Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-07-26
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cLARKsv1LLE, TESS., July 10, 1857.
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first step in such action, one that you
sometime since advised. In the discus.
sion Of what is best to be done, l begin
with two propositions !. That strife and
disorder In this state Is inevitable under
any possible circumstances. 2. That
such strife and disorder viii be rendered
far less bloody and general by the defeat
Of the Brownlow faction in the coming
election. To fully establish the first pro-
position, would require a more extended
array Of facts han i could tax your space
with, in one communication. ] shall,
therefore, only call attention to the undis-
puted facts that the white and black
races Of Tennessee stand arrayed in two
bitterly hostile political factions; that
four-hfths Of the white race have been
d~isfranchised, whilst all Of the black
have been given the ballet; and that
this favored faction seem determined to
exercise their new monopoly Of the rights
Of freeman to continue the degradation
of the whites. This most unnatural re-
~lationship Of the two races must produce
conflict. 1t has already produced such
fruit, and Of q kind that promises a yet
ranker harvest OF blood. in its first out
cropping at Franklin, thoughtful patriots
will not care 10 inquire who struck the
first blow. The significance Of that af-
fair, for such is In its exhibition Of a tenn
per between the two races, that must
find its conclusion in general strife, aud
amongst its most fearful portents, is the
display Of an enmity on the part of the
blacks towards the whites that does
not hesitate 20 proke a settlement
Of arms. Brighten. Carlin's own
bureau report Of that difficulty shows
there would have been none, if the col
ored leaguers had not have defiantly
marched to the spot, where 3 few white
friends had assembled to protect Col.
House from q threatened assault. The
same report also states that all Of the
colOred wounded were shot in the back.
This would be deemed by any legal tri-
bunal az somewhat initiating against
Gen. CaTlinis statement that the small
white party had first fired, as they could
hardly have been injured by men with
their backs to them. But Iallude to this
difficulty not to discuss the provoking
party, but only in proof Of my first
proposition, that the present attitude Of
the blacks and whites in this state must
end in strife. ! come now TO consider
my second proposition, that such strife
and its consequences would be less bloody
and disastrous by the defeat Of the
BrownlOw faction in the coming election.
If quiet submission to all that the satanic
hate of this faction might devise for the
humiliation and oppression of the white
people Of Tennessee could avert strife,
then we might and should be content
to permit the triumph Of this faction,
through its infamous and unlawful con
troll Of the ballot box. But such submis-
sion, before OF after that triumph, is only
submission TO the gathering and eonsoli-
dalton Of elements Of conflict, that will
burst upon the state with far more fury
after this collection, than would result
from scattering them now. Tire utmost
desire for peace on the part OF both white
and black, could not avert the impend-
ing tempest. Like the eruption Of some
volcano, whose causes and control sre
beyond human effort, so this storm cloud,
the inevitable result OF g hostile array Of
races, will burst and rive the stste, and
mayhap, the nation, with its thunder
bolts. The success of the present Usurpa-
ton. will give fresh and tremendous
accession to these terrific elements. And,
most serious Of sl for the white people of
Tennessee to consider, that accession will
largely add TO the destructiveness
Of this tempest TO them. Governor
BrownlOW, with a new Jesse OF
tyranny Of two more years, will possess
unlimited facilities for giving the black
race the means Of perpetusting their
present domination over the whites. No
one doubts his readiness to do this.
Many r and able men favor our pres
eut acquiescence in BrownlOw's ediets Of
election, net with the hope Of accom-
plishing his defest thereby, but believing
that we can obtain a peaceful redress
afterwards through the instrumentality
Of 2 state convention. No one, / pre-
sune, vi deny that such mode would
encounter obstacles At laast as IOTmida-
bic, and as much ~provocatiou of strife, as
could arise frem the resolute mainten-
ance Of our legal rights at the coming
sleetten. AND the former mode offers
no advantages over the lEUter Ia the
respect OF legality. There are many
other eoTrOllsries from the two PROPOSE
tons l have laid down worthy Of discus
sion, but regard for your space compels
me to forego them. If they be admitted,
then the question to consider is how the
BrOwnlOw faction may be defeated in
ths approaching election. 1 think no or
binary observer Gan doubt thst faction
will, under its declared forms Of
conducting the election, be announced
as victorious. This being so, there re-
mains no hope for its defeat except by
the maintenance Of our legal rights, at
all hazards, al the ballot box. One Of
these rights, and the most important TO
exercise, is the appointment Of other
than BrownloW's henchmen to condcut
the elections. If we shall determine and
dare 70 exercise this in every precinct In
the state, her his defeat is certaiu-Oth-
erwise impossible. II Brownlow ignores
his defeat thus accomplished, then let Us
equally determine and dare to ignore his
ignorsnee. To make this resolve effect
I've, / is plainly necessary that the
people Of '~fennsssse should at once prop
erly organize for that purpose. il is true
such needful organization could not be
secretly accomplished, therefore let it be
done u the light of heaveD and if tyranny
should seek 10 stay it the issues of our lib
critics will be much SOOner decided, and
with far less bloodshed than mlfst ensue
from q deferred arbitrament. Ii it was
not thus seriously interfered with, then a
would DO likely tn occur at the
polls. Our concern about this need only
be exercised in regard to the extent and
effectiveness Of our preparations to meet
il. And I venture % believe, the likeli-
hood Of such q conflict viii diminish in
the ratio Of the stout arms and bold
prepared to maintain u rights.
The next and the most material QUes-
ton, bearing upon such efforts to resist
usurpatiOn, Is the almost certain inter
Of the dominant parts or the Ma
Ths great. apprehension which
keeps u people from asserting their
plain legal rights is, that such interior
ence would result in the perpetGsti0n Of
RrOwnlOW's accursed despOism. Such
coDsumulation were indeed sufficient to
'' give US pause" and alSEe rs 4" bear the
g1T- v, -. - IraN "a -e.e q
dominant party is to keep ten states out
Of the union. For the Justification Of
such purpose they are eagerly using the
troubles In Tennessee TO illustrate the
unwisdom Of a too early admission of
once rebel states. It is therefore rational
to conclude that its interpositon in any
collision between the people Of
Tennessee and their tyrants would
syentuate in our being remanded back
10 q territorial condition. This result,
though highly undesirable Of itself,
wsuld, l am sure, be gladly welcomed as
IN escape from the clutch of 3 despOt,
such as curses humanity but once in q
history. The very form IN
whigh that interposition would first
come, that Of United states soldiers, Z,
would relieve US from that most aceursed
instrument of the most accuTsed of ty-
ants, meliSh.' Occupying |.
hose deeps fOppression han which there
ian be none lower, nothing we may dare
10 do can render our situation worse. And
when not only the possibilities, but the :
exceeding strong probabilities Of innn-
lettering our condition lie on the !
tide CT bold resolve and effort, then we {
are less than men If we quietly submit
% the contamination Of BrOwnlowls he'll
sh schemes and acts. If that eonsum.
nation were only his personal triumph :
md our oppression, 'twere not so intoie-
able, but it involves one Of the bIoodiest ,
of races that ever made the angels
weep. The sum of my discussion then, q
3 this that the triumph Of BrownloW's
in August Is but the inaugurs-
ion Of disorders, that will grow more I
widespread and serious with the progress
4 their rule; and that, there-
ore, their defeat then is the
irst condition for the peace Of
he states, and that this defeat can only
,e comprised by our resolute purpose to
Onduct the election according to law
nd that whatever national interference
nay come frsm this course cannot rem
Ter our situation worse, but in all Iikeli-
IOOd greatly better it. II these cOuclu-
are correct then the first and most
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