Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-09

could be justified. On the contrary, 1t !
the duty of the government to protec
the people in the peaceful exercise of al
their rights, and not only refrain iron
preventing, but carefully see to it tha
eve ~ State shall have republican gov
eminent. We ask of the President, if W
have such an officer, some authoritativ,
expression on this subject, for we are no
disposed to agitate against, butin accord
ance with the law. The fact that specific
means for amending the Constitution arr
provided in that instrument itselfis of nj
moment touching the question of alter
ing, reforming or abolishing an existing
government. There is no call for con
vention to patch up constitution with
amendments, and therefore no reason fol-
being bound by the forms requisite
for the purpose of amending.
The correspondent continues:
Thus it will be seen that insuperable
obstacles stand in the way of a popular
revolution looking TO the enfranchise-
ment of the ostracised whites. 1t will
naturally be asked, would peaceful or
bloody revolution, as the case might be,
be resorted to If the interference of the
General Government was not taken into
calcnlation2 1t certainly would al the
earliest possible moment The great
mass of ex rebels feel keenly their degra-
dation, bearing in mind that they are
practically governed by negroes-their
late slaves. Whether right or wrong in
their estimate, they consider the Brown
| low despotsm as unconstitutional, an
outrage on the natural freedom of the
citizen, and embodying the meanest and
most vindictive tyranny ever connected
bv a selfish and narrow-minded knave.
Viewing the situation in that light,
Brownlows militia would be of small
moment in preventing a popular revolu-
ton, if it was not feared, and justly too,
that the United States Government would
sustain the State Government in repress-
ing revolutionary proceedings. And so
the case stands to-day.
1t is a mistake to suppose the dis
franchised whites in Tennessee have any
disposition to resort to violence of any
kind, or to infringe the fundamental law
of the State, or the supreme law of the
nation, in any respect whatever. If
there is disposition to hold conven-
ton at all, of which we are not at pres
ent advised, certain it is, there is no
disposition to have any thing but
peaceful one, in accordance with law.
We do not say that such convention
could be overborne, in defiance of plain
right, without producing collision. But
the responsibility and the wrong if any
there should be by taking the initiative,
can never rest on the disfranchised
whites of Tennessee.
The correspondent continues:
Think you that this system of proscrip-
ton and revenge-for such it really is,
Notwithstanding the abundance of loyal
cant brought to bear in its defense-thlnk
you that it in any way subserves the end
of loyalty, or strengthensthe Republican
party2 There is nothing in the world
more certain than that its tendency is
exactly in the opposite direction, as time,
and that before great while, will surely
determine. If the Republican party of
the nation can still thrive and flourish,
while indoraug the denominations Of
Brownlowsm, or that love and reverence
for the Government can be promoted by
oppression and injustice toward a large
class of its subjects, then are the clique
of officeseekiHg Radicals in Tennessee,
with Brownlow at their head, liberal and
Christian statesmen, instead Of the verl.
est political schemers and unprincipled
demagognes. With the fraud, oppres-
sion and wrong that have been brought
into play by brownlow to secure the
loaves and fishes, and effect a temporary
Radical triumph, such a triumph was
simply inevitable; but it has been Sc
cured at fearful expense, for it is rap
idly hurrying the Republican party to
destruction,
After discussing the requisites and
forms Of proceeding, through action Of
the legislature, for the purpose Of show
ing the time required and the impratica
bility of amending the Constitution,
which no one thinks of proposing, our
correspondent concludes as follows:
The prospect certainly looks gloomy
enough for the DISTINGUISHED class in
a.,1 oh 80 he
dered that there is a sort of subdued
desperation among that class, in view of
the inauspicious surroundings. There
is still one fimsy chance Of relief, which.
uncertain and unpromising as it is, the
rebels have not lost sight Of An appeal
has been taken to the Supreme Court Of
the United States, testing the constitu-
tionality Of the franchise law, which the
State Supreme Court decided valid and
binding.
A decision in the case, it is expected,
will be delivered the coming winter or
spring, and there are not wanting those
who are quite Pnguine that the law re-.
ferred to will be pronounced unconstitu-
tional by the highest court in the land.
There is one thing that this question
Of suffrage ought and will bring about
an amendment to the Constitution Of
the United States guaranteeing universal
suffrage, or suffrage on such basis Of in
telligence and property qualification as
may be deemed desirable. 1t is simply
a fragrant outrage that the rebels Of Ken
lucky can keep from the polls thousands
Of colored citizens Of that Commonwealth
who have fought nobly through the