Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-07-24
AM unsppreoiated PriYileRe,

EDIToRs LEDGER: A very prevalent
idea among the Southern people, ! no
tice, is to refuse the privilege of register
ing and voting-a policy so short-sighted
and plainly ruinous, that / am forced to
believe the people do not bestow any
thought on the future
This is one Of the most prominent in :
stances in history, if not the only one,
where great nation of people, rspubli-
can in tastes, habits and history, refused
the elective franchise The habeas cor
pus is priceless boon, and was always
one of the most prominent features of
the organic laws of the United States
Government; but it is not more valuable
than the elective franchise. George III
refused us representation in his Parlia.
ment, but his conscience permitted him
to levy excise taxes upon us, and his
cupidity prompted him to increase it to q
hardship, which our forefathers pure
descendants of the Puritan roundheads
took the God.given right to resent, and
we gained that which the laws of Heaven
and Nature grant US.
Since the South submitted her fate to
the arbitrament of the sword, and failed,
why not make the most of the circum-
stances, and prepare to get on as good q
footing as existed previous to the great
conflict You are compelled to pay
taxes and revenue to support the Gov
ernment-to yield obedience to the laws,
and deport yourselves as patriots (not
loyahsts) should do, why not take the
privilege of assisting in the construction
of, and receiving the benefit of the same
You essayed the role of the Roundheads
for a period; but as there was no Crom-
we'll among you, enough of Cromwell,
to burst the doors of the Rump Congress
and put to rout the cavaliers, why not,
by stimulation, play the role of Cavalier,
and get into the Congress halls sufficient
numbers to counterfeit their petty AFRO
gance and despotism
1t is too evident for disbelief that the
more sullen and quiescent the Southern
people are in regard to the elective fran
chise, the interests of their country, and
their future, the more exacting and OPP
pressive will the Jacobin party of the
North become; the lethargy of the South
is welcome incentive to oppression; if
they find the South an easy prey, they
will bind her tighter still, and search the
larder more thoroughly than ever Still,
/ find many men of prominence, talents
and influence, who remain quiet, and
even advise and teach the policy Of re-
framing from the exercise of the fran
chise. l observe that Albert Pike-a
native of that State of steady habits,
where they never forget an election day
excuses himself for refusing to act the
part Of an American citizen. And in
fuential men without number express a
carelessness, and even a contempt for
this most urgent duty of republican
freeman. =
If you permit the negro race, and the
Radical element, which has hoated down
here like the scum of all revolutions,
seeking the surface Of public favor), to
usurp the ballot-box, what will be the
condition Of the beloved South ere a
decade has expiredP This Government
suffered too many hard blows in its
organization, endured too much pros
per;iy and greatness for its citizens to
supinely yield up that fundamental
principle which underlies its foundation,
and which is the pride and germ Of
republican government. So, instead oil
running off to Brazil, or Mexico, or
Europe, or holding aloof in sullen
silence, let every Southern man remain
at home, and rote the glorious sunny
South into its pristine renown and pros
perity. NORTHERN DEMOCRAT