Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-22
IMPORTANT ADDRESS.
Meeting of the Central Demo-
cratic Club.

The meeting having been called TO or
der, thSCommittee on Constitution and
Bylaws reported progress, and asked
for further time, which was granted.
The Committee on Address to the Peo.
pie of the State reported, through Judge
Scruggs, which was adopted, and ordered
published in the Democratic papers of
the city and State:
The undersigned committee, appointed
at your last meeting to prepare an ad-
dress to the people of the State and re-
port the same to this meeting, beg leave
to report that they have, in the discharge
of that duty, prepared the following, and
hereby submit the same:
| ADDRESS
To the People of the State Of Tennessee by the
Central Democratic Club Of the City OF
Memphis:
FELLOW CITIZENS: The Central Demo-
cratic Club, of the city OF Memphis, re-
ton to the condition of our State Gov
ernment and ask your cooperation in
correcting the evils that now afiiict the
State.
1t is historically true that the present
State Government of Tennessee was not
established by majority of her people.
| But, on the contrary, was, at its incep-
ton, organized VIGOROUSLY in antago-
| nism to the wishes and sentiments OF a
large and overwhelming majority Of the
citizens; and without the shade of au-
thority on the part Of the volunteers who
called themselves "a Convention" and
who, in open contempt of the authorities
Of the State, usurped the powers which
they and their appointees still hold.
That it did not then, nor does it now,
represent, politically or civilly, the great
mass of our people. 1t has, in the ad-
ministration of the affairs of our State,
studiously made itself, in all particulars,
obnoxious and vexatiously insulting to
| the people of the State. That without
cause, it has oppressed the white race and
practically injured the negro, whom it
| has used simply as a means of perpetua-
| tug the power of despicable oligarchy,
regardless of his real interest. So often
the citizens, that inspired .alone by its
fears-thc innate suggestions OF con-
scious meanness-and without single
act Of resistance on the part of an OPP
pressed and injured community, it is
the only State Government in the
| Union that maintains a standing army to
| uphold its odious power--a proof IN
itself, if others were wanting, that it has
no place in the affections of the people,
and that it is an oppressor instead of
PROTECTOR plunderer instead of BEN
efactor. 1t squanders the means of the
people with reckless profusion to reward
| vulgar adventurers, who are strangers to
| us in birth and feelings, and who live
amongst US not to share with us COM
mon destiny, but are camped in our
midst for plunder and to prey upon the
substance of the land with the spirit of
their work of robbery with more un-
sparing hand. Offices are multiplied
and taxes onerous, and wholly beyond
the wants of an honest administration of
the government are devised to meet the
demands of unworthy placemen; render
ing an already impoverished people still
poorer destroying the fruits and disap-
pointing the just hopes of honest toll, and
paralyzing all enterprise in the State.
These taxes are imposed without repre-
sentation in the proper sense of the term,
and in open contempt of the vital prin-
ciple of free governments, which has
heretofore been the theme of our boasts,
and constituted the first political lesson
of our American youth. And this, too,
with such discriminating malignity that
the very persons who bear the greatest
share of these burdens are especially de-
prived of any voice in their assessment
the great mass of property holders and
taxpayers being excluded from the
balot-box By unjust laws the people
are prevented from selecting for public
service the best and ablest citizens
while it is a we'll known fact that the
Offices of the country are filled, and its
public business conducted, by men void
alike of integrity and capacity. 1t is,
however, some satisfaction to know that
there are honorable exceptions to this
rule-that there are some in Office who
Justly enjoy the confidence and respect
OF their fellow-citizens.
But these instances of merit are not
sufficient in number to relieve the peo-
pie of the evil complained Of to any
appreciable extent No community can
be prosperous or happy, whatever may
be its form of gosernment, when it's pub |
lie business is managed by incompetent |
or dishonest agents; and when capacity |
and integrity are driven from its counsels. |
By vindictive legislation and Executive |
usurpation, it has excluded from the |
ballot-box a large majority OF the white
race of the State; embracing in its |
odious schedule Of disquali6cations a
large proportion Of the integrity and
virtue of the State; while, at the same
time, the ballot thus forcibly and fraudu-
lently wrested from the intelligent white
man, has been placed in the hands of
ignorant negroes. For the present the
destinies and fortunes Of the State are
placed under negro domination, or
rather that of few white adyenturers
who rule the negro vote; and per
sistent purpose is clearly manifested to
make this moRstrous outrage permanent,
thus consigning the superior race TO the
control of the inferior, and giving to
ignorance aud vice the dominion over
Intelligence aud virtue. The result is,
in fine, 10 establish a perpetual satur-
nslia, aud make the Helots holiday an
nnending season Of barbaric license aud
seryile supremacy. Not satisfied with
the degradation politically Of the
white race, il labors as indusiriously
TO pull down the poor white i=5cssr 20
the level Of the negro, and TO quench IN
the former al that noble pride OF race
and blsd which makes him worthy 10
haa freemsn-the peer Of the lottiest
80 of the land-and qualities him for