Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-01
A Thrilling Appeal for Peace.
.om the Nashville Banncr.l

From the Nashville Banner.l
When such a man as the writer of the
communication which we print below
deems il necessary to emerge from the
retirement of public life, and to express
grave apprehensions concerning the per-
lis by which We are surrounded, there is,
indeed, occasion for every citizen, no
matter what may be his party affiliations,
40 pause and consider the situation. We
earnestly hope that in this spirit will the
counsels of the venerable patriot and
statesman be received and acted upon
by the General Assembly. In such
crisis his warnings cannot be disregarded
with safety to the State;
July %. 1868.
"To the Editor Of the Banner:
"In your paper of the 26th inst. DULY,
there were two communications worthy
of public attention, one signed by some
of the wisest and best men of the State,
men full ofintegrity and patriotic feeling,
and men for whose opinion in general
have the highest respect, the other, under
the fictitions signature Of Americas, but
apparently from one who has thought
deeply upon the subject upon which he
writes. Previously to these, in the Ban
,,er of the 18th Of July, there was lead
ing article by yourself upon the same
subject, upon the all-absorbing subject
of the present situation of Tennessee
and what it demands.
"Since these articles were communi-
Gated to the public, the Governors mes
sage to the Legislature has appeared.
"Now, sir, every one agrees that the
people Of Tennessee are at this moment
on the edge of danger, and it is, / think,
we'll that every man who has heretofore
occupied position of notoriety in the
State. and been counseled with in regard
to its interests, should let his opinion be
known. For this purpose write to you
In many things all of the articles above
referred to agree, and the object of all of
them is the same-peace, with freedom
/ approve the doctrines and teachings of
your article, and that of Americas. |
cannot agree to the doctrine of Judge
Gaut and others, if understand it right
ly, that the peace, happiness and good
order of the State demand that we all
submit with becoming respect and obe--
dienee to the laws of the land until the v
are repealed or declared void by the
courts 1t is true that meaning NAV
be put upon the sentence just quoted
which would in some degree frer 4 from
objection; for, strictly speakir o. an nm
constitutional law or enact ment is not
the law of the land j. suppose, how.
ever, the meaning of the above sentence.
as intended by the Gentleman. ia this
that the people Of Tennessee are to sub.
init TO all enactw ents by the existing
Legislature, however oppressive, uncon-
stitutional or tyrannical, until repealed
or declared void By the courts. With
this position | am not satisfied. | take
issue with the gentleman. 1t is expe-
dent sometimes TO submit to unconstitu.
tionsl and oppressive enactments for a
time, rather than appeal Immediately to
the ultimate arbiter; but where the Leg
islature has become by accident, assn mp.
tion and force possessed of power which
j. uses as the mere instrument of fac
ton, where the courts have become its
creatures and the mere registers of its
edict, where all the executive Offices are
filled by the ministers of the faction
where, in one word, the whole State has
got into groove in which, whatever the
consequences, it must run forever with
out some irregular and extatic exertion,
then time has come in which the peo-
pie must relieve themselves by direct
and immediate action under the first
clause of the Constitution of the State.
If such action should be resisted by force,
that force should be repulsed
A time comes in the history of peo :
pie occasionally where to submit to ar :
preston invites its increase, and whe, e
the consequences are more grievous tfsln
any that can arise from resistance "a
time when men look upon danger with
contempt, and upon life itself with ndif-
ference. That point is almost re ached
in Tennessee.
"The denial of the right Of vo ting to
the great mass Of the intelligent wealth
OF the State, upon the pretense that the
allowance of such right would endanger
the public peace and liberty, is too Himsy
to demand a serious argument 70 contra
dict it The decision of the Supreme
Court, declaring the franchise law con-
sutuhonal, as an argument aud opinion,
is beneath all contempt. / would review
1t If it were worth review. Even this
does not sustain the law as righteous
or polite one, but declares it only 10 be
within the competency Of the Legisla.
ture.
"These are my opinions; let them be
taken for what they are worth. | do not
counsel force. Such counsel, II 10 be
given, must come from younger and
more energetic men, men Who can be
actors az well as advisers. / will, how
ever. express the opirion that the Legis-
lature have no constitutional power. un-
der pretense Of calling out the militia, tc
establish a standing force Of armed men,
by whatever name they may choose tc
call IT. Aud | will say further, from my
observation Of the feelings and opinions
Of the people Of the State, that the read
lest way to get up that very civil war
which the Radical party profess to depre-
cate, is TO attempt TO inaugurate such a
force Aud, in the name Of an that Is
good and kindly among men, with no in.
feeling toward any one, with but a short
remnant Of life that ! would fain see
have q peaceful ending, and 10 The name
Of Him who died IS the En;ssary Of
Peace among me=, would pray our
Legislature, nov in session, 10 forbear
from doing this thing. i fssr-I fear
that ruin viii follow IL
~ - E~r~ II r.