Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-05-09

papers oil the country leads 10 the pchci
that, while waiting for the verdict Of the
High Court Of Impeachment, the country
moves on in the accustomed channels Of
an increasing traffic, seemingly az nm
mindful Of the great event as II uneon-
cerned in the result Immersed in trade,
In the pursuit Of gain and tho acquisition
Of wealth. we are almost eptirely lost as
people to interests aud political move
ments that underlie the prosperity we
seek to attain, and that may not only
upset all our calculations" but abso-
lutely revolutionize the values that now
arr our stock in trade--our wealth.
This spirit ofindiference, to the prev
alence Of which we owe II that sectional
differences eliminated in war, is pecu-
liarly American; one Of many idiosyn-
cracies, the possession Of which give us
a distinctive place among the rationale
ties of the earth. A terrible war has not
| in the least dssipated il. On the con-
trary, the very soldiers who most sue
cessfully signalized themselves for en-
terprise, courage aud daring we're among
the most eager, when surrender became
fact, TO rush into old habits Of ignoring
politics and politicians and bury them
selves in the oblivion that trade begets as
70 everything but the primal object
barter and profit For the first two years
after the war this was especially SOL
hence the progress that radicalism has
made, not only here in our own unfor-
tunate Tennessee, but everywhere in the
South. No attempt was made to leaven
the lump of State or national policy, at all
commensurate with our ability, strength
or duty. A few mes in the ranks of
commerce and law lifted up their voices
in warning and direction in the line of
duty, but the rank and file of great |
population, now groaning under the lash |
of radicalism, administered by natural
black Republicans, failed, until recently |
and too late, to participate in move
ments designed to protect them against
the dark days of horror" that are now |
upon us. As for the past two years in |
our own concerns, so is it now as to the
issue Of trial initiated to punish,
defame and disgrace man whose primal
offense, according to the Radicals, con-
sists in his favoring just scheme of re-
storation of the Government, and an
equitable administration of the powers
of government for the whole people.
For our own part, we confess to no
particular leaning towards Andrew John
son. In years past we opposed him, and
we do not forget that he was most espe-
cially the instigsior of the Discussions in
1861 that divided our people and pre-
vented that unity so necessary to our
State consistency. We canHot forget
that be was instrumental in fastening
the traitor to God, Law and, order
Brownlow-upon our State; but when we
remember the sacrifices he has since
inside in behalf of truth and justice, we
freely aud uureservedly forgive them,
and while waiting for the verdict, must
remind our people, that whether re-
moved from Office or not, Andrew
johnson is entitled to our respect |
and our sympathy, and his present
trouble to our respectful consideration.
We must think about it and the results
likely to flow out Of it, not only to us,
but the people Of the North, East and
West We must endesvor to look far out
upon the troubled sea, and scanning the
horizon, endeavor to discover what next
of Radical invention will mark itself
against the deepening gloom that hovers
over our country. If the executive can
thus be assailed and made subordinate
to the legislative, what is to become of
the judicial branch ofthe government, al
rsadythrestened and sorely pressed blythe
malevolent managers Of the red-handed
ruffians, who do the bidding and follow
in the train Of Thad. Stevens2 With the
army at their command, in the person of
supple tool, like Grant, the land
marks and safeguards of the republic
obliterated and legislated out of exist
ence, what is there to prevent a coup
d etat that will surprise us out of re-
publicanism into mobocracy and chaos
But especially it becomes as to reflect
whether the successful impeachment of
the President will not entail new
miseries, new hsrdships and new trials,
forcing US to the unity to which the
Avalanche yesterday had reference, and
in which we may yet find it necessary to
take refuge against the persistent en-
Of ruffianism that has well
nigh pushed us to the wall. These are
thoughts worthy of entertainment, while
we wait for the verdict" that depends
for it's justice upon the honest reflections
Of partisans that have given few eyi-
dences Of any other spirit than that Of
and tyranny.