Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-06
PUBLIC LEDGER.
THE GRAND oYERREAoHINa.

When malice usurps the province OF
reason, the victim whom it seeks to de-
stroy, is likely to escape. The feeling
of vengeance directs one to fatal mis-
takes, because it is incapable of compre'
hending the situation, or providing
against contingencies. The murderer
who escaped, and avoided detection for
many years, and lived abroad in security,
has been induced by an inde6nable curl
osity to revisit the scene of the tragedy
that made him an outlaw, Nothing is
safe but reason, and nothing can endure
but truth and justice. The bloody
butcher of France, after all his atrocities,
fell a victim to the guillotine. Blinded
by the rage ofhis passions, objects of the
future danced mistily before him. His
idea was that France, to subserve his
purposes, must become, If necessary,
slaughter pen. Human life was nothing,
liberty crime, and the many were but
convenient instruments with which TO
work out the plans of tyrants.
How will similar doctrine and prac-
tice succeed in this country In our
own State, what is the status of three
fourths of the people? What is the
shirt that domineers over them? Is it
not outlawry? Is it not base tyranny ?
Tennessee is a State in the Union, aud
is supposed to be under the protection
of the Constitution. 1t is falsehood-
it is a Iie-a lie, for the correct charac-
terization Of which, our language affords
no term. A minority, small in numbers,
but desperate in fortune, have usufped,
and do usurp, the Government They
not only do not legislate for the people,
but they legislate against them. The
people are not only outlawed, but are
taxed to support, and do support, the men
who outlaw them. Driven from.the polls
themselves, they are taxed to feed and
clothe those whom a few dozens elevate
to Office. Driven from the juries they pay
the expenses of the administration ofjuss
tice. They bear the great burdens of the
State, while its benefits are withheld from
them. And now they are to have the
negroes, that vast black cloud of pauper-
ism, clothed with the franchise and
placed over them. Eight thousand men,
from the floating scum of society, are TO
be organized to enforce the will Of the
few over the many-to consummate the
work of subjugation. What spectacle !
The boot-blacks of the great city of
Memphis march up to the polls and vote,
while the men who laid these broad
streets, erected these princely structures,
own all the property, and pay all
the taxes that 60 into Brownlow' s
treasury, are 10 be driven off
by hired mercenaries, black and white.
And this a republican State, this free
Commonwealth Shame, shame In
teIligence is under the ban, and virtue is
at discount Rottenness, corruption,
ignorance, are in the ascendant Brute
force, not justice and intelligence, is
now the bond of union Can it endure ?
Has it ever endured in country claim
ing to be free2 1t is libel on govern
ment, a SANDER on liberty. Its fate is
in the future, and justice, though for a
time fed to british breasts, is pilgrim
of the earth, not the slave Of ignorance
vice, tyranny and corruption. A little
more Of this black night, but the day vii
break AT last