Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-03
LARGEST CITY CIRCULATION.
A Northern Journal oounssling Resistance
to Congress.

FROM the New York Citizen.l
The time has arrived Ia the history OF
this republic when there is no longer
safety ia silence, normanliness In sub :
mission. The last act OF the Radical
majority would destroy the only chance
that remains to us for delverance from
absolute despotism. While the doors OF
the Supreme Court are. open TO the 'ap.
peals Of the oppressed, there will still
linger 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 n
country thus voluntarily thrust back into
barbarism by the DEGREES Of the law
givers7 What can, what dare we, hope
Of the immediate present OF civilized
nation thus hurling away the restraints
and safeguards Of law, aud substituting
for them the license and despotism of
military rule What shall we say Of the
fitness of such men for the discharge of
the high and sacred trusts reposed in
them2 History may, perhaps, do JUS
tice to their crimes, but nothing can pos
sibly do justice TO their monstrous pre-
sumption. How little have they learned
in the great school Of wisdom; how little
have they profted by the great lessons
Of history When there is no longer
concession, but when the terrible alter
native of despotism or resistance is thrust
upon them, woe be 20 those that make
che issuel IL is idle to attempt to mask
the fact that all appeals to the reason Of
the majority are useless-are grave ira
yesties. They are deaf to everything but
the voices OF their own passions and in
terests. Rights, liberties, time-honored
institutions, everything that freemen
value and revere, have been sruthle'sly
sacrificed. What is there left to them
but the memories of glorious past-un-
less, indeed, it is the sacred duty Of vim
dicating the liberties which made that |
past memorable7 So long as there is a |
hope of successfully appealing 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 !
hazards The perjured 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 revolutions
among them despotism And if the |
nation believes that the crisis demands q
dictator, nothing is more certain than
that he will be of its 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 public
confidence by his unwavsring and
Incorporating fidelity to the Con-
stitution and the laws. II is not the
time now to discuss his errsrs of judg-
ment. We cannot doubt the SINGER
ity of his heart, and on that we must be
content to rely. We conjure him now to
the utmost piomptness and the greatest
caution. He is the commander-in-chef
of the army and navy under the Constr
tuition; let him look well to these, and
be prepared, that when the moiaent comes
to strike, his strokes may be decisive. We
are satisfied that he will do his part of
the work if the people will do theirs.
Bat he must have the assurance 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 element
of the country rally as one man to his
support, and by q series of spontaneous
and overwhelming public demonstra-
tions, express to him their approval of
his course, their confidence in his integ-
rity, and their intention to stand by him
in every necessary effort to restore the
los, liberties of the country. In this at
titude and in no other is there hope for
national deliverance Act cautiously,
but be at all times ready to act promptly.
We warn the tyrant, Radicalism, against
any attempt to incorporate its latest
monsirous conception into the statute
books of this republic, and it behooves
it to heed cur warningi