Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-15
STATE POLICY.

Radical usurpation is q hxed isct III
this eoyernmt mt for some years to ccme-
The policy of recon quering this uncon'
stitutional, goddess party must begin oy
frat regaining possession of the State
Governments. This can only be done by
the people of each State shaping their
own course 90 as to arrive at the grand
result. We should, nevertheless, not
forget the landmarks OF our faith, and,
instead of going straight ahead, turn
aside to reyel 10 the arms Of Republican
ism. Iffor short while it was impolitic
TO flaunt our principles in the face of an
all. powerful and conquering enemy, we
can say with assurance the day has passed
for such inactivity in Tennessee, and
every white man in the State is now re-
oaired to buckle on bis armor again.
Tbe ubiquitous Fifteenth Amendment
must fail for the want of the requisite
number of States to ratify it, and with its
doom is sealed the negros right to vote
and hold office in the South. Tennessee
ia the foremost of the seeded States in
the process of reconstruction. II re-
mains with her people first to set the ex-
ample of Bringing back the Government
to where it was placed by our forefathers
There was originally no thought Of the
new and wildcat theory of government
az is set down by this Radical party.
The modern invetion of universal suf-
frage will not work in harmony with
the desires of the American people. We
are no theorists or experimentors ia the
way of governing ourselves, and abhor
the reckless Adventures who now assume
to teach the new doctrine that all men
were created free and equal, making no
distinction as to sex. We now have our
State on the ways ready to launch, and
the question naturally suggests itself:
Shall we place the negro at the wheel as
pilot, or shall be take bis rightful position
on deck with the balance Of the freight Z
He certainly can ride and enjoy the
Measure of our boat without taking
charge of il as commander. tits not neces-
sary for Cuffey's comfort or the success of
the voyage, that he should be put in COM
msud of the vessel. What is now re-
ouired to insure domestic tranquility in
the future is to obliterate every vestige
of Radical rule that is suggestive of our
humiliation and past defeat. We are not
required to shape the policy Of our State
so as to please the Radical party. Will
we eufranchise the negroes by consti-
tutional enactment, and thereby place q
stick 10 the hands of the Republican party
with which to break our own crsniums !?
For no sensible man can predict that the
negroes in this Safe will ever vote with
the respectable whites for measures or
men that would be for the benefit of
cdr society. 1t may be relied on
that the African will 20 against
us Whenever he is allowed to vote.
1t has been the case heretofore, and will
ever be SO ss long as the government
shall exist uuder it's present IN management.
The timid and cowsrdly policy Of retain
ing the negro 10 his present franchises,
in order TO allay agitation. is the mer-
est sobietfuge possible. There will DO
agitation in this government until all
the political tricksters and demsgoeues
are forced to leave or die at the hands Of
the yirtuous aud intelligent.