Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-17

gEF The contest in Alabama over the
so called Constitution" which the State
has been ordered to make, and the
negroes, with the carpet-bag gentry, have
enacted, promises to be in earnest. The
intellect of the whites is reused to the
exertioh of its full energy. And we are
therefore convinced that the iniquitous
thing will prove an infamous abortion
instead Of a living reality. The Alabama
papers generally insist that no greater
evil than the adoption Of the negro Con-
stitution could befal the State. And as
nothing can be more true; and as the
Consultation, if adopted, is void in law as
in right, we are now satisfied it i0iU be
defeated
This Constitution takes away the ina
lienable rights of the people of Alabama
it perpetually deprives them of the
franchise--it denies them American cit
izenship forever-it taxes them without
epresentation-it makes them swear
humble submission to all present and
future tyrannies Of negro rule-it con-
verts men, whom God made free, into
slaves to slaves--it arms the white scoun-
drels who lead, and the ignorant blacks
who follow, to hold that people in eternal
subsection to an authority mex
pressibly mean, Infamous and infer
nal, and deprives them of the flu
ture power to defend and protect their
homes, firesides and children Surely
than this nothing could be worse. And
therefore are we confident that this
cannot be. The power may exist in the
United States, but the will does not, thus
to enslave the generous and noble whites
of Alabama. The tyrant victors so far
in this diabolical attempt to enslave
brave men because they are better than
themselves may well look to their
laurels. The Constitution, if they sue
coed in adopting it, will never be exc
cuied. The Rump Congress itself will
never sanction it. And then, if not
abandoned by common consent, may
come movement Of exceeding interest
TO the few white cendiaries-when' the
many headed negro mob will be without
a single leader When there is danger
ND, their white friends will desert them.
And we hope that the more sensible
negroes viii also see in time that this
ruin Of the whites by the most infamous
instrument ever devised by man involves
their own.
The following extract from the ad-
dress Of the ten Conservatives of the
Convention, contains the pith of the
matter:
The Southern people admit the thor
oughness Of the conquest-they trust in
the msgnanimity Of that terrible power,
which has overcome their heroic resist
ance, and they appeal to that tribunal,
which il the court Of the last resort,
in all Republics-.he People. II can
neither be corrupted OF intimidatedi from
It's approval. all laws in this Republic
derive their force, and against its veto,
no congressional majority can prevail
70 that great and magnanimous people
Of the North, the South in this her hour
Of need appeals.
Bat he chief reason which leads rs TO
conclude that no hope Of good govern
meut for our State. under the Consiitu-
ton framed By The Convention, can be
insuleed. Is that a close observation Of
the course Of The Convention has demon
siratei 70 us. that under ne proposed
svsfen rf urirersal outrage the political
power al the biaci,s Is coveted By set
Of political adventurers, having 70 M
terest in common with our people a. q
wsap0n Of defense, 70 be wieloea y
them 10 accomplish their own ssihsh