Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-10-16

HNHHNH - ~
liberty and happiness. The negro
knows what he wants only rs he is
instructed. He needs hog and hom-
my, clothing, comfort and good treat
ment with protection OF the laws, and
no more. To the assertion that relu-
sal Of the suffrage ''strikes at the
whole idea Of reciprocal obligations
and rights" we answer that ifthis is
true. and none but voters owe any OBJ
legations to the Government, then the
whole franchise system should be re-
modelled and all permitted to vote
in order to fix their obligation to obey
the laws. The franchise laws of the
United States have, according to Gov.
SENTER, been an outrage from the
beginning OF the Government, and
ought to fall at once. To the
assertion that impartial justice will
demand the roofofcharges," etc, and
" viii not be satisfied with less than
the demonstration of experience" we
answer that "charges'' are brought by
none-but facts, patent to the obser-
walton Ofthe world, and which cannot
be denied. If three years experience
Of negro suffrage, with its fruits in
base officials, misuse Of the public
moneys, and constant maladministra-
ton, is not a sufficient " experiment"
we are puzzled to tell what would be.
We have tried it on, and got no better
fast. To his observation that the ne
gro "ameEdment" is the voice OF
the country" we reply that the Con-
gress was not elected ON this question,
and does not express the voice Of the
country, and that no Congress should
assume to establish any new fund2-
mental law at the behest ofany party,
but only on being instructed thereto
by a majority Of the people. To the
asseveratiOn that negro suffrage is nee
essary to " secure the cOlored pOpula-
ton against unprecedented dangers, T"
we affirm that the intimatiOn of such
a necessity 10 Tennesseeans ISLANDER
| ous, and ridiculous for it's falsity. No
man can nationally entertain such an
idea; and ifSENTER was not the Gov
ernor of a great State, we should sus-
pect the necessity for an inquisitiOn
for lunacy, from the very fact Of such
an IDEA getting into his Uranium.
Again, he afirms that adoption Of the
negro amendment viii "iuspire con-
fdence with the Northern people"
How is it that he expects TO inspire
confidence in the Northern people y
by a course to which he admits a ma
iority of the Northern States are OPP
posedo Must we obey Congress in or
der TO win its friendly inter-
est?" Is il the business
OF Congress to command, or to
obey the people9 VIII the " strong
helping hand of the Government be
Withheld from its people for exercis-
ing its independent Judgment? He
speaks for Congress, the Imperial
voices Has the time come when the
people must, and should in prudence
kneel and obey the mandate from
Washington? Or are we yet free,
and daring to maintain the ancient
rights OF n free people 10 command
their servants and rulers" His
last reason is that " the people Of Ten
nessee at their last election" have
commanded negro suffrage. We have
the authority OF the people for saying
this is untrue. The GOverOr ought
10 be more careful of his facts.
Thus we have given and answered
every substantive argument and pro-
position On which Gov. SENTER rests
his recommendation to the Legisla-
ture, and we send TO it in reply this,
our own message, greeting. We rest
our opposition TO negro suffrage on no
such himsy arguments as the Cover
nor brings to sustain it, but on the
great considerations which concern
the future welLbeing Of Tennessee.
We regard no promises which can be
avoided without dishOnOr, no consid-
eratiOns affecting individuals or class
es, but those which are for the greatest
good OF the greatest number for the
present and all coming time. The
infiction Of negro suffrage will be an
endless and internal curse TO the State,
alike injurious to whites and blacks,
a milestone on its neck with which it
Will not rise to greatness and happi-