Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-31
A reverend ssounarel eovsrnor.

| A Reverend bcoundrei eovernor.
Ifthere is man on earth baser and
meaner than the assassin, it is be who, at
a safe distance, looks on with delight, aud
gives countenance and encouragement to
Infamous acts. Hitherto it has been re.
rarded as worth while for preachers and
governors to put on the outside Of de-
cency In language aud to counsel peace
But our reverend gubernatorial scoundrel
has no qualms Of conscience, and no re-
gard for any maxims ofrelgion or ethics.
TWAS formerlycustomary with editors too
to have at least so much sympathy and
professional fellow feeling and courtesy
that kind word was spoken, when any
thing was said, even by antagonists and
enemies, in cases of individual misfor-
turne-to which all are alike subject
But our Knoxville Senior Editor :"
ploats over the injuries inflicted on his
editorial contemporary, who barely es-
capped with his life for only express
ing his true and honest mind as
to public affairs and public men, who are
proper subjects of criticism. As pre-
tended Christian he is bound to peace, as
| a Governor be is sworn to it, and as
gentleman of honor, If he only was such,
he would obey its proper laws But
Browplow defes all the laws Of rectitude
whatsoever. We never knew an honor
able man who was brave enough know
ipply to do deliberate wrong and make
n boast il. But Observation-Disclosures,
preacher aud editor--stickles at nothing.
He has explicitly announced that all
articles in the Knoxville Wing signed
"Senior Editor" are written by himself.
And over that signature he has spoken as
follows:
Last week, William C. Nelson, Of Mon
roe county, met John NJ. Fleming, chief
editor of the Press and Herald, on Gay
street, and in bold and manly manner
thrashed him most numerically With
hickory stick.
We therefore pronounce the beating
Nelson gave Fleming well-thmed and
merited. he might have done moro and
still been justified in the eyes Of his
friends. To have done less he would
have disappointed, their expectations.
That paper has blackgusrded and Will
fed private citizens, ministers OF the
gospel, and prominent members OF the
Radical party, until forbearance to-
wards its villainous conductors has
ceased to be virtue.
We doubt whether there is another
editor to be found in this country caps-
BILE of so contemplate production. But
what shall we soy of this Indictment to |
violence, and approval in advance for
future cases by Senator elect and BY |
the Governor of great State who is
sworn peace ofiicer2 He has thus in
vited assassination of Democratic editors |
ad Hbifum. For those of US who are |
familiar with the Press and Herald know |
that its articles are decorous and genteel
as we'll as forcible and truthful. They
we're what should have been written. And
it was in their truthfulness that their |
severity consisted. Yet the Cover
nor Of Tennessee praises beat
ing" without warning, blows from
behind, almost fracturing the skull,
and says the assassin might have done
more, and still have been justified in the
eyes of his friends" of whom the guber-
Material tiger is one. Thusi is virtually
announced that the murder Of Demo
cratic editor by any Radical will be par
doned by Governor Brownlow. He adj
vises assassination, and we care not how
soon in his own person he reaps the fruit
of his own advice. He is an enemy of
his OVID race, and no friend of any other.