Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-20
SUFFRAGE.

NJ oG1A ~ -
There seemsto be an impression enter
tanned by some persons that the Legisla-
ture, soon 10 meet, will have control OF
this question. Such is not the case. The
Legislature Will doubtless call a Conven-
ton, and that body, being clothed with
sovereign power, viii frame a COnstitu-
ton, TO be submitted 10 the people of he
State for ratification or rejection. When
delegates to that Convention are chosen,
the question of negro suffrage, stripped of
all e~ntangling alliances, will be presented
on its merits. The Fifteenth Amend
ment seems doomed to a righteous defeat.
and therefore negro suffrage can only be
discussed and settled as a measure of
State policy. The adoption of 1.-THE amend
ment would lRVe ~remOvedthe barbarian
ballot from the arena of discussion, but
on its failure the direct issue meets US in
no questionable shape. We must prepare
for II and discuss it in the light of modera-
ton an fairness. As an original or alb
stract question, we oppose the eX-
tension Of the franchise to the negro, and
we DO not see in what other mode it can
he presented 10 US. BY an express pro-
vision of the Constitution, each State has
the right to regulate the qualification OF
its own electors, and this right. the Fiji
teenth Amendment proposes to destroy.
Now, suppose the amendment is not rati-
fled, and in all probability it Niu not be,
the question of suffrage remains intact
under the control of the people of the
States, and in that case Tennessee, being
sovereign over her own territory, and the
equal of any sister State, will be author
lied 20 act as her own honor and interest
may determine.
We take the above well considered
remarks from the Jackson Tri6te7e,
which, with the majority of Our CO.
te~mporaries, and, as we believe, OF
the people, cOncurs with US is an open
question, which should be carefully
considered and decided. That it
should be settled on the pretense Of a
vote for universal suffrage" which
was VIGOROUSLY not given in the late
election, would be mOnstrOus, The
question is one of importance such as
transcends all others, which ever came
before the people of the State. 1t re-
mains to be calmly considered. If the
State can be better governed by the
addition of negro sutfragans than
by whites alone, the reason for that
policy will certainly be sufficient. II
not, we are free to abandon it, with
the evils which experience has shown
us appertain to it. We are %astOnished
at the persistence of those cOnserya-
tives who have fallen among the Rad
icals in the advocacy of the
most unstatesmanlike and injurious
policy ever advocated before a civil
lied people. Its very absurdity is
monstrous. 1t is as if men should
deny the pernicious consequences OF
poison, and propose we should swal-
low it, and charge that we had been
fools enough 10 place ourselves under
obligation to do so. Yet men, whom
we have been accustomed to regard as
sane, are bringing agencies to bear to
fasten the damning incubus of negro
suffrage on the people of Tennessee!
And as sentinels on the watch-tOwers
of our remaining liberties, we are
driven fora short space more to meet
and resist them! We sincerely hope,
that, when allis done, it will be well
done.