Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-16

Tur nay FOR sMALL.M MEN.

The great men of the State have Oil
.nnarently passed off the stage, or are so
comn,etely obscured by the darkness oil
,ha bour that we are not permitted 10
,.;o;ce in the blaze of their genius. The
times ara peculiarly important with small
nan wbo are ever ready to volunteer
odv;ce mon matters of governmental
nol;cv about which they display no more
nract;cable sense than a .precocious
school bow would do if called upon to
give an opinion. These men are russ
snd-fes,her sort of politicians, tha'
chatter on all occasions with the
vim and variability Of q conciaVe
Of monkeys in a cocoanut grove. Ihey
imagine the country stands greatly In
need oftheir guidance and counsel,which
vould Nv off we're it not for the centripe'
tsl mower of thought, which is SO kindly
loaned to keep things in their proper
relations. Whist pity all such men
dia not have the opposite capacity oil
tb;nk;og to themselves in way that the
nublic would not be compelled 10 hs'en
to their Aummery. But, kind heaven
did not will it so; and as the
thing can't be cured in our COM
munitv. it must be endured. Now, this
class Of very small men, since the people
of this State have achieved the great
Democratic victory of enfranchising the
masses of Objectionable citizens, and
that. too, without compromising honor
or principle, now ask us to throw
awav The fruits of oar achievement and
accent negro suffrage, the most obJec-
tionable feature in the creed OF our
Radical enemies. To prevent SO dis
graceful a catastrophe, the Democratic
onnoneuts of Radealism in this State
and all over the Union have fought the
most sanguinary political war that
has ever been wsged on the con-
t;nent of America. The gods have
decreed that in Tennessee the banner
of Democracy shall float over the field OF
the slain, and that her enemies be made
70 fee to the mountains for safety. The
advocates of this new move implore the
people to accept universal suffrage as
panacea for the evils that fffilctp our
country. But we cannot agree to swsl-
low the negro that he may be gotten rid
of The Pandora box can be closed IN
Tennessee, aud all disquietude put 10
rest here as well as in Ohio-a Black
Republican State that voted down negro
suffrage by fifty thousand msjority. And
40 did other Northern States do likewise.
We do not propose to out-Herrod Her
rod in matters, ut best. which call for our
prompt and eternel disgust. If Tennes-
see is a State in the Union. she then has
the authority to regulate her own internal
affairs in the mode that appears best to
the minds of her people, and will net be
dictated to by Northern politicians. II
the thing of negro suffrage is conceded
BY the South to propitiate the North,
who can say what other demand will
next be made to satisfy eur New England
mastersP But little beeswax lawyer
from North Carolina publishes an ex
preston of mis- views in one Of the morn
ing papers Of yesterday, and he advises
the people to join the Liberal party and
20 for Universal Suffrage, on the ground
that If it is adopted our representation in
Congress will thereby be increased
That is emphstically killing the goose t6
obtain at once the golden egg, and is IL
every respect very goosey. IL seems tC
matter little with these shsllow-braineC
politicians what ruinous means shall b
adopted so the South may appear to hav'
gained an advantage in the Government
They never consider what may besacrific
ed By adopting negro suffrage as perma
nent constitutional provision, but clamo
for the tempting fruit that will surel.
turn to ashes at the touch. To incrsss
the number OF our representatives. is tn
apparent aim of these Liberals; but th
character of such men is not TO be cor
sidered. It is entirely presumable tina
if the negro shall give bis vote to cleo
representatives. that these men should B
of them, or those who may have com
out Of their bosOms. Bat this turpentiu
gentleman says with a vim that Ii
negroes 10 old times, when allowed
vote in North Carolina, voted for gentl
men. We would like TO know whether b
ever heard of q Tennessee negro votin
fora gentleman ? But, upon the contrary
does be not know, as well as the peopl
Of The entire State, that the men eleete
by the negroes we're the vilesi vermin th'
ever inflicted a body polite. PerhaI
his North Carolina negroes are a sup
rior breed to the Tenuessee Africans, I
they may have come iron Gaine
while ours are genuine negroes As