Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-01-25
MARTIAL EAw-THE mILITIA.

n - -
1t is useless to discuss the question OF
Law and right, involved in Governor
BRowNLOw's proclsmations for he NIL
Iitia and martial law. 1t Is well known
that both the Constitution Of the United
States and that of the State, and the Bill
of Rights, superior with L people to
either, not only do not permit, but POSI-
lively and in explicit terms prohibit so
arbitrary q proceeding. We are In the
hands Of thu Philistines, and must not
look TO them Tor the observance OF that
strict letter of the Law which they them
selves are determined to exact. Theirs
is the highWsyman's plsn-stand n
deliver everything, e-en life itself, If
they be in the mood TO take it. They
are people and Government, and a law
unto themselves. They have heretofore
illustrated their career as the Radical
party by the theft Of the School Fund ;
Dy swallowing the proceeds Of railroads
over which they have established
= questionable authority through
Receivers ; by amending and re-
amending the franchise laws OF the State
until the good, the wise, the orderly, the
peace-loving and the educated OF Ten
nessse are disfranchised out Of ali recog-
milton as former citizansof the Common
wealth. These things they have done in
defiance Of law, Of right and Of justice.
They come to complete their work and
sid, unnecessarily, the last infection OF
desPotic power-military sway. To such
II Is useless to appeal. Having built
themselves up As 3 political party IN
defiance Of the organic law OF the ma
ton and the State, and Of those funda-
mental principles that are the very basis
VI our political system, they are not llkely
TO be brought to q halt now by any sp-
peals in the spirit Of justice, nor any
ehowings Of their wrong ia 8 spirit Of
pure reason. We have had the militia.
They sre now mastering for q second To-
rGy. We cannot prevent it. Oar
own Interests demand that We should
not attempt it. A correspondent
writing 10 US from Nashville, says, " the
declaration OF martial law in q county
will not necessarily be followed by the
eendiDg OF the militia into such county
that, unless there are special and gross
outrsges occurring in those counties, TO
require the presence Of the military, they
VIII not visit them at all" This he gives
Us on substantial authority. The best
authority in the State Is shaky and
whatever emanstes from it is to be taken
with many grains Of allowance. We,
therefore, give this extract for what it is
worth. Doubling ever the possibility OF
90 much decency from the men
who iLdIct the State with martial
law; We must, nevertheless act up
70 it, as " it were truth, every word.
Peace Is essential 10 our prosperity as in
dividuRls, and as community. We can
do somewhat to insure It's blessings by
strict attention TO business, and an utter
ignoring of the fact of the militia. In q
few days BRowNLow, who is IS great a
curse to himself as the State, will have
resigned to another the Gubernatorial
Office, snd left for more congenial COM
partnership at Washington than he can
find In Tennessee. Then, perhaps, wiser
counse.s will prevail, and 3 little reason
triumph over partisan blindness and
nate. However that may be, let each
man in West Tennessee deport himself
as II the peace and happiness OF the com
munity depended upon him. Acting
with the weight Of that responsibility,
only the most reckless will be unequal to
its demand.