Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-05
rne C,ti.en,s Defense.

The CtttEen's DEFENSE. .aa
When the military despotism bill
passed last year, by the most urgent ap
peals on the part of the minority 10 Con
gress few of the majority we're induced
to vote with them, so as to provide that
no sentence of death should be enforced
on the Judgment Of any military commits
sion without the approval of the Presi-
dent And thus it fortunately happens
that the national escutcheon is yet UNI
stained with blood, though the President
has been constantly urged by military
commanders to grant orders for execu-
tons, Abiding in one of his late great
speeches to this matter, Mr.. Doolittle
argues from it the necessity Of guarding
with jealous care against encroachments
Of the Federal Government on the rights
of the States, and of sustaining the full
power of the Supreme Court under the
Constitution to hold an even balance be-
tween the States on the one hand and
Congress on the other, where the rights
Of the citizen may be infringed by one or
the other. He says:
In the defense Of the great mass Of my
rights and liberties, as a citizen of Wis
consin, must rely upon the government
of that State. ~ r.. e1
First Of ALL the State defends my life
Congress has nothing to do with that.
The State defends my reputation
Congress has nothing to do with that.
The State defends my person from as
sault; Congress has nothing to do with
that.
The State defends my wife and chill
dren Congress has nothing to do with
that. fa'
The State defends my home from tres
pass, from arson, from burglary, and all
my property from theft and from rob-
berry; Congress has nothing to do with
that. ~
In all my dearest rights, relations, in
terests, family, character, person, liberty
and life, l am defended by the laws of
Wisconsin, not by the laws of Congress
at all.
That is indeed the true theory, and
was once the practice. We pay taxes
to support the Governments for no other
purpose. The citizen has right to all
this protectionin person and property.
But, alas how is it in Tennessee
What does Tennessee do to defend the
great mass of the rights and liberties and
franchises of its citizens2 1t actually
takes them away. 1t grinds heavily
down with taxation, and gives no pro-
lection. 1t keeps horde of official
thieves, and supports State Guard to
eat out our substance. But what bene-
fit it gives to any citizen it is impossi-
BILE to say. Savages and barbarians
have more perpetual liberty and enjoy
ment of the rights of person and prop
erty, as the result of a mere common
consent. If we were deprived Of the So
called blessing Of our so call ed free gov
eminent tomorrow, we should all be
better off, and have greater regard for
right, and better order at once than we
have now. Alas the citizens of Ten
nessee cannot proudly say with Mr.. Doc
little, "In the defense of the great mass
of my rights and liberties rely on
the government of Tennessee. The State
defends my life, reputation, person, my
wife and children, my home and my
property p The greatest right of the
freeman, of choosing the representatives
who are to tax him, is taken away from
the Tennesseean, although his, State is
one of the Union, and its citizens guar
anteed republican government. He is
not ruler, but rulers are set over him,
whose chief employment is to make
offices, provide salaries, and taxes, and
facilities for peculations, against which
there is no remedy provided in the law.
The highways, streets, alleys and wood
lands abound with highwaymen, assas
sins, burglars, burners and thieves,
whom the State either does not punish,
or whose crimes the State does little or
nothing to prevent And wives, children,
homes and property are in hourly
danger, which the withdrawal of all
pretense of government would probably
not exceed. The condition of things
could not be worse. Military govern
ment would be greatly preferable ia all
quiet men. And no government at all
would promptly result in a more perfect
security. Alas the citizen of TeAnes-
Bee cannot boast with the citizen of Wis
cousin, that his State protects him or his,
in life, liberty or the pursuit Of happiness.
Instead of that, he may well demand
that the sword which he has exchanged
for the promised protection Of organized
society should be returned to him.
Protection to Tennesseans, to honest,
industrious, law-abiding men There is
no such thing here. The thieves, assas-
sins and other criminals are the only
persons protected, and these follow their
avocation with IMMUNITY.
what are We and what have Wef
wh., Inducements are we TO offer for