Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-16
Andy johnson and the Universal
Suffrage Press.


EDITOR LEDGER: In this age of pro-
gress, change and new theories of gov
eminent, there is so much that is new,
novel and wonderful. those of us 1.-THE
people) less gifted than those who lead
the masses, lad it difficult to reconcile
the varied teachings of our leaders, and
much more so to reconcile their teach
ings with those who bequeathed to us
"the best government the world ever
saw" All are being done under the
guise of progress, which would seem to
imply an improvement on the old model
government and the usages Of which we
ell profess to admire, yea, yenerate, and
to which the masses would willingly re-
turn, if they were permitted to do 30.
And yet all, or nearly all, those pro-
pressive measures are innovations and
wsnderings from the old, tried and
beaten paths. Was not this watchword
proqress adopted by our learned, chival.
rous and patriotic cousins of the North,
to carry out their schemes of abolition
with protective tariff as q power be-
hind the throne" which has resulted not
only in the abolition of our slaves, but
! the .:;s ef The Senth. national hank.
ruptcy and loss of constitutional
liberty?
1t is, / believe, an admitted fact that
the press governs the world. If so, how
great are your responsibilities. II one
wants proof of the power of the press,
| let him review the career of Horace
Greeley and his Tribune, the teachings
of which for the last forty years, on the
Higher Law doctrine, done more to over
turn the Constitution, array section
against section, and prepare the minds
of our people to withdraw from gov
eminent which ceased to regard her OBJ
legation to the States, than any other
man or paper now living or dead. Other
and lesser lights would, now that our
slaves are free, reverse the position of
the parties and make us the slaves of our
| liberated slaves, or do anything else to
keep our necks under their heels. They
would degrade us by whipping US into
negro suffrage, and wind up the scene in
negro equality.
The Araldnche was for years power
in this community, struggling msnufuliy
against Greeley and his sdherents, and
for the form of government bequeathed
to US by our fathers-s white mans gov
eminent and the evils that would neces-
sarily follow from negro suffrage. That
paper has seen fit to "right-about," and
is now, / believe, in good fellowship with
the aforesaid Greeley and his party.
The appeal. too, ignores the past, and
is now (it not the apologist) the advocate
of Andrew johnson for a seat in the
United States Senate. Yes, the advo-
cate of him who before the war was the
standard bearer Of the States Rights
party, acknowledging the sovereignty oil
the States; who could not trust the Ia
mented Bell on the question of slavery ;
who, when the time came to ex.
ercise the rights Of the States &c
withdraw land the practical work
of bis teaching), done more by bis speech
in the Senate TOR coercion than all the
balance Of the Senate, and that at time
too, when the North were wagering as Il
whether they would resist our withdrawn
by force or allow us to 20 in peace. Al
to his sins against us while Governor o
Tennessee and President of the States
} they are innumerable, aud too familiar
aud fresh in the memory Of all to euu
merate here. he now comes amepg us
aud though not unmindful of the honor
Tennessee has heretofore conferred upoI
! him, boasts of having freed our slaves
that it was not Mr. Lincoln VIII,
robbed us of our right. but that it wa
Andrew Johnson--that he done it standing
on the steps OF the capitol of the peopll
J be so basely betrayed. Yes, remembe
: he does not come as an apologist, but de
4 family boasts Of his iniquity, aud in til
next breath asks rs to give him q new
lease Of power. Surely be must thinl
/ we are the most gullable, credulous AM
D forgiying people the sun ever shon
/. upon. But the Appeal and others sa.
be is smart; that he fought the Radical
manfully on their usurpstions. In re
= ply to which ! have only to say: he be
g been effective for evil and impotent 70
good whenever the interests Of his con
stitueiHs were at stake.
. The sum and substance Of what wis
fl to say is, that Greeley and Johnson hsv