Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-03
PUBLIC LEDGER.
pEpI.Y TO THE "UNION AND
AmERICAN" ON THE LAST FREE
rvECTION

AMERICAN" ON THE Lash hHN
ELECTION.
II matter of establishment that our
zu;sble and digni6ed contemporary oil
the Union and american should attempt
to reply to stubborn facts of the record
and in the wrestle rumple his linen, as
we'll as lose his temper. Keep cool,
Mr. Editor, and if you cant, after run
ming your head against The stone wall
succeed in dwelling it, why, like man,
confess your error. Come back to the
truth of past history, for, whatever you
think now, it cannot be altered or
amended.
We do not deny your statement as
being correct when you say the oath' as
n-escribed BY the convention held in
Nashville on the 9th of January, 1865,
was not intended to debar persons from
voting in the election to follow in Feb
ruary of the same year. But whether or
not il did intend to do so, every con-
scieutious rebel in the State refused to
swallow it down, which is the easy ex-
ulapation why only one-iflh OF the
people voted upon these amendments,
when submitted by the self-constituted
convention of IS. Our contemporary
saws, sit prescribed conditions, it is true,
lint they we're such that any man at
the time, with the collapsed rebel
lion before his eyes, might have
taken" Think you that men who
had been struggling for four years
against mercenary foe, who had
spilled their blood as they would throw
away a worthless thing. That these
same men who lost everything to save
their honor and protect their homes from
the Northern Vandal would, before the
contest had terminated, swear allegiance
to the enemy's government and rejoice
in the overthrow Of their friends No,
sir. never. The truth and fidelity of the
noble men of Tennessee stand as bright
beacon light that shall delight the eyes
of latest posterity. That pillar of fire
that shines SO bright can be seen in
the refusal of the people to vote on the
22d day of February, when asked first to
swear to rejoice over the downfall of their
friends and government. In speaking
of this oath, which we published at length
q few days since, this same contemporary
says:
The editor of the Memphis LEDGER
would, perhaps, take it now without a
erimace, and be glad of the chance; or
at any rate would subscribe an oath OF
similar purport in order to recover bis
lost estate.
Now, upon our soul, you do us wrong
when you think for Eoment we could
be Influenced by any consideration to do
so disgraeeful thing.
The time has not yet come when we
can be made TO believe we did wrong in
fighting for the Confederacy. But we
mourn now, in sackcloth and ashes, the
downfall of the only true republic that
has ever existed on the face of the globe.
But you say, perhaps as many Others did,
that the taking of this oath then was q
mere form after all, and no mans
conscience wss bound by it. With
out doubt such is a great mistake.
The individual who voluntarily went for
ward and subscribed to the cath required
in the election Of the 22d day of
February. 1865. and afterwards, in any
respect, sympathiEed with, or aided the
rebellion, and did not actually rejoice in
the overthrow of the Confederate arms,
PICTURED themselves in the eyes Of their
fellows and before High Heaven.
We would pray the Great Ruler to
paralize our hand and tongue before being
induced to subscribe to so shameful
perjury. All the black Ethiopians who
were ever brought from Africa into
American slavery, the value Of whom
could not move us for n moment to take
the oath as required by the recognizing
Convention in this State. To do so
would be to bring eternal infamy upon
our pane. The oath Of 1865, it is true,
as stated, was prospective; and the one
of 1867 YVES in its requirements relros-
pective. The former requires the for
gelfulrsss Of the past, and to belle every
solemn get CT four years Of war. The
latter compels The applicant, for the
privilege Of voting, to swear that be
never performed any act or sympathized
IN rebellion. Which Of the two oaihs,
Mr.. Editor Of the Union and American,
do, you think en- honest Confederate
would take frst2 Or, in other words,
which think you the least guilty, the man
who lies profpeciively or the other who
perjures himself retrospeetively. We
COO see 10 difference. bot il cur keen,
sighted contemporary can dsEiue il. why
We sould be thankful fer The informs,
tior. This cane Subject vas discussed