Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-02-12
PUBLIC LEDGER.
MI IL MI PHIS ,
Friday Evening. February IL. 1853.
m. Avalanche and Negro Suffrage.

Friday Evening, February IL, 1859.
The Avalanche and Negro Sahrase.
The Avalanche takes us to task ier
our article on universal amnesty and I'M
partial suffrage, in the LEDGER OF
Wednesday, and starts off with one OF its
characteristic classical comparisons for
which it is SO notorious. We would re-
spectfully suggest to our neighbour that It
won,d comnort more with. refined and
elevated journalism, when it essays to
discuss q question of such vital impor'
lance TO the country, to eschew vulgari-
ties and billingsgate, and rise to the Dig
n;tv of argument. Comparisons are
oa;ous and never tend to highten that
rsgard which we should always have for
the opinions of others. We are not TO De
deferred by the frantic believing of THE
little mountain bull from pursuing that
course which we feel, as a public journal
;st il dictated by right and duty to our
country, however much we may regret 10
differ with those with whom we have been
so long and pleasantly associated. When
friends with whom we have so long bat
tied shoulder to shoulder, against this
odious despotism for the preservation OF
the Constitution and civil liberty, fall
ont by the way-side and give up ell for
lost. it is with sorrow and regret that
dutv compels US to part with them.
II is vital to the Southern people net
10 surrender our principles in this strug-
ole 1t wonld be far different if the con-
test was hopeless one, end if it we're SO,
every man of principle and honor who
valued Gods best gift to man, and who
has any care for the future Of his chill
drep. had far better abandon the South,
turn his back upon the graves Of our i'm
mortal dead, and seek home in some
foreign land, whore be could live with
out humiliation and degradation. But
all is not lost Hope, mans brightest,
best gift from heaven, still beams brightly
beyond this maze of darkness, cheering
our hearts and nerving our arms for the
contest
Freedom's battle once begun.
Beoueathea from bleeding sire to SON.
Though be n ed oft, is ever won.
The Avalanche says THAT universal
suffrage is as much finality to the acts
of reconstruction as the surrender OF Lee
was TO the fall of the Confederacy.
That we cannot agree to. II ever the
shattered fabric of our liberties is re-
stored to the American people, it must be
upon the basis Of the equality OF the
States.
Tennessee must be the equal OF Ohio,
and Florida the equal Of Pennsylvania
The citizens of one State are entitled to
all the privileges and immunities OF the
several States, is the language OF the
Constitution, and we are not yet willing
TO believe that that instrument is obso-
lete or dead, or that the people will not
restore il aher this #h;slwind Of passion
shall have passed by. These infamous
reconstruction acts we're intended to per-
petuate the reigo of the Radical party,
and can only be enforced so long as that
party was in power. If we do not very
much mistake the signs of the times, the
incoming President will not pass through
the first year of his term before revo-
luton will sweep the Radical party from
place and power. Then will come the
opportunity for the Conservatives to. tri'
umph, and restoration will place each
State in that position in the Union t6
which it is entitled under the Conslitn'
ton.
Ii is absurd to talk of the Radical pol
icy as q fnslity when a large msjorii,
of the people are opposed to it, with
powerful organization controlled by tn
master minds Of the continent, and dali,
augmeuting by the gradual disintegratiol
OF the Radical party. No party ever ne
stood up for any great length of tim
with such a load of corruption as TOT
weighs upon the back of the Radlcs
pariy-its dissolution is inevitable and
only a question Of time.
The idea Of our cotemp0rary is tbs
universal suffrage will place the countr
under the control of the white mau-thi
there will be white mans party and
blsck mans party. The whites arraye
against the blacks, then in the strugg
for place and power, will indeed come
the conflict Of the races But does u
the Avalanche know that the negsol
will always be controlled by aud 70
with their Radical allies One would So
nose that, after the practical Illustrate
Of negro suffrage which We ~iinesse !
the last election in Tennessee, o
friends would be satisfied with its bea
ties and benefits. SO it will al~sys
when negroes are Slowed to vote. I
most corrupt and INSCRIPTIONS men v
always control them By appealing
their base and brutal passions.