Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-22

operated most ruinously upon the mate
rial interests Of the State. II has not only
driven from our midst thousands Of our
best citizens, but it has repelled from us
| lat time, too, when most needed), emf
grants from other States and countries I;
thus converting large bodies Of the finest
lands in the world inte uncultivated
wastes, aud consigning the balance to
only half culture, for the want Of that
steady and skillful agricultural labor,
which emigration would afford. And at
last, as though these means were not suf-
| ficient to secure their continuance in
power, hostile spirit has of late been
manifested by them toward our fellow
citizens Of foreign birth, and for no other
perceptble reason than well founded
conviction on the part of those in power,
that the intelligent foreigners will not
sustain their wicked aud infamous policy.
Nor is this all. Instead OF striving to
allay and soothe the passions engsndered
by our late unfortunate war, and healing
the wounds made by the sword, there are
the most manifest efforts made to keep
alive those passions and prejudices
The late Confederate soldiers and their
friends are ostracised, denounced and
Disseminated against, in the most often.
sive manner; and that, too, in the land
of their birth, and amid the scenes of
their childhood, while all the burdensome
duties of the citizen are vigorously ex-
acted from them. The plea for this afro
cous policy is that the late participants
in the Confederate struggle, as they be-
lieved, for constitutional freedom, we're
turbulent, violent and dangerous to the
public peace, and that these repressive
measures were necessary to preserve
public order and personal security. This
is an unqualified and picked .falsehood,
and ,oas inrented for rile purpose
The Confederate soldiers have not vio-
lated their parole. There is no fact more
indisputable than this. To their lasting
honor, be it said, that history has never
presented an instance Of more perfect
fidelity to the terms of military surren-
der than is exemphfied in the conduct of
the Southern soldiers.
On their return to their desolated homes,
so far as the newly organized State Gov
ernment was concerned, although they
found themselves distranchised, neither
they nor their friends organized or pro.
posed any resistance whatever. All felt
that it was one of the unfortunate results
of war, the offensive features Of which
would soon yield to the influence oftime,
and the State find itself once more on
the high road to prosperity and harmony.
And had wise and prudent counsels pre-
vailed, such, no doubt, would have been
the result. The Government would have
been legitimated by the returning affec-
tions of the people, and the bar sinis-
ter" removed from its 'escutcheon. Old
auarrels would have been buried, and
those now at variance united as neigh
bors and friends. But the return of
quiet and harmony did not suit the ambi
tious views and designs of men whom the
agiiations of the times hadsthrown to the
surface. They knew full we'll that return
to a constitutional administration of the
Government would too certainly consign
them to the obsurity and insignicance
to which their unftness for public en-
ployment had heretofore confined them.
After prescribing the qualifications of
voters, and limiting the right within such
bounds as was supposed to insure their
continuance in power, some local cleo
tions in different parts of the State made
it clear that the sense of justice which
the State would not long brook the out.
rage done to the State, nor submit to the
arrogant assumptions of the unworthy
men who had taken control of its affairs.
Hence the cry of "wolf" was raised
against the returned soldiers, and they
were made the "scape goa" to bear the
sins of those who accused them. Fed
eral bayonets were called for-the tramp
of soldiers and the sound of drum aud
fife we're once more to- be heard in the
State. A new manipulation of the
franchise law became necessary. That
was tried; and still the usurpers were
not easy. A State Militia must be or
ganized and the Federal Government
called upon to arm them. So powerful
did the guilty fears of these miscreants
operate, that even all this would not do
and as o last resort, the negro is clothed
with the elective franchise-the white
race ordered from the polls, and Brown
low armed with power to disfranchise
whole counties at his pleasure, A sys-
tenn of wild extravaganza is inaugurated
to raise funds for partizans; and taxes
the most onerous and oppressive ever
borne by any people, imposed upon an
impoverished State. Thus the white
race in the State is placed in subsection
to the negro-driveu from the ballot-box
like felOns, degraded, insslted, and taxed
to utter ruin.
And now, fellow-eitizens, when it is
that the victims of these
outrages are the descendants of those
pioneer heroes, who, with 6 ak and rifle"
redeemed to civilization this fair land
from the rugged wilderness and
still ruder savage, and consecrated it
to industry, commerce and refinement
building great cities-covering its sunny
with peaceful homes, and |
founding a great commonwealth there |
is no point at which honest indignation |
may pause or apologize for the tyranny |
and misrule which have rendered this |
declaration Of grievances necessary.
In view of the foregoing equally hui |
and truthful sketch, permit us,
of this noble old common
wealth, ia the name of all that freemsn
hold dear earnestly to invite you to unite
with us in freeing our State from this
foul stain upon her honor. To this end,
we invite you TO form clubs in every civil
district in every county in the State,
open correspondence with each other,
and with the central clubs Of your re-
spective counties; so as to complete, at
As early day as possible, thorough re-
Of the white race Of the
State, under the name and banner Of the
Democratic party, with
! vteE 20 n reeumntion Of the |