Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-05-13
The Example Of Tennessee.
.om the baltimore Sum. MAY 4.l

From the Baltimore Sun. May a.
The announcement by Gov Brownlow
of his determination TO call out the mi
litia Of the State to suppress disorder
and preserve the public peace, is not q
very favorable symptom Of the workings
of reconstruction in the model State In
which the proscriptive principles which
Congress has since embodied in the laws
for other Southern States, were first put
in operation. In fact, so deplerable is
the state of things in Tennessee that
even that leading Republican journal,
the New York Times, is compelled to
declare that "the condition of Tennes-
see is far worse than that of any other
Southern State" The Times adds:
"The violence of political parties, the
operations of secret societies, the feuds OF
families and factions, the animosity be-
tween the white and black races, the Bit
terness against the Brownlow govern.
ment and the Brownlow policy have
brought about state of affairs in which
life is unsafe, society is in constant dis
turbance and industry is seriously pros
trated. We have recently had accounts
from gentlemen conversant with matters
in the middle and western portions of the
State, which have given US more vivid
idea of anarchy than anything that we
have ever before heard of in the United
States"
Such, then, is the result of the sweep
ing disfranchisemen of whites and en-.
franchisement of freedmen, Of the strin-
gent despotism and ferocious spirit in
which Tennessee has been governed.
Instead of bringing about paci6cation,
or even order, Tennessee is now, after
three years of Brownlowism, in condi-
ton bordering upon anarchy, and re-
quiring the militia to be called out to
preserve society from chaos.
When the Border State Republican
Convention assembled in this city last
summer, Mr.. Maynard, one of the mem
bers from Tennessee, made speech, In
which he declares that when Tennessee
acceded to the simple proposition of
legslating for the people-for human
beings-then all the difficulties of race
and complexion and condition dlsap-
peared. And so it will be throughout
this vast country when we reach that
simple altitude. All the difficulties that
have shaken US with tempest will dis
appear and be at an end" Read by the
light of actual events in Tennessee, we
may see exactly what this twaddle, and
much of the same kind from other Radi.
cal sources, was worth. Mr.. Maynard
was perfectly right in saying that such
as the state of things is in Tennessee,
$50 it will be throughout the whole coun-
try" when it is reconstructed on the
same principles. Most of the Southern
States, through the machinery of the re-
construction conventions, will soon be in
the same political condition as Tennes-
see, and the Border States are invited to
the same entertainment; and there are
those who would force it upon them if
they will not accept it voluntarily. What
a pl ospect for the South and the nation !
The fairest section of the land consigned
to anarchy, or else the heavy bsrthen of
taxation must be increased to keep up
large standing army for the purpose of
preventing the militia, so-called, of the
South from being overpowered by an out
ragged and prosecuted people.