOT because he
was negro. But this amendment not
only admits the negro, but it excludes
the white man. 1t excludes not only
those who have participated in the rebel
lion, but those who have deserted or
avoided the draft. By its terms it would
have excluded all those who, having
served till the war was over, left their
ranks without permission, and were
Technically deserters. Here was a
dilemma. Many honest men, especially
many honest republicans, would have
been thus excluded. There was not time
to amend the proposition. So the aid of
congress was invoked, and it passed a
bill which was called the Ohio
Deserters' Bill" II provided that men
who have left the service as ] have
described shall be considered deser-
ters, so far as to deprive them of pay and
emolument but not 80 far as to deprive
them of suffrage. That is to say, in the
opinion of congress, they performed their
duty as soldiers too badly to entitle them
to pay, but well enough to be good
republican voters. Bot passing this
view, is the proposition wise and bene-
fetal? Shall we exclude any of our
white citizens for a political offense
Shall we put such exclusion in our con-.
stitution, when we do not put there
exclusion for any other crime Shall
we say that the boy who was just coming
Of age, who was too honest to lie and
too conscientious to bribe, and too poor
to buy a substitute, shall be forever ex-
cluded because he avoided the draft in
order that he might support his mother
or sister, or, perchance, orphans younger
than himself? Shall We say to the
men of Virginia-that Virginia which
gave these five northwestern states TO
the Ohio-thAt those who Obeyed the
teaching of political philosophy which
was universal among them, or yielded
to state pride or sectional feeling, or
foolish prejudice, shall be forever eK-
cluded from the suffrage, but that the
thief, the murderer, the robber, the
foTger, the perjureT, the burner, may
come and be welcome to enjoy it? The
tendency of the world is to treat leni-
emily political offenses. Shall we here
reverse the order, and add the vindictive-
ness of vengeance to severity Of punish
ment? Shall we repel the intelligence
and wealth and energy Of the white
man, and invite the ignorance and inea-
pecity of the negro The old world
shames US by its example. The
emperor of Austria has paciied
Hungary-be has put on the crown
OF st. Stephen. On that day he
granted amnesty foF 81 political Offenses.
And the last steamer announces that
Kossuth-the areh-traitoF, ths great
rebel, the eonspirator against the life OF
the governments elected to a seat in
the very first parliament. An astute
observer and great historian has said
''The wise ruler never treats the discon-
tents OF great party as he tFeStg the
condrct of 3 mob which destroys mills
and power-looms. The neglect OF this
distinction has been fatal TO govern
ments strong even in the power of the
sword" 1 hear it said that some repub-
licans viii vote against the amendment,
and vet vote for the republican ticket.
This is folly or hypocrisy. This coufse
will defeat the amendment of our state
Constitution, but II am amendment were
proposed 70 the federal constitution, a
republican legislature you'd adopt it /;
and il Mr.. Summers bid sb0Ele pass,
imposing negro suffrage on all the states
by act Of congress, 3 republican state
government would hasten 70 enforce IL
here,
Larry Torpy, notorious burglar and