Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-17
The white Man in Tenn essee.

Inc foilOwlng passage occurred IN the
speech of Gen, John L. T. Sneed at q
popular meeting in Somerville, on Satur.
day, the 10th instant:
"No BEAST" said Plutarch, is more
savage than man, when possessed OF
power equal to his passion" Without a
trial, without conviction and without a
crime-unheard and undefended, an
J hundred thousand Tennesseeans-the
men who own the soil, pay the taxes and
bear the burthens of your government,
were crushed to earth and their former
slaves became their masters. They were
robbed of the dearest right known to the
American citizen: the right to vote for
or against those who are to make and
administer their laws-the right to hold
oGice-and had almost said every other
right except the right to live, to breath,
to eat, to sleep, to pray to God, TO pay
their taxes, and to die. And all this
after an unequal war, in which the odds
we're five to one against the conquered,
and where the conquered party had
shown degree of courage and endurance,
which has brought immortal honor on the
American name.
| turn away and retreat from this hor-
rid picture of misrule and oppression
and would TO God that ] could contem-
plate it no more forever. Tis vain to
say that it was fit and just retribution
for the sin of the great civil war-the
bitter fruits of which we see around us in
all this burned and blasted land. The
mass of the people are unoffending. 1t
was not the peoples war, but the war of
the politicians. 1t was not the war of the
Southern politician alone--but Of the
Northern politician also. The great
Montesquieu has told US that the true au-
thor of war is not he who declares it
but he who makes it necessary. And L
tell you here to-day, my countrymen,
that this unhappy war was not begun at
Fort Sumpter-but it was begun just
thirty years ago, in Fanuel Hall, in the
city of Boston, in the State of Massachu-
setts. .L.u
But an inquiry now into the causes
and origin of the war is vain and un-
profitable Let the dead bury their dead
our business is with the vital present
The war is over. a
"Quiet reigns in Warsaw"
No great State trial has announced to
mankind who was guilty of all this blood.
The forts and public prisons were crowded
with prisoners of State. A few had per-
ished by the Judicial murders of military
commissions. The courts of justice were
open. The blind goddess was there, not
10 be warped and biased in her judgments
BY the vile passions that survived re.
lentless civil war, bat she was there TO
administer justice according to law and
the great charter of our fathers The
victims were at hand, shackled hand and
feot, and ready for the ordeal The
question to be expounded was, who was
right, the North or the South, in its inter.
pretation Of the rights of the people under
the constitution of our fathersY But the
great and momentous issue was never
tried. The prison doors were thrown
open, and the poor prisoners were per-
mitted to breathe again the free air OF
heaven and to kiss the blessed sunshine.
Mankind has accepted this as splendid
exhibition of magnanimity on the part of
the conqueror. Well it may be so; but |
let that pass. The war was over and no |
hostile arm was raised against the govern
ment from the Potomac to the Rio |
Grande. The South had been told to lay |
down her arms and she should enjoy in |
the Union of her fathers all her ancient |
rights, except the right of slavery. These
were the terms of the surrender. She
accepted these. Her gallant soldiery |
dispersed themselves into their deserted |
fields and workshops, and soon the hum
of peaceful industry was substituted ior
the din of arms.
What, then, / ask you, my country |
men, stood in the way Of perfect peace
and concord in this unhappy country
Nothing; absolutely nothing. The brave
soldiers of the two armies had learned 10
respect and admire each other. The
chivalrous conduct of the Generals of the
conquering army 10 accepting the sur
render, had not been lost upon the South
ern heart. The violent men, the ysga-
bonds of disbanded armies, who now
aud then defied the laws, could be con-
quered BY the law. And for every one
of these lswless exhibitions in the South,
half dozen could be cited in the North
ern States The South had been borne
down By superior numbers and superior
resources. She had realized the truth of
Napoleon's words, that the science OF
war was the science of barbarians, and
he will conquer who has the heaviest bat
talions. The South lay conquered at the
feet of her conaaeroF, The Federal sol
dier had done bis duty. What now was
the duty Of the statesman
When Rome conquered Latium, the
question was discussed. How shall the
yanquished be treated p A great citi-
zen named CsmiIlus arose in the Senate
aul Uttered these words: VIII you use
the utmost RIGGS o. the rights Of victory
v~a are masters TO destroy all Lstium
and to make a .sat desert 9ti' after ST',, Say,
iug drawn from il powerful suecors. -.
you not, on the contrary, after the ex-
ample Of yo1r fathers, augment the re-
sources Of Rome. Admit the Eanquished
among the number Of your citizens Ii
is fruitful means Of incress.ng at the
zane time your power and your glory.
In the councils Of the eternal city, and
even in q semi.barbarian age, this advice
prevailed, y