Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-10


can persuade our people that i. and the.
we're all in error on this subject, and tina
Butler and Phillips and Thad. Steven
were correct2 Can Memphis paper
hitherto known and esteemed for its hiel
Southern tone, now turn around, re
nounce all its former ideas on this sub
Ijsct, and urge upon the young ladies' o
Memphis that they will not degrade them
selves by teaching negro schoolsf Had
it done this two years ago it's circulation
would have stopped in every Southern
ern family in Memphis. No father would
have permitted it to have passed into his
dwelling. He would have deemed it an
| insult to his wife and children. Does the
Avalanche suppose that our citizens have
so suddenly changed their opinions on
this subject as the Avalanche seems to
have done? A Memphis young lady
teaching negro SCHOOL, What more is
needed for the picture2 A "nice" young
negro man to teach another school in the
same building The pupils of each
often recite to the other. Interviews
and exchange of ideas are usual in all
schools. Why not in this ? This is pro
gress indeed What next2 White and
black children at the same school and in
the same school rooms Oberlin in
Memphis Why not2 Is not the objec-
ton to this equally "absurd 2" Out
upon such political and social ethics. It
is as revolving now as it ever was, and
the citizens of Memphis should meet and
protest against any such management in
the public schools which are supported
by their money. The Avalanche has
produced the letter Of the Hon. M. c.
Kerr, of Indiana, endorsing its views on
the suffrage question.
Beast Butler would as heartily indorse
its views on negro schools; while George
Il. Pendleton would disavow them. But
this is the age of "progress;" and if ]
think it degrading for my daughters or
the daughters of my fellow-citizens to
teach negro schools, ! am disorgan-
izer, a fool and traitor to the true and
best interests of the South" But can
not and will not believe the editors Of the
Aralanche ever held such opinions or
wrote such an article as we found in its
issue of the 18th on the subject of negro
schools. Sometimes such stray things
get into paper without being observed
until printed. trust and believe this is
one of them; for, to believe that. gentle
men who have been so long and SO favor
ably known to the public, could pen or
indorse an article so revolving to nine
tenths Of their readers, would be to be-
lievs them insane ppob this idea of "pro-
gress."
In late issue It says. In crisis
like this, the true men of the country
must drop their antagonism and close
M their ranks to meet common danger"
In the name of Heaven, what danger
does the Avalanche apprehend, after
placing itself with the Post in advocating
negro suffrage, negro jurors, and negro
schools for Southern girls2 Has it any
thing else to surrender2 Il seems to
think that nplesS Tennessee shell engraft
universal suffrage in the new eopstitu-
ton, "the northern heart would expleds
in wrath and consuming sre.h Truly
awfuli But the Avalanche maintains
that suffrage belongs to the States ex-
clusively. Ifse, let Us exercise our rights
and await the explosion and the FIRE.
There was not much of either when Ohio
refused to give suffrage to the negroes
there. The people of Tennessee never
gave it to the negroes OF Tennessee.
The act comforting it upon them was upon
q par with that taking it from the whites,
without even the assent of the people.
Neither had ever been discussed by the
members of the Legislature while candi-
dates, and no candidate ever avowed
himself in favor of it until after his cleo
ton. Even then it was passed, not as a
measure Of justice, but as q means of
perpetuating Radical rule. No Demo-
cratic Convention at Nashville or else
where was authorized by the people to
agree to negro suffrage; and any reselu-
tons passed by such conventions can be
considered in no other light than as the
individual opinions of the gentlemen
voting upon them. The great question
at the late election--the question over
shadowing all others-was the restora-
ton of suffrage to the whites; and the
people of Tennessee have not endorsed
negro suffrage, negro jurors and negro
schools taught by white ladies. But this
question can be easily decided. A con-
vention will soon be called to frame
new Constitution; and that Constitution
will be submitted to The people the
source of all power in our Government.
Is the Audlanche in favor of that2 Then
let a separate clause be submitted, on this
question Of negro suffrage, jurors, etc and
let it not impair the vote upon the body
of the Constitution. II the Constitution
be adopted, With this CLAUSE added, then
let it be part of the organic lew of the
land. Ifit be rejected, then let It not be
in that organic law. Is not this just 7
Will the Avalanche snswer2 If it is as
sure of the popularity Of its progress
sive" views as it seems to be, it will not
decline this mode Of aettling this delicate
question. Will it auswerY JUsIUs.