Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-06

cursed by any despo.ismf Would not
such a crime cost any single crown !
Where is slavery so abjeet among the
civilized races OF men that any single
despot dare the diabolisms perpeira'ed
with IMMUNITY by the mob at washing
ton. only because there Is divided respon'
sibility, and an absence Of shame where
there are many to share the damn'ng
bIush9 There are those who cling with
hope to republican institutions because
our experience Of them has proved how
happy thing 1t isto have them in their
purity, under we'll defined system oil
law and of principles which there is com
pulsion on all to observe. Would that
in their purity they might be returned TO
ma. We should indeed be happy as
peopls if we we're only sane, for a return
would be certain. Whether we shall now
do go /. another matter. One thing is
indispensable to our prosperity and hap
p;ness, and that is that we should have
either the government Of our fathers, or
what is the next best thing, constitu-
tional despotism. We shall get on very
badly without eitherto say the least oft
The impeachment trial ofthe President
is to all intents and purposes glaring
iniquity. The commonest justice is de-
MED to the chief Executive officer of the
government The people are calm and
seem disposed to acquiesce. If Mr.. John
son lacks the power, the will or the nerve
to protect himself in the exercise of his
great prerogatives, as the representative
Of a sovereign people, the Constitution
will be trampled down as dead letter, and
the very pretense of constitutional law,
to an extent yet existing, become an OBJ
solete idea at once. The reverence Of
our people for the Constitution, will
doubtless cost us struggle, for its preser'
walton. But that is not now, and we
know not what will be. Anarchy must
supervene upon apathy, which
can give a radical triumph and unlimited
sway to the rage of fanaticism which
knows no bounds, and no restraint on its
exertion of tyrannical authority.
When or whether we shall emerge from
such condition of apathy, may yet be
seen. But it cannot be presently fore
told. Distrust and fear for our future is
compelled, because we are driven to con-
lecture what it will be. We have no re.
naming certainty. The issue is not
whether Mr.. johnson shall be deposed,
but whether in his person a department
of the Government shall be destroyed,
and so the whole Republican fabric fall
with it. Fence men, parasites and trail
tors are beginning to talk soft and
double, and getting ready to take the
strong side. We shall know them well,
when the crisis has passed, whichever
side they may fall, and we shall only
loathe them more. There is enc good
thing which springs forth from calamity,
that our true men we learn to know and
honor as we should. And for Tennessee,
there is one good thing to be added, that
we have the assurance our condition is
already so bad as that it should be i'm
possible to make. it worse. For the
North, it deserves the fate it seems await
ing, if not preparing for itself. Without
the triumph of the Democratic party and
it is evident the last hope for
liberty is cut of, and that question the
Northern States will decide.