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

State would be elevated. Our bonds
would rise in value. The resources oil
the State are ample to meet our engage
ments. .
Extraordinary taxation, the inevitable
results of all wars, being the penalty
that we pay out of our pockets for the
exercise of unchristian passions, Is
slieht evil and will be cheerfully borne
by the people. Good government cannot
be dear at any price. The holders OF
our bonds, if allowed to vote, would
favor my proposition, and it's success
would be a confutation Of the. charge
that reconstruction was failure IN Ten.
nessee. In political or party aspect
I really look beyond all such questions
it may be taken as a fact that power
would be kept out Of the hands OF any
NAL contents who would Cypress and in
lure the loyal people. The excuse for
yindictiyeness would have ceased and
Justice and moderation would guide in
all our counsels. There would be no
danger; indeed there would not.
If those public servants who have IN
this critical emergency been clothed with
the authority, will only advocate and pass
some such measure as the Enclosed pian'
blessings will follow them through life,
and their memory will be embalmed in
the grateful recollee.ions of succeeding
generations. Henry the Fourth OF France
said that he would be the happiest OF
monarchs IL he could put fowl into the
cot of every peasant in his Kingdom
That sentiment of homely benevolence
was worth all the splendid sayings that
are recorded of kings. But he wished tor
more than he could obtain, end the good
ness of the man exceeded the power oil
the king" How much more glorious the
privilege to put ballot, the badge OF
freeman, into the hands of every citizen
of Tennessee. We are more fortunate
than the illustrious monarch, for happily
our mower is commensurate with our good
intentions. The ballot could never be
abused. 1t would be an imputatlon on
human nature to think that II could ever
be used to the injury Of the men who
granted it. Before God and the American
people, do not see that since these pc
titions have been presented there can be
any justification for not taking decided
step toward settlement of this ques-
ton, the longer continuation OF which
impairs the dignity, menaces the peace,
diminishes the prosperity, and impeaches
the Justice of the State. My faith tells
me that you and all good men of both
political parties will join handsin striv-
ing for so great q good to our suffering
country. "Lst us lay the first stone OF
the temple of peace"
Excuse this long letter. You have
known me many years, and will do me the
Justice to believe that am actuated by
desire to help my country out OF its
difficulties.
Very truly, JOHN M. LEA.
An Ordinance to authorize the appointment o.
Delegates 10 Convention for the purpose of
amending the Contribution Of the State;
WHEREAS, In the opinion of the Gene.
raj Assembly there prevails throughout
the State, with exceptions in certain To-
calities, a general disposition among the
people to acquiesce in the results which
have been brought about by the late civil
war. as is evidenced by the numerously
signed petitions which have been pre-
scented; The said petitions recognizing the
validity of the State Government, and the
legality of all acts done to reorganize
politicsl system destroyed by war lad
hitting the abolition Of slavery and the
enfranchsement of colored voters), ask
ing for universal amnesty and an oblivion
of past wrongs and grievances, and re-
spectfully soliciting in calm and digni.
fed manner, that they be again invested |
with the privileges of the elective fran
chise. Now, the General Assembly, re-
luctant in the first instance to discrimi- |
nate in the enjoyment of rights, and only |
impeled to it by just apprehension at
the time that the safety of the loyal peo !
ple demanded the protecting hand of |
power, disposed, as they have always |
been, to render government acceptable |
to the people, and glad to meet in pa
triotic spirit all advances made in the
interests of peace, law and order, do now
cheerfully declare that from the evidences
aforesaid no valid reasons exist for fur
Their continuance of the Constitutional
provision DISTINGUISHING any portion of
our fellow citizens; and,
WHEREAS, The franchise law has been
declared by the Supreme Court TO be
part of the Constitution of the State, and
can hence only be changed by conven.
ton, or by the mode pointed out in the
third section of the eleventh article Of the
Constitution, neither Of which modes,
unfortunately, meet the present exigency
the former on account of public dis
turbance from the excitement of another
election in the midst of warm Presi-
Dental contest and the latter on &C.
count Of the delay necessary to effect the |
desired object. Now, with view to pre-.
serve the public peace, and also TO facili-
tate, in legal and constitutional man
ner, the speedy repeal Of said constitu-
tional disquali6cations, it is believed that
by vote of the people the present Gen.
eral Assembly may be invested with all |
the powers OF convention necessary
TO carry out and ratify the expression of |
their will; the General Assembly recon-
mends to the people that the following
to the Constitution be made: |
That every free man, white or eolored,
Of the age Of twenty -one years, being a
citizen of the United States, and citi.
zen Of the county wherein he may of ar
his vote six months next preceding the
day Of election, shall be entitled 70 vote
for members Of the General ssembly
and other civil officers for the county and
district in which be may 'feside Pro
rided, that laws may be p assed excluding
from the right of suffr' .re persons con-
yicted OF infamous crimes.
At the next el1ct,o, - he LILA TO- tba
purpose OF choo'ing electors for Presi-
dent and Vice President, to-wit, on the
= day OF -, 1868, those voters favor
ing the passage Of said amendment shall
write or print upon their tickets the word
convention" aud those Disappearing
il shall write or print "no convention"