Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-24
Political Thraldom in Tennessee.

| From the st. Louis hepuencan.J
Some expressions of Governor Brown
low have warranted a belief that he
would favor the removal of the political
disabilities from the Confederates in
Tennessee: and this has led many Rad
ical newspapers to speak of such
nolicy in such com mon. sense terms as
rarely distinguish the political discus
siops of Republican politicians. They
seem to have been impressed with the
| idea that man as corrupt and malevo-
lent as Brownlow would not recommend
a measure of the kind unless its pro-
priety was so obvious as to make oppo.
sition or Indifference to it indecent.
Men of all parties who sincerely unite
with Grant in saying Let US have
peace" have hoped that the party in
power in Tennessee would give an ex-
ample of moderation and justice in the
removal of political disabilities. Such
an example would be initiated by the
other Southern States, aud thus the one
great ground of discoEtent and anarchy
would be removed. All attempts to
restore order and prosperity in the
South, while it is arbitrarily placed under
the rule of minority, and that minority
conf posed of half-bsrbarous negroes and
carpet baggers, mean and wicked enough
to lead negro party, will prove abor-
| tive.
The New York Tribune and many OF
its namesskes and imitators have at
times acknowledged this. In the Presi-
| Dental canvass of this year they were
prudently silent on the subject As they
have now secured four years lease of
power through the infamies of recon-
struction, it may be hoped their respect
for what is indisputably right will lead
them, in their triumph, to release the
| Southern States from negro rule sus'
tanned by military despoiism.
Brownlow will net favor the removal
of political disabilities from the Confede-
rates of Tennessee. 80 writes corre-
spoudent in that State of one of the most
prominent Republican newspapers in the
country. Ia this, the Governor and Leg
islaiure agree. They suppose the result
Of the Presidential election has given
them power to rule in whatever lawless
and corrupt fashion may please them.
| They will retain this idea unless the press
| Of the Republican party rebukes them for
it in such manner that they will under
stand that the sweeping disfrsnchise-
ment of white men in that State will not
be couuteuaneed outside of the State.
So, also, of Missouri The party in power
is minority party. 1t rules by fraud
and force, as ell such parties must do in
a republican form OF government.
The pretense that the safety Of the ma
| ton demands negro rule and white dis.
franchisement, is an gbsurdiiy of which
it IL difficult to speak respectfully. The
exact truth on this subject ought to be
admissible in public discussion; and the
exact truth with regard to that pretense
is, that il is lie as patent and notorious
as the truth that the Confederates learned
in the war, that they could not cope with
the superior numbers aud resources ofthe
Northern States They know they must
be obedient to the Government, because
they know the Government can compel
obedience When Lee, With his half
armed and halfslarved force of but little
more than thirty thousand men, surren-
dered to the grand army Of Grapt, on the
north, and Of Sheridan, on the west, aud
Of Sherman, on The south, the Southern
ers knew thst no choice was left them AZ
regards obedience 10 the Government.
ANY policy or act resting on q different
assumption Is At war With facts as plain
ia this country as that daylight and
dsrkness follow each other.
II Grant wants peace, let him tell
Congress that, in dsbbling With Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas, be wants 90 much
Of deceney observed as will permit the
people Of thoss States 10 g0vera them-
selves