Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-11
PUBLIC LEDGER.

Saturday Evening" beptE 80 Acoe
Mr.. Thomas Tardrew, of New York
city, is authorized to act as Northern
advertising agent of the PUBLIC LEDGER.
MISREPRESENTATION wITHOUTTAx.
ALTON.
NASHVILLE, September l0--Governor
Ssnter has received a communication
from Major General o. O. Howard. Com
missioner Of the Refugees and Freed
men, requesting him to investigate the
outrage reported to have been continued
ON Mrs Starkey and Miss starkey AZ
Humboldt, who have been SUBJECTED 70
had treatment, and attempts to burn their
house: they having been engaged IN
teaching colored schools, which is re-
norted has brought upon them the enmity
of certain parties in Humboldt
How much truth is contained IN the
above extract we are not prepared to say,
but would Judge there was little founda.
,;on for the rumor that the two women had
been subjected to bad treatment with the
intention, on the part of some, to burn
their school-houses. We make this bold
declaration from the fact that Memphis Is
in close proximity to Humboldt, and
nothing of the kind has yet been received
as news in our city.
The Northern scalawag set, who are
adyenturing South since the war;
have found the position of school teach
ers open, aud with an avidity unsqualed
bv any other vampires, are found apply
ing themselves to the objects Of their
visit in sucking the life blood of the
community.
The original Government, as estap'
lished by our revolutionary fathers, was
founded on the theory that taxation and
representation were indissolubly con-
pected. But we do not find that the idea
il still endorsed and carried out in the
South since reconstruction began it's
work of pulling down. The condition OF
the blacks "a well as that of the whites
was deplorable after the rebellion had
been declared suppressed, and the whites
were not then, nor are they now, in
condition to help the negro more than the
negro may asst in helping himself. The
white people were broken down IN for
tune, and the country South entirely
bankrupt; but the fact was not con-
sidered by the carpetbagger. Who
like Oliver Twist, was continually
CRYING for more, and was never
satisfied These prospecting, adven-
turing ladies and gentry must be pro-
yided for, if the very sweat from the
Southern brow must contribute to their
laxiuess and comfort They are TOO
proud to till the fields. and must have
schools established for their pecuniary
benefit, with large salaries attached, The
present school system 10 this State las
well as others of the South, is
an outrage. and an unjust burden
npon our people, and if not pos
sble to equslze the oppression, then
It should be thrown off entirely. But
the Republican Newspapers at once set
up a howl and declare that we are op-
posing liberal education, but it is not 80 !;
we are not new to SO lavish an extent as
is being attempted. able TO educate
the negro and the whites at the same
time. This tax is now, with the other
necessary assessment upon our people,
more than can be we'll borne. Then
the color of the African is sufficient to
exempt him, under Radical government,
from taxation, throwing him into the lap
of our people to provide for, as it bis
black majesty was a precious gift sent
us by Heaven, which We were in duty
bound to take care Of. No, the South is
not responsible for the education OF the
negro; and if the Yankee feels such deep
solicitude in his future mental develop
ment, then let him see to it, without COM
polling the South to groau under taxa
ton, that should be imposed on those only
who set the negro free. We would be
. glad to have the African educated,
but not out Of our pocket, as there 10 OF
this time more demands on the public
crib than is commemorate with healthy
financial condition. The reason is OBJ.
yious why the Yankee is such an
advocate Of public free schools for the
benefit of the freedmen. 1t affords hin
(the scalswsg) an opportunity Of livins
easy at the public expense. The position
brings them an income of from eight hun
dred to fifteen hundred aud two thousand
dollars a year. Therein lies the deel
anxiety for the blacks felt by these mis-
cradle Northern creatures, who howl lik
hungry wolves after the money Of TIL
people. II GodAlmighty had endowed th
negro, and Yankee, too, with few NOR
brains it would have been scarcely neces
ssry to have so much education to tax
them well through the world. The man
ner in which our public school finance
have been managed since the war will b
8 subject for the next Legislature to cor
slider, and il is to be hoped that the bur
den Of taxation will be distribute
equally upon ell classes, and each mad
to bear bis or their proportional share c
the expense Of maintaining the govern
ment