Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-05
NEGRO GOVERNMENT In THE
SOUTH.
From the National InteIligencerJ ]

|
which has been offered to the Presiden
for approval by the two Houses Of Con
gress is declared to be unsccountable a
fact, except upon the hypothesis tha
the jealous partizans through whose ur
gency it has passed, fearing q popula
reaction in the North and West unfavor
able to their personal and party ascend
ency, have recourse to this stupendou
innovation as an expedient for ohsettinl
the popular will at their several homes
with the full political weight of the SOW
ereign States of the South the scheme
to become practicable through the un
natural and shameful substitution of ne
gro bodies polite, one for each State, in
the place of the constituent people, the
brethren and peers of the North. Can
| this be2 If so, history is dumb of all
example, blank of all precedent, and ig-
norant Of all analogue for such an op.
preston. Carthage, indeed, was de-
stroyed, for Rome dared not let her re =
main. Fear impelled crime else i'm
possible, even to that unsparing and
unprincipled people "A crime, too,
against a race divided from them
by mountains and seas, and by the
more inseparable barriers of instructive
repugnance, without affinity of blood, of
religion, or of origin. Yet even these
Romans, as Scipio foretold, by thi, crime
darkened the national conscience, and
drove each other downward, step by step,
into final desolation. Then, il this
scheme be the real animus of the bill
a Southerner more than Carthage .,,rn
or a supporter of it, better thanS9 Ro.
man All mankind bear. s,siHes. that
submission to conq9ffsr is calamity
so great that the sttc.6est of them have,
mar agEz 'tsafss~-eesps' sf.s~ nations, generally
contemplated the vanquished with com
passion and frequently with tenderness.
The exceptions are exhibited TO our
youth only Tor abhorrence. Yet this
would be so much worse, that the van
ouished must be denied the miserable
privilege of obeying their subjugator,
and be subjected TO the unheard Of shame
of being governed by his delegates, con-
sisting Of their own freed negro slaves !
No man is bad enough-we care not what
ty-ant's name he bears in human annals
to impose on his fellow man such a
burden qratuitously. Only some object
ia the highest degree stimulating TO his
evil human nature could crafty the most
unfeeling human being to thus dishonor
the arm of strength and blacken the
name of manhood. -,
II cannot be to restore the Union, for the
word does not, nor the idea appear ia
,ba hill The bill does not
nretend to aim at the restoration Of the
fJnion. Its plain sense is bill TO pre-
vent the restoratian of the Union.
The object Of this bill is
10 proyide means of permanently do
fvipa public opinion. If, by the very
men who talk Of impeaching the Presl-
dent n was conceived possible that he
vould abuse power, not one OF them
would expect 10 keep his head on his
shoulders after such measure had been
exnanded to its full stretch by a u'urp.
ing President, except on eondition oil
supporting his crimes.
This bill declares every individual IN
the South, loyal or disloyal, black or
white, in a state of outlawry
But II is fact, that by the terms OF THIS
h;ll no civil right whatever shall survive
IN the territory ycomprehended in the late
States to be made military districts
Stripping the matter OF mere
,.,ront;onnl distinctions, how does this
differ, from slavery - A.
Let Il once become familiar TO tne
npblic mind that popular sovereignty Is
70 be enjoyed or denied according 70
o;rcnn stances, and the principle thus
Sesd there is no formal foundation oil
1;bo~iv and no restraint upon dema-
~o1nc,Y AT such q time, q military
eb;ef having a soldiery in charge, ismit
- ,vi,b oppressioa, and careless OF the
"a .N;a.;nle once so dear to as all. would
bave bat to persuade himself that hs
Gould better the condition OF the country
so5 ibat his force was the stronger, 10
oa,ar 80, al once. without scruple and neees-
liz without failure, upon suoverslon
- asv existing administrator or gov
=. - ,t relvinr. not without Well-
sinnSe5 confidence, on the applause OF
49, and the acquiescence OF more,
hopeless Of better, and glad o. repose.
4 country that will acquiesce, 20
line of universal peace, 10 measure
S.j;bera,ely abrogating the Sonsutauou
III avs in toto over bali the naiion,
-, - sEse.;nc 10 keep them IN force IN
- o,ber hsif Is country ignorant OF
@ .l,e = S..'s sS's,;,nt;on and. therefore, incapa-
Ne III a saving faith in H. saoh sle
Me are ripe for sell as-seilieu'' anu o."
imminent peril Of Their ifeou0"'