Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-22

Office. NO. ID Madison street
]. J. DuBOSE, 49,. -- EDITOR
NJ H M u HIS
Monday EVENING. Nov. AZ. 1850
-.z......-.....-.z -
Mr.. Thomas Tardrew. Of New York City. i
AUTHORISED to act as Northern advsrtisini
agent Of the PUBLIC LEDGER.
s. Il. Parvin, General Advertising Agent
Cincinnati. Ohio. is osr duly authorised agsn
to contract for advertisements.
THE CAMPAIGN AND ITS ISSUES
We would be glad if turmoil and di
vision of opinion in this commonly
had ended with the success of the Demo
cratic party in the State. But another
campaign is to be gone through with and
another victory to be won before ouI
people can claim that peace that sur.
passes ell understanding. This achieve
ment is necessary that the last vestige
of Radicalism shall be gotten rid
of in the State. What remains now
of the Radical party 10 Tennessee
may be asked. Nothing, we assert, but
small knot Of whites and the large macs Of
negroes from Carter to Shelby. TDis
latter class was elected into the body pol
itic after the close Of the war in order,
then, to counterbslance the large rebel
vote that had returned to the State. 1t
was not thought BY the Radical party at
that time that the negro was fit material
with which to control the government,
and was only resorted to as temporary
expedient. The fact that our State
las it has done) would pass under the
control of the Southern element
had its effect in inducing such reckless
legislation. Il; was q drowning party
catchiug at siraws, and the resort has
failed to keep It above the dark waves Of
oblivion. Suppose we lake from this OBJ
noxious element the right to vote and
hold office, where is the Strength of Rad
ical partisans2 Gone hopelessly gone
forever in the State Would it not now
be proud act of our people to give
the flashing stroke to this Caledon-
ian beast that has rioted upon aud wasted
the substance of the fair land?
The golden opportunity is now offered
us, and can it be the people will shrink
f. m the performances of SO sacred
duty Shall we not follow the example
of New York, Ohio and other Northern
States, and declare that the negro shall
not be elevated in our midst to the
standard of social and political equality
with white men? Are we freemen, and
yet afraid to express cur honest convic-
ton through the ballot box Shame upon
any man who, when called upon to vote,
would do SO contrary to his convictions
of what is right. But the advocates Of
Universal Suffrage declare themselves
per sc to be opposed to the negro's right
to vote, and only favor it as matter Of
policy. Will some wiseacres OF that
party please now inform us wherein con-
sists the good sense for such q policy?
We are not begging aims at the feet of
the Radical party, as we were once COM
PEELED to dc. No, but our enemy is at
our feet, and tits in our power to crush
him. The question is, shall we nurse the
viper in our bosoms, who will afterward
turn and sting us, or shall he be strangled
by our iHfsnt Democracy
0ne of the attempts at argument put
forth 10 the interest Of Cuifey is that by
enfranchising him it will entitle the South
to tweniy-seyen more representatives in
Congress. Fools that we are, should we
be seduced by such song from the ST.
rensI Can we be allured by their sweet
notes to our own destruction 7 As
Waterman on the forecssile of our vessel,
we warn the people to stop their cara,
and not give heed to those who are seek
ing to draw them on 10 their own damna-
ton. What will be the character of the
that will be added
to the numbers we already have
if the universal policy is carried out
Will they not be negroes or Rsdi-
cal white men2 II the negroes
are allowed the right of voters 10
the South, as settled by our own acts,
will they regard it their duty to slow US
10 select the men whom they and our
selves shall send TO Congressf Not so
BY spy mesnS; aud the history of the
last few years viii bear us out in so nstu-
raj and logical q conclusion fake, for
instance, Miss;sIipp', where that brave
and chivslrons people are compelled to
support a negro---it matters not whether
hey vote for Dent or Alcorn. II was
laid that General Alcorn was 10th to
rave q negro placed upon his ticket,
,referring white men; bu', theu,
when the convention met for bis nomina-
ion this black element 10 the State
,lsimed the right of representation on
he ticket. and, if it had been refused,
you'd have gone for the opponent Of
l 'corn-JodEs Dent-wbo thus reeog-
lizsd The negro as an equal. Then. il
re will bu, lsok at our home affairs, it
al be seen that this was required
y the negroes in Memphis 10 the