Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-29

Of detecting and furnishing the murderers
Of a man at such o place, is certainly a
very extraordinary exercise of power.
Well, sir, what took place? Many OF
the most respectable men in the city OF
Columbus, Georgia, we're arrested BY the
order OF this military commander. They
we're permitted TO 20 upon their parole,
upon their undertaking that they would
appear at Atlanta TO answer before.
military commission for the crime OF the
murder Of this man. They went volun-
tarily To Atlanta, and surrendered them
selves into military custody, and forth
with they we're put in cells that were
eight feet in length and three feet in
width, and with no opening except in the
top at this most extremely hot season Of
the year. Those trials have been pro-
crossing. The position Of these men was
changed by an order from the President
and Secretary Of War. They we're still
kept in close prison. Their trials are
now progressing to close, and see it
stated in one of the public newspapers
that il is demonstrated to the satisfac-
ton Of all those who attend upon the
trial, or who read the evidence, that all
the testimony that has been advanced
against them has been produced by per-
Jury and subordation of perjury, and
that they are bound to be discharged.
Sir, this course Of General Meade, and
this cruel and unusual punishment of
innocent men, upon charge, before trial,
and without any just grounds to impute
guilt against them, is one Of the remark
able features in the history of our coun-
try at this day.
Does the honorable Chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs intend,
and do his friends who pass such mea.
sures here design, that there shall only
be an illusion, a vain and baseless hope
held out to the white people Of the South
ern States of having an election even
according to the forms of the reeonstruc-
ton laws and of the governments that
have been framed in conformity to
them? If this policy is to be perse-
vered in, how long is it pos
sible in human nature to avert again the
conflict of arms and the strife of civil
war?
There is a point beyond which human
endurance is not possible. Men even
subjugatel and reduced to the obedience
that the rebels are may be driven TO a
point when despair becomes the only i'm
pulse and force of human will and of
human soul, and when driven by the ex-
tremiy of their despair, with the desper-
alton of men with no hope left in life,
they may again strike to break the
shackles that are now pressing them so
cruelty. 1t seems to me that if it was
the deliberate object and purpose of men
to force another conflict of arms, war
between the races, the white and the
black, the measures which they are
pressing from day to day could not with
more judgment be devised to bring
about that result. ~
Sir, raise my protest against the
passage of this measure. Ihfow it will
not be needed. Men are drink with
powe, and intoxicated with the dreams
of power. They are wildly careering on
in their way Of unrestrained and resist
less power, in their own judgment. But
sir, there are great laws in human affairs
that cannot be violated. These grea
and fundamental laws in the affairs o.
the people of the South have long beer
| trampled under foot, and the step onward
ceases not; it falls heavier and faster
upon that PROSTATE people every day
Such course of things cannot continue
forever. 1t must have an end. 1t viii
have an end; and in proportion as it hat
been pressed with extreme, vengeful
savage injustice and power, will be the
recoil.
Mr.. President, have not even read
the measure that is under debate. have
not had the opportunity to read it. | did
not know that it was to be brought uI
this evening. If l had l should have
devoted few minutes to its examina
ton, and to understand it as we'll as
could; but | have not had that oppor-
tunity. There has been haste, want
of due deliberation, a want of respect
for opposing political opinions and
views in the legislation of this Congress
beyond anything that ever dreamed of
and the informal and hurried manner in
which the present bill has been brought
up, and the precipitate manner in which
it is urged forward, is still an aggrava-
ton of that course of measures.
l know that cannot get time to ex-
anime this measure. That has been
demonstrated. The decree has gone forth
that the measure must pass; it cannot
and shall not wait. The supposed ext
gencies of party are too strong, too i'm
perative to permit any pause. In the
Senate of the United States are men who
represent States whose populations are
almost wholly opposed to the measures
of the majority here, crying in vain for
an opportunity to examine these mea-
sures, for time to consider them, to think
upon them, to summon up their obJec-
tions against them, to array these obJec-
tons and the reasons upon which they
oppose them before the country. All this
appeal is needed not Power, Unsuitable
power, needless of justice and reason,
presses forward, and with inexorable fate
passes measure after measure, the whole
purpose of which is to enthrall and en-
slave nearly one-third of the white people
of the United States.
Mr.. President, wish could make a
protest of sufficient power and strength
against the enormity of this precipiiate
Injustice, but with auy amount Of delib-
GRAFTON and reflection which ! could give
it | would be very inadequate to the task,
but called up in this late and hurried
hour of the session, and of the day, l
feel wholly incompetent to express the
condemnation which my mind and my
soul feels and would desire to express
against the passage ofthis measure.
The Princess Of Wales, on July 4th,
became the mother Of young daughter,
her fourth child. She was married on
March 10, 1868, and has now two sons
and two daughters, the eldest child being
four and a half years old The child Just