Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-25
Resistance to Congress-A Bold and Mean
.ru..r ing Talk. A tN


The time has arrived in the history Of
this republic when there is no longer
safety in silence, nor manliness in sub
mission. The last act of the republican
majority would destroy the only chance
that remains to us for deliverance from
absolute despotism. While the doors of
the Supreme Court are open to the APP
peals Of the oppressed, there will still
iingsr in the hearts Of Americans latent
feeling of security. But when these shall
be closed, there is nothing left to them
but the arbitration of physical force.
What can be predicted for the future of a
country thus voluntarily thrust back into
barbarism by the DEGREES of the law
givers2 What can, what dare we hope of
the immediate present of a civilized ma.
ton thus hurting away the restraints and
safeguards of law, and substituting for
them the license and despotism of milf
tary rule. What shall we say of the fit
ness of such men for the discharge of the
high and sacred trusts reposed in them Z
History may, perhaps, do justice to their
crimes, but nothing can possibly do JUS
tice to their monstrous presumption.
How little have they learned in the great
school of wisdom how little have they
pro6ted by the great lessons Of history !
When there is no longer any means left
to men to avert danger, they turn
and face it with awful despera-
ton. When there is no longer an
avenue of retreat open, then the sword
must cleave path for the imperial army.
Men conscious of the value of peace, aud
familiar with the cost ofanarchy, concede
little by little for the sake of peace, as
long as there is virtue in concession; but
when the terrible alternative of despot-
ism or resistance is thrustupon them, woe
be to those that make the issue Iti idle
to attempt to mask the fact that all APP
peals to the reason of the majority are
useless-are grave travesties. They are
deaf to everything but the voices of their
own passions andinterests. Rights, lib
critics, time. .honored insttutions--eyery-
thing that freemen value and revere
have been ruthlessly sacrificed. What is
there left to them but the memories of
glorious past--unless, indeed, it is the
sacred duty of vindicating the liberties
which made the past memorablef So
long as there is hope of successfully ap'
pealing to reason and the courts of law
we counsel peace and forbearance, but
when these fail us we demand our rights
and liberties at all hazards2 The per-
jured apostates OF constitutional liberty,
that sit in our legislative halls, may learn
to their cost that there are evils more
dreaded by free born men than revolution
among them, despotism. And ii the
nation believes that the crisis demands a
dictator, nothing is more certain than he
will be of it's own choosing. In the
emergency that is upon US, it is the
solemn duty of every patriot to stand fast
by the national executive, who has
proved himself to be worthy of pub
lie confidence by his unwaverinC aud un-
compromising fidelity to the Constitu-
ton aud the laws. Now is not the time
to discuss his errors of Judgment. We
cannot doubt the sincerity Of his heart,
aud on that we must be content to rely.
We caution him now 10 the utmost
promptuess and the greatest caution. He
is Commander -in-chief Of the Army and
Navy under theConstitution; let him look
we'll to these, and be prepared, that when
the moment comes to strike, his strokes
may be decisive. We are satisfied he
will do his part Of the work, if the people
will do theirs. But he must have the as
surance of the aid and sympathy of the
nation at his back. With these behind
him the popular triumph is assured. To
this end let the great Conservative ele-
ment Of the country rally as one man to
bis support, and by a spontaneous and
overwhelming public demonstration ex-
press to him their approval Of his course,
their confidence in his integrity, and their
intention to stand BY him in every neces-
sary effort to restore the lost liberties Of
the country. In this attitude and in no
other is there hope for national deliver
ance. Act cautiously, but be at all times
ready TO act promptly. We warn the
tyrant, Radicalism, against any attempt
10 incorporate its latest monstrous con-
ception into the statute books Of this
republic, and it behooyes it to heed our
warning. York Citizen, Jan 25th
Russia has established military school
at Orenburg, capable Of accommodating
two hundred pupils, three-ffths Of whom
will be sons Of Tartar chiefs.
In all parts Of Texas, lands are nov
held at about one.tenth Of their value six