Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-19
NV REooNsrRuorIoN soHEME

DIsBECTED'
The great mass Of the Southern peop'0
have only heard of the reconstruction
hin; they scarcely know whatit is. The
Richmond Enquirer has dissected it, ana
this is the result First, Convention Is
10 be called as to which many OF our
hest citizens are to be excluded from the
list of candidates, and from the polls
and the colored population admitted to
both without any other qualification thah
one wears residence in the State. This
election is expected to be held in an or
derby manner, by the civil officers OF the
State "And then p This Convention
is to adopt Constitution which shall
ordain the same basis of suffrage as the
nermapent law of the State; and the
Constitution so framed shall be submit
ted to the people, who are expected to
ratify il. "And then2" This Constltu'
ton, so providing and so adopted, is to
be laid before Congress for its examina'
ton and approval. "And thenT A
Legislature is next to be elected under
said Constitution, if so framed, so
adopted, and so approved, which shall
ratify the fourteenth amendment to
the Constitution; said amendment
being the same which the very
Legislature now in session, with but
single dissentient in both Houses, de-
clared that it was impossible for Virginia
to vote for, however willing she might
be to submit to it, impossible because
il requires us by our own assent, and
choice, to declare our best men IN
worthy of trust, and to prescribe them
for doing our request and bidding; i'm
possible because it requires us, with our
own hands, to put the brand of perjury
on the brow of many others, by punish
ing their obedience to their State as in
perjurious opposition to some previous
oath of Office. "And then ?" After all
this is done, the people shall have the
privilege of electing as representatives
to Congress such men as may be able
and willing to swear that in all the ago.
MES through which we have passed they
never had sympathy with us, or gave
us any aid or comfort "And then p
"Ah-and then r We shall have lost
every trace of liberty. We will have
been a party to the death of the State.
We will have assented to the. murder OF
the Constitution. We will have dishon.
ored the graves of our brothers and our
sons We will have broken the sleep OF
Stonewall Jackson, and condemned his
ghost to walk the earth, and to wall in
every wind that means over our wretched
land. We will have renowned the res
meet of the world, and blotted the page
on which history has recorded her bright
est chapter. And what will we have
gained2 An apple of the Dead Sea-
the fruit of Sodom, that turns to ashes
on the lips Test oath representation
that and no more
"And suppose this scheme should fail
in any of its parts. Suppose the people
are less pliable than the Legislature, and
refuse to perform their expected part in
the programme. Suppose the Congress
refuse to be pleased, and refuse to ap-
prove. Suppose the future Legislature
should set up their honor, too, and say,
like the present, it is impossible to adept
the constitutional amendment. Suppose
the scheme anywhere to break down-as
it almost certainly will what then ?
Confusion COMPOUNDED And what
then p"