Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-26

- PIE on Ire substantial Liberties or III,
I american citizen or sought to Wre,t the electiy
franchise hom hose eniftlfd to Il by he an
cieAt Lsages a d laws Cf TIE Republic. No FAC
tion ever before prop red 10 secure liz sueceS
= by such crime This off.,nsa Is se 1,5sre
: because the act does DOT stop with stsIkfD,
dove The liberties aud franchises r ffe eltizrs
Dut caps upon the victims OF this law essuesl
tcs lBhotnlny OF political 50 bO- diuatIOn 70 an
lnlsiioF race Did the founders 4 the republi,
+ ever intend that shy part OF the white shOuId
I, De subjected 10 the bl-ck race2
THE INTEREST OF THE NORTHERN PEOPLE IN
THIS MATTEL.
~ concerns the people o. the Norihern States
Wnoi tlank Tod are yet free. scarcely less than
those rePrezc uted by your uessoTtaiisfs ~
ON-fth rlW ths Infamous y sl.cfes OF which we
o,IilisIll, II our people within tire several
gunner stat are 70 he taxed and our dOmes-
NC policy shaped By the lately euuanciuafed
Ave and ths irresponsible adgt nturer who
USES n N as an unreasoutng Instrument OF bIz
I puspos,. SO viii the Northern citizen be taxed
[ ~ tie NaIOnal assessment By tbs same con-
stltuency, and through the National I eytsla-
s5e nls Politic1i and material interests will be
anSctsd ~ thesame ami telligent an a frrespop-
S S-315 Eo.e 10 substitute for the Intelligent
expose the Interests Of the North 10 most the
/ SainS ha@ard that threatens those OF the South
SS5 Hte5 Le tcsJGre Of The 1Chits man In The
/ man iR The North "'' ''''s
| oUrRAGEs UNDER REGISTRATION ACTS
/ odlo0s and Oppressive as are the franchise
aans OF tennessee. they have been greatly az
graYated in all their evils by the re0isfrs3tfon
aeIs aud their administration. The first stat
L "a "a
ci iks OF lne County Courts who are officers
eIected BY the people and therefore 50 situated
M 20 understand that IL was not prudent TOR
tIeh 70 play the rote OF petty tyrants or trihe
Hlih the rights and Liberties or the citizen.
buI by sub equent act these delicate and
responsible duties have been assigned 10 conn
m ssioners appointed by the GovernoT 10
wnon alone they are substantially Responsible
~ ioI their conduct IL is true that there
provision sutjecting these COM
aallssIoneIs ts punishment as for a mis-
Tatin amor lor 'cttyit or intentional viO-
LatI 9 81 the law but when il IS cOnsid-
cred that by the terms o. the law the burfen ~
proof as 10 willfulness and Intention OF the COZ
az II .eL + thrown on the accusing party,
S eIdt y y 50 easy Tor the Offending Off to
nave MS dere tctiO1 construed into uners mis-
, !, ' III DC 5, en- that the people are without
plOseSllOh IN this regard against the corrupt
PTactlces or arbitrary nc Ion OF the register
10 render this very light and evasive res RANT
on Lne conduct OF the Ofiicial utterly inefficient
ior the security Of the pe9p'e the -IezisIafure
mas ordered that the counsel fees and costs of
SUIT incurred by him in defending aDv proseell-
non, penal or civil, instituted against him for
EloIation Of the rights OF the etfzen in the per-
Iofmance OF his Official duty, shall De paid out
u We PUBIC treasury, thus taxing the people
70 pay the expense Of heir OppressOrs red
IN the Preparation Of the wrong. When il Is
Iemem Dered that the taxpayers Of the Stste
~ tuose opposed ID the fucitOu IN power, and
consequently those against whom these Com
nl<SlOners OF registration won be most
4IIHSy 70 PeIletrate' AID do in fact, work in
Justice the vice and tyranny Of this LEXIS alton
must az once become apparent. In effect II !
iMpels freemen to pay for the chains with /
which they are 20 be bound.
Aaditional impunity Is secured 10 these ser |
wants OF the Executive by statute which ena-
- tnen 10 exclude from the jury-bOx by |
GnalIenge for cru any one who is not a voter |
Ihus " rendered certain ia every trial an avail
aoie partisan influence on the panel in behalf /
Oh the tiansgressing register.
EXEcUTIvE CONTROL OF BALLor-Box.
On tue other hand the authorities controlling
me state have not left their interests 10 the 4
b ,o1slL1 o. even me aeS identsl or occasional
honesty OF these Officers. The power has been /
reserved 10 the Executive to declare BY simple /
DEFAMATION the registration Of any county /
NOIu, ana 10 remove at his sovereign will any
register tha may excite his suspicion or incur
MS olsple2sure. Thus has been repOyea in ne
E1ecutiue Department Of the Government m. en-
tHe cOfttT0t Of he ballot Dor and to that end he
exercises Judicial and executive functions ia
9lelaI 10 dive {, and that. too without trial,
ireemen OF privileges duly acquired execu-
SLFe - lnllct DIS own sentence Of disvestiture,
IN Violation Of all principles of free govern /
lneht sgelnst All precedan known to Amerf-
{ Al law, and IN utter disregard Of the pTOvi |
sionS of the Constitution. This arbitrary |
power has been exercised by the present Tx
suLVe OF n, and always TedOundlng to the
advantage OF the faction supporting MIN and
MS policy. In this state OF the case where rs ]
there a fOOthold Tor those who would in rom
mate her faiuting spirit.
NEGRO vs.. WHITE MAN.
