Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-10

eriy; lust aud true liberty, equal aud
impartial liberty, is the thing We stand in
need Of Mr.. Sedgewick, in bis treatise
on statutory and constitutional law, after
quoting the language OF Mr.. Locke, con-
cludes his learned work 10 the following
impressive words: "This is the fervid
language. Of the great apostle Of 'tolera-
tioD, and the longing should be as earn
est, and the prayer as devont, moo, as
when the emphatic words were uttered.
But in our time, liberty will not be Sc
cured by violent effort. or convul-
sive action. Liberty will ouly DO pre-
served BY steady determination and sys-
temaiic habit; by the practice Of those
virtues OF fortitude and sell-command--
most difficult, whether for nations or in
dividuals. Most eminently is this true of
this country Liberty can only exist in
fellowship with Law. Whatever the glo-
ries Of our past history, however grand
our present 1851 however brilliant our
future, il is vain TO suppose that Ameri I
can freedom can be maintained, except
Just 90 long as our people shall exhibit the
capacity justly and intelligently 10 ad-
minister, and the disposition steadily
and loyalty 10 obey, their government Of
written laws"
The disposition to obey the law on the
part Of the people, and the capacity and
integrity, justly and impartially to ad-
minister il by the courts. are essential TO
the preservation Of public liberty. Upon
this the whole fabric of our American
institutions depends. Capacity to under
stand-the willto obey and enforce--and
the integrity and learning to administer
their laws, are elements without which
popular government cannot long exist
anywhere. At the ballot box the most
important principles, and measures ofthe
deepest, interest-affecting the lives,
liberties I'd property of the whole So
ciety--are to be decided; aud each voter
casts his voice on the one side or the
other II is, then, Of vital importance
that each man having the right TO vote
should have the capacity and the will to do
right, to secure the happiness and pro-
tect the interests and rights Of all. To
all such the right Of suffrage should be
extended without regard to race or
color To those and those only, who are
qualified TO discharge this high and i'm
portant duty, should it be intrusted
Those who are not thus qualified, ought
not to endauger the rest by assuming to
guide the ship of state on an unknown
sea. I .effGNE rfl1r r9M1
1t can only be affirmed Of the intel
ligent and honest citizen, that he is capa.
bile Of comprehending his own political
rights and duties, as we'll as those of his
neighbors and associates; or If he is so
morally depraved that he acts without
reference to his high duty and RESPONSE
blity ct the ballot box las for triang
bribe), surely no sane mind could con-
tend that the right of suffrage should be
inirusted 10 such hands, or that s,ciety
would be safe under such influences.
Government and civil society is
system of compensation, of mutual and
reciprocal contributions, in which our
mutual dependence suggests most natu-
rally our mutual obligations and duties.
ALI cannot be Presidents, or all poll
tieaus or physicians or lawyers or
farmers or merchants or mechanics. |
Each profession, trade or calling, de-
pends on the others for the products of |
their skill in their respective yocations.
Qualification in his particular vocation
secures him the trust aud con6denes-of
those who depend on him for his services.
No man iatrusts bis life, when
sick, to q lawyer or merchant, or
farmer, or mechanic, who is ignorant
wholly of disease and medicine, Nor
do men intrust their property to incom-
.ots-t ~. IN g.. ;tbf,I m oanto WIN thara- |
fore, should the life Of the nGtion-tbe
life, liberty and property of a iohole
people-be intrusted to those who are
neither mentally nor morally capable of
approaching the trust?
The peace, safety and happiness of
both races should not be endangered by
placing power, even at the ballot box,
% the hands of men, whether black or
white, who are incapsble of using it for
he common good. Human happiness is
he object and end of all good govern
nents. The greatest happiness of the
greatest number To make men equal /
n happiness by the enactment of wise
avs, and by their just and impartial ad- i
is the great desideratum. /
Heaven to mankind impartial. we confess. lii
Ifall ore equal in their happiness. nh
Men never violate the laws of nature, 8
IT of Gods government with impunity. {
70 matter how small the violation, or
ow promising of immediate good, it's !
dequate punishment is a certain conse- I
uence. To obey the great laws of our I
noral, as we'll as our physical being is, b
therefore,, not only our highest duty and q
Or our best interest, but our safest guide a
D life. 3 n
Honesty is the best policy" is an 1
phorism as truthful as it is trite; as ap. i
lcable to political as to private inter- a
curse with our fellows. We may cheat n
nd deceive to day, aud seem to our 4
slves to have gained an advantage but v
le loss OF confidence aud trust, and Y
hsracter. among our associates to-mor-
wv, when we need their help and faith, "
,mes to us as the Just penalty of our g
rong. Cy o
We should, therefore, deal justly and r,
,nestly with all men; but more espe- h
ally with the weak, the dependent, the II
Make no pledges which we f.
ther cannot or do not intend to redeem. h,
iolate no principle of justice or right "
their prejudice; deprive them of no L,
ION which the common good OF the Ia
hole society does not demand, and n,
ust in God for the fnlfllment of those n
lerring laxs which regulate mans HI
ing and his destiny. /
Please present to the club you repre-
Mt this acknowledgment of their kind
and accept fer yourself senti-
ents Of grateful regard for the terms of ha
rdial greeting in which it was commu- II
Gated. Very respectfully, yours, Sc
WILLIAM l.. HARRIS. tw
7 e,h,,i.. Cole.~ of son,h Rad :, ~