Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-10
~. .ns Right HonorabIes, tine Lie sis-
Iature OF Tennessee.

To the Right Honorabies, tne lie sis'
Iature OF Tennessee.
My LORDS: 10 the history Of ell ma
t;ous. great emergencies have sometimes
arisen invoking the exercise Of all the
w;sdom and firmness Of its rulers.
Such a crisis is now upon Tennessee;
and YOU, my Lords, are regarded by the
neople as the inspired guardians OF their
rights and liberties. For several years
thew have felt the iron heel of oppres.
sion: but though they have not been I'M
complaing, they have not been without
The hope that prevents despair. They
have always believed that truth is ON,
nipotent and public justice certain, ana
they now feel that the good day OF their
delivereuce is at hand They have but
lately chosen you, my Lords, not as their
servants and agents, but as their masters
who are to secure to them the dearest
rights and privileges of which they have
beef, 80 long deprived BY the infamy and
treachery Of their former pretended
represen tatives; and to this end, they
have surrendered to you all discretion
and power, without hesitation or ques-
ton. Their former pretended represen-
tatiyes were not such in any sense OF the
werd. They assumed all power to do all
things in accordance with their IDEAS OF
profit to themselves and their frienos,
at the expense of the rights and welfare
of the great body of the people. This
usurpation has been, at last, thrown Oh;
and YOU, my Lords, have been selected
AZ the honored successors of men whose
legislation was illustrated only by
an infamous system OF private and
public plumber. So great is the
low of the disfranchised people at their
promises of deliverance, that they seem
even willing to forget they are the real
and true sovereigns of the State, and de-
sire to manifest their grateful devotion to
your Lordships by bumbiy submitting
themselves and all their interests to your
absolute control. They seem disposed to
forget that a State Convention was
agreed upon during the late canvass, in
which the defects of oEr present Constr
tuition and the demands of our changed
condition and circumstances may be
calmly examined by citizens chosen for
that special purpose, and free from the
cares and perplexities of local legisia-
flor. Both candidates for Governor as
sen,ed TO the necessity for such con-
ysption, differing only as to the time OF
calliug IL. BIT since our Governor has
strangely forgotten oil bis pledges on
this point, and has not even alluded TO It
since his election, it cannot be supposed
that You, my Lords. will voluntarily re-
mind the people of yepr pledges or their
wants. Indeed, my Lords, Why should
you7 Il it not an impertipence for the
people to infer that you cannot amend
The Constitution whils amending the
laws? IT'S true, the bill OF Rights
saws that =" the people may, at all times,
sitsr. reform or abolish their form of gov
ernmen,.a BIT what of that2 Can not
you, my L ords, preyeai the exercise OF this
"inalienable right" if You think 1t best to-
the people that they should not exercise
i'll 1t this dsy, will any sane man con-
tend that the. L. g,slatBra ID not the
source of all power2 And, if this be true,
cannot the Legislature alpGys prevent
the assamhling Of Convention 7 Shonld
your Lorship, happily thus conclude,
would It not be wise and "expedlent
for you to strike out from the "bill If
rights" that first clause which admits
She people have the inslienable right to
alter, reform or abolish their government
in any manner they Msy think proper r
suggest this, my Lords, as nesns OF
avoiding any trouble on this score. And
sanaes You do this Are you not 1.-THE
State" my Lords2 Aud who are 1.-THE
people 2" Have they net giysa you
carte blanche to do whatever seemeth
GOOD Z? After this absolute surrender of
all their rights into your keeping, what
claims have the 20 asses on yonrLordships,
otber than that you shall accept their
grstitsds for generously taking care OF
them, and giving than and their affairs
the benefits Of your valuable tims and
exalted talents7 / beseech you, nay
Lords, not to listen to that empty clamor
of 1.-THE people" about State Conven-
ton. The wisdom of the State is found
in your hoporabls body, sH4 it would be
madness to spppose any others than
yourselves competent to amend the or.
ganie lay of the land. Your Lordships
surely do not seek the fsyes of tho peor
ple--thst mushroom popularity which is
won without merit and lost without q
srine," No, no.. my Lords Do your
duty and vhsn Yop return to the shades
of private life, it will be With the eopyics
ton that, as you are responsible to your
conseisnces es your constituents, and
not to "the people" you need not fear
that the latter will ever again venture to
entice you from that seclusion you so
much coyet.
Ny Lords, remain your Lordships'
obedient and grateful servant, JUsIus.