Personal ambition and desire for official pre-
iernent are by every selfish consideration en-
listed on the side Of sbsOlGtsIn, because all ex-
2ectants OF place b1w TO him who can work
.hrougn the registers any elective result de- |
IIeu' ~ i vain 10 expect IN any canvas ,
'hfough a Ialr and orderly polling a suce essful
sSue for him who opposes in opinion (
the powers that be" With the entire
control OF the ballot box thus Sc
,ured in the hands OF one man, the exercise of !
he elective franchise is but delusive and idle :
ceremony; Though the result purpOrts to be
accomplished through democratic FORMS il is / ,
lone the less the mere expression Of autocratic
Viii The candid rescript Of the En- peror would {
'e better because none could BE- deceived as To ,
yhlet was me TACT In the present nor deuded BY =
ain hopes as to the future. In addition to ain d
ms lhe conviction is general among the citi- {
elis % the Stats, Lhai, while The act Of regis
ration is made easy and TspId for such whites q,
5 are known TO afnliste with the authorities
Y the STATE and for negroes, who are manipu- |
2ted in the same interest by secret political 20.
leJleS AID army officers in the Freedmen5S Ru- u
eau E az tne same process is rendered slow and n
lmcult for the whites, who are known to be | "
pPosed IN sentiment to the now prevailing | c
oieies Of the state snd OF Congress. Thus in /
arty in power IS protected against a hostile | Y
Mirage, from which even Iheir rigorous fran
lise laws would not protect them. v
W z are, therefore, compelled TO announce 10 u
Ills Convention that republican governner | u
I ,,i ~ AmereanF, no longer exists
l the STATE OF tennessee; that freedom OF cleo -
ans, The ch1ef Inuniment Of English and IL
merican liberty, has persisted; that freemen Il
ay tneIe be disSeiZed Of priceless privileges /
ithout the judgment % their peers and otII9r- h
Use than by tue laws Ofthe land-and maj me I L
der or warsaw reigns throughout her Dor | -
The evil effects OF this oppressive poI.cv =
e already plainly manifest in the material | III
e.
e surface Of society. We viii briefly advert ~
them. &C
III EFFECTS OF THIS POLICY OPPRESSED AND hi
OPPREssOR.
The great body efthe whites feeling tn fl,e,- u
e victims Of oppression, that they are un- iii
SHY deprived OF any snare in the GOVerD- =.
ent, that they are in ali respects fitted by in III
lhgence TO participate in affsirs Of State and an
membering that the political PRIVILEGES of =,
1ieh they have been deprived constituted 2 y
IT OF their birthright, are discCntented end | IA
prenGuu Sill greater calaIniffeg md I -
geS. Ihey recognizes that at present they are an
ilher secure in ths IL property or liberties Il
ripped OF suffrage, they cannot defend these nc
the ballot box. Their foes among The whites | do
a the negroes, granted by the statute the =,
ivliese of being armed while the same is de- | lie
ed 70 tneint ueprlVes them of that sense of n,
'urity which ever restless with physical ~
Wer and places them under constant me- fiji,
&c nom tue vicious and dep-aved elements -
society. Hence the division betgvean Up
2 people and their rulers is something SCI
IRE than tins mere array of conflicting oDin. -
Is, which with free suffrage and nee speeeb ma
dom breeds civil eommOtOn or ipjuriousIy
ects The state. 1t is in this instsnee me |
-eatentng sntagonism between the 0ppreSsor
the one hand and the Oppressed on the tn.
Ter. The apprehen' ion and natural resent ~
mt of the latter, and the official insolence re
hate of the former, retorting the defesta- Oh
n of which he Is conscious, are constantly re =
ring prOvOcatiOns TO physical violence. 'Fx- NIT
Hence and history prove that there can be D.
ther happiness nor prosperity for a state y
IS eircumstaneed: So long as republican 70
ms. are preferred on this Continent no
leriOan State can have any assurance OF / sou
ee and prosperity unless the ballot is free to for
white American citizen. The fnherent "
or and imperial qualities OF the white race anC
be content with nothing less until they D.
II agree TO accept other political insiitu- Dl
IS rial
LUsIoN FROM OFFICE OF THE INTELLI- snC
GESCE OF THE STATE.
.. n, the utmost ,r,ror,.r.o - 49, -. fro
e. that those VINO aIe the most inteiiis 1s shi
q The largest stake in social order and pcs -
property, or are interested in property bv INC
hope of accumulatiOnt through steady indus in
should participate in the government. But n
ur unfortunate Common wealth this is the DOi
? class which IS exciGded from The manage orr
1t of lis affairs. The people are thus de-
ed IN public business OF the efncient ca bac
ty OF their best citizens. Their affairs are n,
in the hands OF incapable men, IL
often entirely controlled by those who are 81 2
ant Huns for the purpose Of present. alsi pu6 pop
whose hden,y 70 Their iotesests and in gu
to whom the language of Col. Barre, used tina
19 s it's b 70 deSeIloe similar saa
be applied, when he spoke WoT
ne colonial officers as Men sent to SPY ont -
r liberties 10 misrepresent their actions, Gun
10 prey upon them men whose behavior | san,
i sons Of liberty to recoi within them. han
u would not Be strict justice net to admit and
E exceptions serve to modify only to wha
limited extent the vices and disorders Al =;
rally inherent in such depIavtd and & ran On0i
20 Ices For IL stance though we have pres
ability it IS nisnifesS that the cours Of the and
lose heT SELF p ssesSion and gqa when hav
/. Hard is the lot OF thai people notl
n law shrinks feom the defeose Of sc :