Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-01


and threatened the police and police sta.
lions of the city. You are arming and
drilling in warlike practices. and this for
aggression and attack, not for defense;
because you have no cause or pretense OF
cause for expecting aggression or attack
from us. You have never been disturbed,
not even on your riotons and disorderly
conduct We, Of course, know that you
are urged and enticed on toward this
great danger and trouble by wicked white
men. We know them, who they are, and
ell about them what they say, and what
they are doing, and we also know better
than they or you can know, the sure and
swift penalty which will fall upon partic.
ular men when the conflict begins. But
this win not thea save you. You will
not then, be excused because you have
been deluded and cheated by these in
famous men. Listen for one moment to
particulars. c.Fg NICE
When we held our great meeting on
the evening of the oath Of July, yeu pro.
posed, it is said, under the guidance of a
white man, who is your candidate for
Mayor, and, we are told, assembled TO
form in procession and disturb our meet
ing by marching through full five thou
sand people, closely packed, in the street.
You were, fortunately for yourselves,
prevented by the influence of the Mayor,
whe is also Of your political affinity. If
you had attempted this wilful aggression,
you would have brought on the conflict
at that time; you did not expect or in
tend otherwise. Itwould have been quick
and decisive, and ended before this time.
Upon the click of the telegraph that the
Democrats could not peaceably assemble
in Charleston to ratify their nominations,
the city of New York could alone send,
and would have sent, from her swarming
population, men enough to avenge us,
and have made that the last of such con.
| hicts for this occasion. Our next and
only public meeting since was few days
later, and in the open air. 1t was so
disturbed by colored people with singing,
music, whooping and screaming, and
| insulting language, that it adjourned.
| All this has been submitted to without re-
talation or merited punishment Other
designs end threats have been reported to
us upon evidence seemingly trustworthy,
but so criminal and horrible that we will
not disgrace you by the public appear
ance of belief in such charges. They are
at variance with our experience of your
nature and general good character, but
not inconsistent with the bad character
and depraved nature of the white men you
listen to, and might be the natural conse-
duence Of language we know they have
used. They will be held to fearful ac-
count when the day of "their whirlwind
cometh."
We know, better than you know, why
| It is that the Infamous euteast white men
who lead you urge you into these aggres-
sions. We will tell you why it is that
they do it. They are instructed by the
central pocer Of the Radical party.
They would provoke bloodshed just as
they did at Memphis and New Orleans in
1866. The massacre and blood of a few
colored people, they think, pending this
great election, would be prolific seed for
Radical votes; and so it would be if the
sufferings of four years war, and the
worse endurance Of Radical rule for three
years, had not taught us some wisdom.
If the conflict comes--if there shall be
massacre and bloodshed-it shall not be
chargeabie upon us; and the contriv-
snces of your Radical associates, and
their lying newspapers will not avail
again to cheat the people in that respect.
Do you remember the events of 1851
the attack on Fort Sumter, and the
commencement Of the war ? We are sure
YOU do remember. There were then more
people in the United States who believed
we had good cause Of complaint--who
were opposed to the Republican party
and its purposes-than there are now
who approve of the political supremacy
which has been given toyou. The Re-
publican party was then, as you are now,
in minority. Mr.. Lincoln and his
party went into power by minority
vote of the whole people. A great
majority of the American people were
opposed to the war. 1t could not have
been. carried on against US. Artful
and designing men Of the Republican
party seeing this, contrived to lead us
on till they made US appear before the
world as the aggressors and the authors
of the war. Fort Sumter was reduced
and the national flag fred ON and low
cred by us. And then it was at once the |
North aud the East and the West
we're united against us. So it will be |
with you. You will begin the conflict.
You are now beginningit If you go on,
our race with its thirty millions will be |
as one man against your race with its |
three millions. Ten to onel Do you |
see it2 Do you doubt the result, or your |
inevitable fate2 Consider what will then |
be your condition which you will have
..o...1 =. :, 4 okoeo, 10 axnho n rn for vnnr II
present hopes and the assurance of equal
laws, equal justice, peace and peaceable |
prosperity Again (third), we know and /
fully understand the arts and fslsehoods
by which the false aud Infamous white
men excite you into your present danger
You are arming aud drilling in warllke
practices TO protect your freedom-to
prevent your being again reduced to
slavery These infamous men tell you
il is the purpose of the Democratic party
to restore slsvery-that we intend this
that if you vote with us you will vote to
make yourselves-again slaves. No false
hood ever exceeded this in wickedness
and audscity. IL you would stop TO think
one moment you would see and detect IT.
We will expose it TO you; wewill not ask
you to take our word for it, but we will
establish what we say by public records.
It is double falsehood. For they know
that we are not only guiltless Of the
charge, but we are the party which in
sists that your freedom is fixed and for
ever settled; that il is not and canrot
ever be questioned or discussed; while
The Republican party have made It an
open question, and have left It so; If
they prevail now, AZ some futura day the
lawful extinction Of slavery may be de
y 81 ]