Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-01-01

Editors Memphis Appeal:
Having been absent some months
from Memphis, on returning the Other
day found the public mind very much
excited, and apparently confused in
regard to the selection Of a candidate sol
Mayor. The occasion seemed favorab 5
to the Inauguration Of the people TO this
imminent dangers 20 which they are al
exposed, sud the consequent necessity d
nominating an old citizen in whom a.
parties and classes Of the people might
confides To this end. I suggested con
ference between the leaders of all parties
Fortunately the apparent discord has
I resulted in the nomination OF an old ciii.
zen well and fsvorRbly known. Hon
{ John w. Leftwieh is not politician
/ merely-he is q working man. be has
I not sought the Office--aBd accepts the
I position al the sacrifice OF his private in.
/ teresis. such only are the men whC
ought to be trusted with the administFit-
( ton Of public affairs in this,fearful crisis
The mOlstrous idea Of negro suffrage Is
"a where fgAy realized out of Tennessee
/ IL the Southern States the poor deluded
/ negroes have, like sheep, been led 10 the
I polls, and have enacted the farce OF voting
/ for conventions, which will shortly end
/ in ridiculous nonsense. Reconstruction
o. the negro basis Is impossible, and
every man Of moderate intelligence will
soon find 1t out, If he does not already
know II.
The great question which must soon
/ be answered Is, where and how we are
] -. IfVl ynyffl nd Farr ia.
/ jOns 10 sustain us In making bread fol
fnext YEAR, Planting with the freedmen,
(dep0rafized as they are by having been
/ suddenly thrust into position for which
they are totally unprepared), has failed
! throughout the Southern States. We
have confsodted our property in our vain
/ efforts 10 make tie negroes producers
1 They have literally eaten up our su6-
/ stance. They have CONSUMED in thSiI
/ idleness all the planters had of their own
and all they could borrow from theit
merchants. And, now, they are not only
destitute Of the means Of subsistence, but
they are incapable Of making any ar
rAugement for the iuture. They must
lie down quietly and die Of starvation. OF
tbey must become robbers. They havG
arms, and they may be tempted 70 usG
them to supply the demands OF nature
This viii lead to their determination,
but that is not all-it will lead
70 the desolauon Of thii
poodly land. To avert this awful cRtas
trophe, Union organizations have beer
| formed both IN louisiana and Missile
slppi, and active efforts are being made
10 extend these organizations all ovel
the Southern States. Planting 10 tht
south with freedmen has failed from Tn,
Z f.fl lah ltst
great anxiety to MAKE cotton has led Us
into the mistake Of feeding the negroes
upon their own terms. To save them,
ana ourselves, we must nov feed them
upoH the terms which the necessity o.
the case imposes upon us and upon them
Faithful labor, on rational system, may
IS We the country from famine--if thai
system can be pat into operation without
/ DELAY. White and black must now work
or starve. The franchise brings mol
bread and thousau uds OF the poor delu'
ded negroes have already made that dis
coyery. We boast oiour superior intells'
gence-let ns make good our claim, By
the prompt adoption Of the bsst system
we can Jevise 70 combine the later o.
/ ths Derroes with the other essential ele'
ments of agriculture and II the negroes
refuse 10 work faiIhfully-then we vii
be blaneless. The negroes are not res
pousi)le for the present deplorabls pros
irali0n OF the country, We know that
a. a general rule, they are constitution
asly opposed to tabor, and II would b'
unreasonable 10 expect them 20 Wori
without CT nstrHint Of some kind. Ii W.
feed them In idleness, ss We have done
we hIt confirm them ia iadolent habits
and they must become paupsys--or soe
hers Tneofficers OF the GoVernment arr
hec8miag aware OF that fbct, and theJ
are ready TO cooperate with the peopl:
Of tie south 10 any practlcabie eystea
By which the negroes can be humaneiy
treated and required to werk-or stRrgs
The Radical Congress viii be thanAfa
% Tie people vi fae South fof saving
fheai 1oln fhe con1emnesion 0f the civ
ilisai aafia ief eE,xl asef. 1SaF III =
!, Ra 4 -i1fa VI