Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-03
THE RESULT.

of this Union men whom we recognizeu
as true friends and brothers Ihey
brourht black men from Africa and sold
than to us for slaves, when they found
the way to use the money more probably
than 6y working them themselves. Ihey
nlsdged themselves in a solemn consu-
ption that they would guarantee ana
protect us in our new property We had
fertile soil, and they growing cihes'
money manufactures aud commerce.
We prospered, raised great staples, which
,bev consumed and manufactured ana
we and they became wealthy together
They were a very sanctimonious people
and taught that it would be morally
wrong TO interfere with slavery, which in
the providence of God (which they had
the principal hand in) was fastened upon
u.as an institution. They said it would
he cruel and wicked even to agltate
emancipation, and that it would endan-
cer insurrec,ions and the lives of our
people.
Bat soon, and gradually, and pro-
rressively, and without any strenuous
and competent effort TO prevent It's
growth, there sprung up in their midst a
party favoriug abolition at our sole ex'
nense and risk. And when their con-
sciences had become very tender on the
subject of the wickedness of slavehold'
ing, as they pronounced it, they agitated
more and more; but their censciences
did not become tender on the subject oil
sharing the expense Of emancipation.
And finally, a great and overpoworing
Marty grew up to be in favor of that mea'
sure at all hazards, with the distinct I'M
derstauding it was to be done wholly at
our expense, and not in part at cost
to their own pockets.
In all this process, annoyances to the
Southern people became innumeraole
and irritating beyond endurance, while
M disnosition was manifested to share,
TO any extent in the expense OF four
hundred millions required to relieve their
now very sensitive consciences on the
subject of other peoples sins And they
ignored the fact of obligation resting on
them to protect us, which was contained
in the compact Of Union, notwithstand'
ing under it, by tariffs and cunning, they
had succeeded in turning the whole
stream of gold resulting from slave
labor into their own capacious
Golfers. We were stung to madness
and desperation and rebellion by all
these causes, which were go manifestly
without excuse and without justification
Unable then to bear more, what was
beyond the virtue of any known human
endurance, we went to war; still loving
the Union so well, and desiring its per
uetuation so earnestly that not all our
people would consent to a disruption,
even for an injustice, cruel to us, and
infinitely beyond all honest apology or
explanation. We we're poorer than they,
less numerous, and short of material Of
war and all the means of subsistence
with our ports soon skut up from all the
world, and unable to obtain supplies or
volunteers from any quarter. The sense
of Christendom was against us, because
of slavery, for which our northern neigh
bors were responsible rather than We
But, Notwithstanding all these patent
defects and weaknesses, we were impru'
dent enough to rush quite unprepared to
war. and our Government was weak
enough to require more of US than any
people which ever yet lived under heaven
endured; when it was possible to build
navy sufficient to open any port at will,
and provide succession of supplies suih'
Gent to avoid ell actual distress in the
country. With an enemy three-told
superior, rich, provided with abundant
supplies, and having an army fed and
made up in great part of foreign troops,
Surprising their own people in courage
and endurance; after four years war, in
which we gained more glory than any
people who ever before on earth fought
for and even won independence, we went
under, of course.
And now, not they who fought US as
brave soldiers, but they who got up the
fight and hid while it was going on, and
who are, from natural cowarlice, inca
pable Of magnanimity, are busy aug
menting tho shame Of an already inia-
nous name by trampling in the dust the
foe which, in the field, they never dared
face In putting upon us negro suffrage
they have capped the climax of dastardy
by mean outrage, and reduced us to a
condition worse than that Of ST. Do
mingo itself, which, after emancipation,
had a constitutional government. With
our State administration in the hands OF
the most vicious and incompetent Sc
lected from among Us, we are in worse
condition than any people under heaven.
The truth is, we should be in ecstacies to
receive despot, and delighted to ex-
change our present unstable and oppres'
sire government for the elemency and
forbearauce of any tyranny which ever
governed aud oppressed people. We
30, h., ,...,,, .,-o- ,Lo s,raya Of i;hartv