Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-26
pRoWNING MEN WILL CATCH Al
STRAWS.

The leading hauicai organs " '
State are endeavoring to take advantage
of all technicalities in the law, and are
willing to resort to any subterfuge by
which to prevent the disfra nchised from
voting in the coming election The State
Journal, published at the Banner office
in Nashville, in speaking of Confederate
soldiers voting at the August election
says certificates will doubtless be fur
nished these to vote, but should they ex-
ercise the privilege it would be violating
the paroles they received from Grant
at the close Of the war. We have seen this
statement several times from Radical
sources, and can only characterize 1t as
the expiring cutching of the drowning
party after straws. The Stokes organs
are evidently feeling already their defeat
which will surely overtake them on the
9Th of August; and they would con-
strue the law in their favor, if possible,
to prevent men from voting who are
known to entertain no affection for the
Bald Eagle. But the State Journal falls
into error when it supposes we are still
under parole, and subject, as it says to
court-martial, should such men vote con-
trary to the State laws at present.
We are not paroled soldiers at this
time, having been psrdoned by the
President of the United States and
washed from the guilt of rebellion as
white as snow by the issuance of his
general amnesty. The offense Of seces-
sion that we committed was not against
the State government, from the fact
that the State itself was the authority
which declared the ect of secession and
performed the deed desperation. lfthere
was an offense at all committed it was
only against the United States Govern
ment, that has since expressed-the elem
eDcy of pardoning all rebels, even the chief
himself, Jefferson Davis. The allegiance
we owed Was to our State, which required
by the act Of secession every son who had
bsen nurtured on her soil to resist to the
death the authority Of the General Gov
eminent to force Ms into an unwilling
union. Nov, since we were by superior
numbers compelled to submit TO this
General authority, it is perfectly absurd
that we should be prescribed by the very
State which compelled US to perform
the act of resistance TO our enemy.
Then this law, which is claimed to be now
in force as a part of the Constitution OF
our State, was declared by the Supreme
Court not TO be part OF our organic law I;
and if not, then the pretendes enactment
of the Legislature is not binding on any
man morally, unless it be those who
created It. r...
This Radical organ has, as il supposes
woven beautiful piece of cloth out o.
the Confederate parole oath, SO strong IL
texture that no honorable man dast
break through it; but, when held up to
the light ofreason, it is found to be want
ing in sound argument which carries
conviction to the minds Of honest men
But should this subterfuge fail TO keel
rebels from the polls, then they are to b
reported to the President, who will have
them tried by court-martisl and punished
for violstioR of their paroles. Sucl
threats will not Brighten brave and sensi
bic men from the performance Of du,l
when il is in their power to perform it
The Radicals are nov beginning 70 ap
preciste the sauce upon which we hav
been compelled to feed for the las
four years. Bot don't blame ne II W
choose not to accept your advice sn'
cannot view things from Radical stand
point. We shall do our own thinking an
our own voting by the standard Of mora
right and wrohg that We hold, and net ii
one held up to us by orr enemy. We ar
for Senter and the enfranchisement G
rebels.