Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-07-23

compelled to live in q government where
one.half the country was pinned to the
residue by bayonets," 1t was the uni
versal sentiment ofthe Abolitionists that
they were glad and willing the South was
going to secede; that they regarded the
Southern States as a bill Of expense TO
the Government, and we're glad to get
rid of them. And the SHAREHOLDERS, in
the arrogance and weakness of their
pride-despite the warnings of the Dem
ocratic party that they would involve
themselves in war and ruin--took the
advice of their dear friends, the Aboli-
tionists, and etsayed to set up govern
ment, with negroes and cotton as
basis. cite these facts TO prove Free
Thinker assertion that the very
best Of our Northern friends induced US
to secedo said friends being the
Abolitionists, and not the Democrats, as
this very free thinker would have us
believe. 1 rt.aI'
The advocacy of secession by the
Abolitionists, in 1861, caused them to
lose the Spring elections all over the
North New England particularly which
stubborn fact proved to them that seces-
sion and dissolution Of the Union was
not popular with the people, and sud-
denly an absolute change in the tone of
their press became apparent. From an
advocacy Of the South, they veered
around, in a fortnight, to a declaration
of war upon her. And in light of these
facts l find one Southern mani pre-
sumo he is Southern man, else he
would not be such free thinker-who is
Aippant enough, to condemn a body OF
people for troubles and distresses which
they attempted to prevent, and which he
and his like are entirely responsible for.
A "Free Thinker" I" speaks of the
Democracy as being prolific of fair
promises" tits our pride and boast that
we were but you would not avail your
selves of them. And it comes with q
bad grace from Free Thinker" to
taunt us with " hollov, pretense, empty,
timid, half.spoken Condemnation of
Lincoln policy, when he and Lincoln
were in collusion to dissolve the Union
in 1861. .3iCmil * yjioqo14 1000 (
/ can't conceive that ii would be Grim
inal for friend of Je6ersion Davis to
vote for Northern Democrat, no more
than it would be to take the oath of al
Iegiance to the United States-both of
which, under the distressing circum-
stances of the times, contend to be the
most sensible things Southern man
can do.
The following is a precious bit of au-
dacity for Free Thinker " to indulge
in, when the history OF the last seven
years is SO perceptible to the most care
less reader:
Everybody sees and admits that the
South is now robbed and humiiated be-
cause of its adhesiod, perfect unit, TO
Northern Democracy. Democracy made
no sacrifices for me or my kindred l
shall make none for its behoot
So far from being the truth, the above
is precisely the reverse, and it certainly
exhibits the writer in base light ltis
because you disregarded our warnings,
listened not TO our advice, needed not
our entreaties and fair promises, that
you are "robbed ard humiliated." ;" You
seeded from our National Convention,
broke up oar party, nominated faction
candidate upon a slave platform-thus
insuring Lincoln's election-and ended
your career of folly by accepting the
war challenge of our political enemy
the very object they desired above all
others-and fred the first shot of the
war; thus arousing the sleeping fanati :
cism of the North, whiehhad been held
in abeyance for years by the Democracy,
and thus alone prevented you from being
strangled, "robbed and huniliated q
quarter of century before. The Demo-
cratic party North stood for years be +.
tween you aud the enemy who have st
last got their feet upon your necks. 1t
was only by the sid of the Democratic
party North that you were ever secure
in your slave property, or any national
law made for your especial benefit; and,
as soon as you sloughed off from US, you
lost your power in the Government lost
your property, became helpless, and dis
franchised, and are now robbed and
humiliated" by our lifelong enemy at
their will and pleasure.
While nine tenths Of the Southern peo-
ple never saw an Abolitionist previous to
| the war, the Northern Democracy were
compelled to live with them, receive and
give blows, take abuse and obloquy, suf-
fer ostracism in business and social lifer
simply because they defended Southern
institutions and wished for peace and
union with the South. And yet this
Free Thinker tells US the Democracy
made no sacrifices for their principles
and their country If he would make a
fourth the sacrifice Of his partizanship
and sectional, selfish prejudices'
that he advises other people so dicta-
. 80 n. Ae,t he r;svra would receiye