Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-11
sa- A great Democratic meeting wa

held at Selma, Alabama, on the 9th inst,
which we find reported at length in the
Times. For intelligence and the high
standing of the men who composed it, it
is represented as hardly inferior to any
assemblage ever held in the State. The
following series of truthful resolutions,
which apply almost as we'll to us of Ten
nessee as to them, was adopted;
l. That we renew our pledges of fealty
to the Government of the United States,
and reaffirm our submission to the re-
suits Of the late war and our desire to
see the Union restored in its integrity
throughout the South, and permanent
State government established in Ala
bama, republican in form and congenial
to American institutions
IL. That these institutions are, in
spirit and form, the product of the wis
dom and sagacity of white men, and were
designed for the maintenance and pre-
servation of the ascendancy of the white
race in the political affairs of this coun-
try That the Government of the United
States is white mans government, and
that white men ough. to rule America.
III. That the negro is unfit for the
Offices of government. That he has
never achieved civilization or shown
himself capable of controlling or direct
ing the public affairs of q State or ma
ton; and that, as the right of suffrage is
the fountain from which flows all politi-
cal power in this government, he should
a 81
". That the freedmen should be fully
protected by the laws, and in the Courts
OF the country they should have justice
administered by the same rules that it is
measured to white men, Thatin person,
property, liberty and character, every
right should be asserted and every wrong
redressed. That neither by race, cult
yation, education or habits are they pre-
pared for the prudent or wise exercise OF
high political privileges, and that they
should not be conferred upon them.
V. That we protest against any pre-
tended laws or military orders which
assume to fasten upon the courts OF
this State negro officers and negro jury
men, as an unwarranted Interference
with our rights, and an uncalled for and
unauthorized Infringement of the laws Of
our State, and destructive of the right Of
trial by jury.
vi That we are opposed to the Con-
stiiutiou framed by the late pretended
Convention Of the people of Alabama,
at Montgomery, because,
LIST. Ii takes from the white people the
control of the State government and
gives it to the negro. :.
I'd. 1t takes all political power from
the superior and intelligent race. and
gives it to the ignorant and inferior race.
Sd. The result of its adoption will be
to fill the Offices of the State with men
who, for the sake Of Office, have aposta-
tized from the very blood that courses
in their veins, or with irresponsible and
for the most part abandoned adventurets,
who have no permanent home and no
abiding interest in Alabama.
4th. 1t proposes State government
so enormous in its expenditures and so
burdensome in taxation, as that its adop
ton will crush every material interest,
make our lands valueless, destroy the
agricultural labor of the country, Cypress
all, starve the poor, and food the land
with Incidence, and poverty, and famine,
and vice and crime.
9th. II DISTINGUISHES by the oath which
it requires, nineteen-twentieths OF the
white men of Alabama.
9th. Itrequires every voter to swear,
not only that he is in favor OF negro
equality nOac, but that he always will
be in favor of it.
18th. 1t makes that most valued of all
a
right Of sutfrage not upon
principle, but upon political opinion.
If Radical, a man has the right to
vote, if not Radical, he has no right to
vote.
9Th. 1t takes from us the right of
trial by jury of our peers.
9th. L. IA defiance Of the laws Of ma
ture which have made the white man the
superior, and the negro the inferior. 1t
is an insult TO the intelligence Of the age,
libel upon its civilization, a stain upon
the name of American, an absurdity
which will incur the ridicule, the con-
tempt, the pity Of the civilized world.
10th. 1t will fasten a moral gangrene
upon the nation which will rapidly ex-
tend TO other parts and will infect and
corrupt and DESTROY the republic.
llth. The principles involved in it,
extended and established in the other
geashe.. States viii vii f foT III a consolidate
political body, which, acting as unit,
will hold the balance Of power, and
through the general Government will
subject the people Of the United States to
the domination of the negro.
18th. Its adoption will be move back
ward from religion and civilization to
euperstition and barbarism; from the
Constitution aud laws to anarchy and
despotism from the high auspices ofthe
Caucasian to the low prestige Of the
African. It's policy win make Alabama
and the other Southern States African
provinces.
1t was further declared in the accom-
panying Report that the ground OF oPPo
sition to the new and. so-called Constitu'
ton was to avoid incalculable mischie
TO all the people Of Alabama, both whit
and black-ihat il proceeds from M
hostility to the colored race, but from tn
certainty Of evil results conseq1snn
mon "conftrring on them privileges