The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-09-19
SELF-PROTECTION.

w
Hon. A. A. Steele on the subject.
GonpoNsvlLLE, TENN, August 22d
1S67-HoN.T A. A. STEELE--MY DEAL
SrB: Eighty thousand white men, IL
Tennessee, constituting the mass ofthe
intelligence, and a large majority OF I'll,
taxpayers of the State, are proscribeo
from any participation in the affairs o
government, These eighty thousano
men are as Loyalty obedient to the laws,
and as respectful to the authority OF
government, State and Federal, as any
equal number arc in any State in the
United States. Their exclusion from
the rightto vote, and from the conse-
.qucnt exercise of all political privile.
ges, e~nslavcs and dcgrades them. Pc.
l~tlcaily they are cnslaved and degra
dcd. Whether this political e%nslave
ment and degradation is right or wrong,
no mar with the least sense of honor,
orthe smallest degree of intelligence.
will stop II moment to inquire. lie
who would contend that it is right, il
too far outside of the pale of honor fol
even contempt, or sunk too low in the
scale of intelligence for notice. Til.
not a question Of ordinary ditfercnc,
ofopInion in which men may be equal
ly honest and equally patriotic, which
ever side they may occupy. That it il
a fragrant wrong and outrage for one
set OF men to cnslave and degrade IAN.
other, admits OF no question. TO dc.
SO in the light Of the nineteenth ccntu
ry, is to exhibit the meancst and most
~cowardly tyranny.
This then is the attitude which the
people Of Tennessee sustain to each
other to, Gay the prescribed and polil
really cnslaved, constituting a large ma
jority Of the white acc, including tn,
mass of the intelligence, and most of
the taxpayers OF the State on the one
ide, and on the other therproscribers,
u vindlctivc opprcssors composed %
a lean minority Of the white race, many
OF whom deserted the late Rebels When
their cause began to wanc, and their
new allies the negroes. l have above
briefly stated the situation as it exist
in Tennessee, and in language as mild
and as little imblcd with passion as
possible. In view 0 fwhat human ma
1Afe is known to be, with wha kind oil
feelings. and sentiments do the disfran
chised, politically enslaved and pro
scribed majority necessarily regard that
vindictive minority Of white men, and
the ignorant negroes who thus disfran
chisc, enslave, and prescribe them 2 Is
it possible that they should ever pat {
ronize them in any way, or mingle with
them in social life? Can men once,
free, and with whom the memory of
that freedom still remains, become so
to thc'dignity Of manhood rs not
scorn the very presence Of those
cowardly creature who in the hour of
weakness would strike them down I |
Self respect may forbid any outburst +
Of passion respect for the laws and re
gard for the peace Of society, will rel
strain all violence, but q deep and bit :
'cr sense of wrong and INJUSTICE, and II
olty contempt for the mean and COW II
lrdly manner in which thiS~rong ano /
was done, will dig an impassa
lie gulph between the oppressed and ,
heir opprcssors. Men who have been V
rec, and who ore the descendants OF i,
r%cclnen, the memory of whose gallant
.ceds in freedoms still inspires I
hem, can never entertain other than l.
of bitter hate and u%nconquera -
le hostility toward those who oppress (
nd cnslave them. This is human M ~
ire, as it is illustrated on every page
.hich records the history of man. II
The natural and inevitable result of i,
us state Of things is, that the negroes
Tennessee will be deprived ofhomcs 81
throw out Of employment, to the di
itent Of the power of the ..disfranchis- !:
and enslaved mojority ofthe people v
olitical power they have none, but al
oral and social power, which is much l.,
ronger, they have, the whole Of which :"
be exercised in self-defense and re m
No threats of coniscation. .,
further degradation, can prevent it. 50
The very instincts of ever bt
ne man assure him that there Is ne e,
in yielding to such threats. Con y,
of private property in peace ri
hat is it? 1t is robbery! The mar q
ho talks about the conliscation of pr
tie property in time of peace, if he e'
lows what he is talking about, is aItl
'bbcr, and would steal, il not deferred
fear. You cannot save your prop vi
ty or your life by yielding to such 4 ca
man. The threat Of contiscation is
rcat of war. Coniscation is the OK ~
Use Of Il war power and n measur, CT
" resorted to in war. 1t is a ridicu ,L
Is absurdity to talk ofcoulscation in -.
ne of peace. When that begins there WI
be no peace. God have mercy on m,
, cOwardly traitors who talk of con
If any one droms that he lol
n save his property by yielding to the clf
reats OF such traitors, he is wofullyI.
stalker. Having deprived you 8Rlne
n liberty, which is much dearer toT(nr
cry true man, they will not hesitate.
any scruplcv of law or conscience. DC
take your property if they dare do rae
Every man worthy the name will y.
six feet BY three of his real estate oie
her than resign his right to control sta
When that hour arrives life will be
valuable to every such man. 'o'
he will sell it as dearly as possible.
ut then these are only the threats Ia,
.principled towards, and would be.
rs. Every man Of N knows he
the cOnfiscatlon of private proper. the
time of peace is an impossibility.
mot be done. Let towards and Tis'
Drs therefore threaten aud buster; ant
'ue men will stand firm, and simply =
@ to prostitute their manhood, or iuc
lice their self-respect by licking 1
add raised to smite them, or byI:..
BRING their enemies. III Z"
dear sir, ! have written as / have Of
in sorrow than in anger. You s;v
that ! am not one Of the proscri-
so far M the RIGHT to voto 10 cor hlc