Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-07-10

u @ E1N@a ~ ~ N@A@Ae v
which it contains, we're then to be
strictly construed, they are to be con.
strued in the same manner yet. So in.
terpreting it, the principal legislation Of
Congress in respect to the liberated slaves
is sheer usurpation and s subversion Of
the Constitution, and powers are every
day exercised by Congress that e~ncroach
on the rights of the States and have rev.
~olutionized the Government.
It is now demanded Of the People Of
Arkansas that they shall admit that all
these gross and glazing usurpations are
but the exercise Of legitimate eonstitu.
tional power; that the Constitution never
was a compact between the States, and
that these are in no sense sovereign.
1t is demanded that they shall give
their assent TO all the enCrOachments Of
Congress upon the just ~prerogatives of
the President, and the assumption by
| that body Of all the powers of a Supreme
Parliament as the French National AS
sembly.
Its demanded that they shall solemnly
pronounce that there has been no lawful
government Of the State, since the Ordi-
nance of Secession Of May, 1861; that
since then It has had no Constitution, and
that when the reconstruction acts passed,
it had no legal existence as a State.
Under the threat Of general confisca-
ton and general Acknowledgement, it is
imperiously ordered that the people Of
the State shall accept the negro as Sd
Elector, and guarantee him the right of
Suffrage and the right to bold office, in
perPetuity, by an unalterable provision
Of a Constitution, TO be made by him and
themselves jointly. After refusing with
contemptuous scorn even to consider the
Constitutional amendment, they are
now required to eat their words and
swallow it with additions that make it
utterly detestable, when they must at
the same time confess that they do so
under the influence Of menaees and the
efficient pressure Of despOtic power
that, in short, they do what they Iosthe,
upon compulsion, as the slave does his
days werk under the ~overseer's lash.
And finally it is demanded that they
shall consent to the perpetual disfran-
chisement of most Of the men who have
heretofore served the State, of their own
Democratic leaders, and Of those who,
devoted to the Union, were yet con-
strained by the tyranny Of circumstances
and the former course of the State, to
sanction and even advise her sharing
the fortunes of her sister States Of the
South. This they must do, although
they have heretofore protested that it
would be dishonorable; although the
world has already pronounced that it
would be dishonorsble and although it
is precisely because it will be 50, that the
leaders Of the Mslignants are determined
it shall be done.
Ought the people Of Arkansas to do
these things? Especially ought those to
do so who have always approved the po-
HticsI course of the State, and who
united in the attempt to win independ-|
ence for the South? AND if they do so,
viii not the World and History impute
it, whether justly or unjUstly each will
to answer for himself to the serviI-
ity Of fear, and say that this people has
been ready " with the falsifed names Of
and obedience, to colour over base
c0mpliances p"
What remains to be said, we will say
tomorrow.