Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-31
MEMPHIS. TENNESSEE, FRIDAY EVENING, july 81 1865 .

Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan |
white men and Indians eau vote, but |
never negro. In the great Eastern
States negroes are kept away from |
the polls, either practically or BY
actual rule. In Pennsylvania no black
man can vote. In New York q negro |
can vote, but not without property |
qualification and three years residence.
Ia the States of New England, except
ing in Connecticut, negroes can vote ;
but their number is so small as to make
their votes Of no possible value. Yet II
has been ordained by these victorious
Northern States that in the conquered
Southern States all political power given
the whites shall be put into the hands OF
a race of men who yesterday were their
slaves. For myself, ! am prepared TO
argue, IL II be needed, that negro is not
fitted by his gifts and nature to exercise
political power amidst a community OF
white men. He is so naturally subserv-
lent to the white mans greater power OF
mind that, when passion 10 over, he will
always do as some white man shall in
struct him. But putting aside for the
present q subject which is very vast in
It's bearings, and in which men have and
will dispute loudly, here has been made
a provision for q war of races with
the express object Of keeping down
people, in order that that people may
be debarred from all political power in
the empire. II must be remembered that
government in the United States is State
government for the most part In
Georgia the black men, on these lines
of recoustru ctiou, would have the power
of making all laws for the restraint OF
the white. They would be enabled to
enact that man should be hung for this
or that So called crime--a white man, ii
you will, for not taking off his hat to
black man. But il has never been for
moment intended really to intrust this
power TO the negroes. fhe intention IS
that, through the negroes, all political
power, both State power and Federal
power, shall be in the hands of members
Of Congress from the North---that the
North shall have its heels on the South,
and that the conquered shall be subject
to the copquerors, Never has there
been more terrible condition imposed
upon fallen people. For an Italian to
feel an Austrian over him, for Pole to
feel Russian over him, has been bad
indeed; but it has been left for the
political animosity Of Republican from
the North--a man who himself rejects all
contact with the negro--to subject the
late Southern slave.owner to dominion
from the African who was yesterday his
slave. The dungeon chains are knocked
off the captive in order that he may be
harnessed as beast Of burden to the
eaptor's chariot. But it will not be so.
There will, in these Southern States, be a
war of races; hatred from the white man
to the poor, timid, incapable, uncon-
scious negro ; suffering for both-infnite
suffering for poor Sambo, who will grad-s
ually begin his appointed task of disap'
pearing; there will be rapid death Of ne
gro children, negro want, and all the fol-
lowing of negro vice; but the white man
who lives near him will gradually reas-
sumo his power. There will De an influx
Of Northern men into these States, and
they will gradually become as the. white
men Of the South. The scheme after q
while will fail; but in the meantime all
the hatred of conquering and con :
quered people will be maintained. Such,
sir, are my ideas of Reconstruction.