Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-07-02
FOR FLOATER.
Gen. II. II. GLENN.
Lrr us .ALL ao To WORK.


The election of Brownlow would be
the worst calamity of political charac-
ter that could happen to this State. 1t
would be calamity to the white men
and the black men, to the old men and
the young men, to the women and the
children, to the beasts and the fowls; in
deed, to every living, creeping thing.
We doubt if famine itself would prove
greater calamity. 1t is not much worse
to hunger for bread than for peace. 1t
is not greater to suffer the pangs ofinani'
ton than to be starved to death on the
cold charity of bayonets, which make q
desolation of both soul and body. Pro-
longation of Brownlow'S term of Office
would be followed by partial depopula-
ton of the State. There would be moth
ing substantial to realize, and little ideal
to hope for. Labor well directed and
fortified by genial showers, would
give the people bread, but not
relief from debt and taxation. These
remorseless soulgrinders would proceed.
We now owe thirty-three millions. The
cost of session of the Legislature in
1859 and 1860 is less by 1885, 900 than
the cost of the Brownlow Legislature.
Many new Offices have been created and
host Of officers have been appointed to
domineer over the people and eat out
their substance Everything and every
body is taxed to such an extent that
strangers will not settle here, and the
best citizens will be forced to break up
and seek homes where the authority Of
Brownlow does not extend.
Our vast resources must remain unde'
veloped, unless we can affect a change.
Bad as the state of affairs is, the re-
election of Brownlow would render it
still worse. Another Radical Legisla-
ture under the inspiration of his resent
ments, would impose still further bur
dens on the people, and render the State
scene of violence, suffering and sor-
row from one end 10 the other. 1t would,
we have no doubt, advance boldly, madlY,
60 the point of making party politics a
test Of suffrage. In spirit, the present
franchise act is that already. An
amendment would render it 80 in
terms. There would remain to the
people not a solitary hope of ever
regaining their liberty or escaping the
prosecutions Of tyrants. Isit not impor-
Iant, then, to leave no means unem-
ployed to elect our ticket2 1t is, in our
opinion, our last chance The best men
of the State, the great majority, must win
the race, or prepare to leave the State.
That is exactly what the white Radicals
desire. Let them be disappointed Let
us endure heroieally the nausea of such
a contest, for it is better to do SO than
have the reign Of radicalism repeated.
We can win the victory, unless Conser-
vative counties are sscertained to
exist, and the registration in them
shall be annulled. We may expect
that, for Giles is an example. We
UiH win the victory, we firmly believe,
for the white men of the State are nearly
all going for Etheridge. The greater
portion Of the Union soldiers are going
for him. Hundreds who one month
since we're supporting BrownloE, have
turned over to him. The revelation is
tremendous Brownlow sees 1t, and is
preparing to put bis militia in the Geld
70 check il II will be OF no avail The
people intend to elect Etberidge and
.....,..~.fe him