Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-11
RFPEAL-REPRAL.


the repeal of the reconstruction laws
in plain and emphatic phrase. And in
this we believe he is not in advance OF
the sober sense of the country. Demo
Gratis without exception, and large
share of the moderate Republicans, will
now be found in favor of such repeal,
as the only and feasible means of restor'
ing peace, harmony among the States,
and prosperity to the people. The rule
of the Anglo-Saxon is the condition of
life to republican government, and Of
safety and well.being to ali sections.
The North ought to put down negro
rule, and the party which is base enough
to impose it, even at heavy cost, because
the North ought to be just instead of
relentless and cruel. fit will not, we
rejoice that the price TO be paid is the
loss of their liberties with ours, and that
they too must fall into the pit which
they have digged for us; for we delight
in Justice. Negro rule can only exist
with military rule. And they cannot
co-exist, while liberty survives to
this country. TO admit negro States
as individual sovereignties of this
Union would be to make an end of the
work of our fathers. 1t would be the
destruction, by legislation, which by
arms we could not achieve. Hayti, st.
Domingo and Jamaica, with ten, eleven
or twelve Arricanized Tennessees, South
Carolinas, Mississippis, Louisianas and
Alabamas cannot be Incorporated among
the States of the once proud American
Union, without its utter destruction. Is
there man alive so dull as not to see
that ? Can any rational man expect a
meeting in Congress of homogeneous
materials, and harmonious and intelli-
gent action, necessary to the nations
life, from body Of representatives made
up of such a mongrel mass ? From
such conditions anarchy is inevitable,
and national disgrace and ruin unavoid-
able. Congress would become a bear
garden, filled with beasts from the
Southern menageries. And then, If 1t is
true, as we have been taught, that come
share of intelligence and virtue is
necessary to Republics, such gov
ernments will be no more, on
our soil. We have justified mo
narchieal rule in France and other
countries on the ground that those peo-
pies we're uuprepared and incapacitated
for liberty. And yet We are mad, or we
would rather say, wicked enough to
claim that liberty will survive such
equality as gives domination to the
negro, and makes the African the peer
Of the Anglo Saxon race To such ex-
tremes Of degradation, it is manifest the
venom of fanaticism and the blindness
of party rage are capable Of sinking the
land of Washington, Adams, Jefferson,
Henry, Madison, Apes, Hancock, Jay
and Jackson.
There is no despotism on the earth so
remorseless, and where the tree Of Lib
erty would not thrive by tenure more
infallibly certain. There is none so
unstable, so grinding, nor half so infer
nal Except under the behests of party
half puritan, half hypocrite, half pagan,
and half demon, no States formed by
such people, and with such govern
ments as we are now forming under
the bsyonet in the South, could
gain an admission 10 the great Union
Of American States. Aud they must be
excluded or elected if we are to have a
government good enough to retain the
classes Of citizens who most contribute to
the well being and glory Of States. The
Destruction acts must be repealed. In
the interest Of all sections and all classes
we echo the siaiesmanlike suggestion Of
the President that those acts must be
repealed and declared void ab inifio,
and so expunged that no trace Of their
effects shall remain; and, if it we're pos
sible, their very name and fame obhte-
rated forever. That message Of the
President, so snesred at by the Con-
gressional BroWnlows, was worthy the