Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-07


the Government, to sustain the integrity
of the laws Of the State, and TO throw
their protecting influence around every
citizen. How / have discharged the
trust confded, ! leave you to judge. But
the time has come when something must
be done TO restore the disfranchised citi-
zeps to equal rights and privileges The
peace and quiet Of the State require this.
II can only be accomplished through the
honorable body Of which your House is
an integral part. No State in this Union
has such fertility OF soil Her mountains
and hills are rich In minerals. No coun-
try on earth has q more salubrious cli-
mate. We have all the elements within
our borders to make US great and pros
porous people. All that is required to
develop the resources OF the State Is
equal rights to all. Give this, and emf
grafton will flow into every quarter ofthe
State; capital will seek an investment
within our borders; the forges and fur.
naees that are now standing idle, will,
with almost magical effect, spring into
active operation; and our now barren
hSls will become vine clad, and every
valley will TEEN with an industrious
population; with our wealth and re.
sources we will soon become the keystone
of the arch Of the Union. As scheme
of finance, il will restore the credit of the
State our bonds will become at par
value; taxes will be reduced by the in-
creased value Of property; your system
of railroads will be perfected; we shall
have no further use for Receivers; the
increased products of the country will
give freights, by which the interest on
the bonds will be paid; North and South,
q market will be found for all our pro-
ductions under the system of common
schools established by your predecessors,
the advantages of education will be
brought to every family.
For these conditions, pray your hon
orable body to accept this memorial, and
give it the consideration that its i'm
portance demands, and extend equal
rights and privileges to all, and you will
give peace and quietness to the citizens
of your State.
After Chancellor Sbackleford had fin
ished his address, the Speaker inquired
whether any other of those who had at
tended upon the presentation OF the me-
mortal desired to be heard, upon which
Governor Foote, whose presence in the
crowd was observed, was loudly called
for. This gentleman, whilst still on the
floor, and in the act of going out of the
hall, addressed the Speaker only for the
purpose of disclaiming that he was there
for the purpose of making speech. He
said that he, as one of the signers of the
memorial which had just been read, was
profoundly thankful, as he knew those
associated with him on the occasion
were, for the polite and respectful recep-
tioH which their mem srial had received
at the hands of the members of the
House, and that he himself would de-
cline saying anything further in support
of it, being quite satisfied with the manly
and impressive explanation OF the char
acter and purposes of the memorial which
Chancellor Shackelford had already
given.
Governor Foote being vociferously
called to the clerks desk, from which
the Chancellor had spoken, ascended and
spoke in substance as follows:
Gentlemen, admonished as have just
been from the Chair, that only five min
utes can be occupied by me, shall labor
to be as concise as possible.
Gentlemen of the Legislature of Ten
nessee, you are now dealing with the
most vital concers of brave, high
minded, a virtuous and intelligent peo-
pie. Upon your action depend their lib
critics, their honor, their rights of prop
erty, their present peace, aud their fu-
ture security. They are patient, law
abiding, orderly, just, magnanlmous,
grateful for kindness, grateful even for
justice shown them, oblivious OF injuries
when once fairly atoned for, always pre-
pared to reciprocate benefits Oh, treat
them as they deserve to be treated. l
will not believe that it is more than
merely possible for you to treat them
otherwise. l cannot believe that you
will coldly refuse their earnest prayer
for freedom; that you will organize a
military force for their oppression, when
nothing of the sort is needed, and insult
ingly refuse to trust to their present SOL
emn protestations of peacefulness and
obedience to law. May God give You
wisdom to act your parts becomingly and
honorably in this most rough and peril
ous copjuncture.
Mr.. Hamilton here arose and asked of
Gov. Foote what guarantee of the public
peace he was prepared to give If the
prayer of the memorial should be granted:
Gov Foote-I have but FIVE minutes
time, but will endeavor to respond sat-
isfactorily.
Several members here exclaimed, As
many minutes as you want"
Gov. Foote oceeded-Those who sub
scribed the memorial were sincere in the
declarations made by them. They are
honest men and patriots. They had de-
clared themselves to be in favor of equal
rights; the sacred preservation Of all
vested interests; the maintenance OF the
laws of the land; the upholding of peace
and order; the rendition of justice 70 all
men. What could they say moref They
were opposed to violence and lawlessDess,
by whomsoever committed They were
in favor of restoring general am;ty and
brotherhood. They we're opposed to all
that could generate feelings of rancorous
unkindness in the bosoms of any portion
of our citizens; to all that would be cal
culated to keep alive jealousies, perpet-
uate distrust, ALLEVIATE particular classes
Of our citizens from other classes, renew
,iissension and strife, or enkindle the
flames Of civil war. The memorialists
desire peace, general good will, mag
unanimous oblivion of all in the past that
would serve to revive feelings of hos
tiliiy; the hearty union of our people,
and Of our whole people, in all that, twas
Of nature to promote the common hap
piness and advance the general welfare.
They desired to see all present misunder-
standings healed; and all conflicting
interests reconciled; all past unkindness
forgotteu: in short, they desired that we