Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-23

LhrhslfffIr AAtAL the NrlCAHAtN llbll HUFlNN
county To constitutional Convention be.
aud they are hereby instructed TO vote I'm
said Convention 10 submit the question 81
negro suffrage 20 the vote uf the people OF the
state. IL being submitted as an Independent
proposition separate and apart from all other
questions
We accepted this resolution. and are
still in favor of submitting negro suffrage
to the people as a separate and iudepend-
ent proposition. We favor universal suf-
frage-because we wan the negro queS-
ton taken out of politics and because we
believe nothing else viii give tranquility.
If the people of Tennessee believe that
the negro should vote, let them have the
privilege of expressing that desire at the
ballot-DON. If they do not want negro
suffrage, If they are willing to renew flu
ture strife, which a di>franchiScment of
the negro would incdr, let them record an
uumistakdble negative against negro suf-
frage at the pOlIs.-ACUtEtcte.
How is favoring negro suffrage to
have influence to take the "negro
question" out Of politics, any more
than opposing it would do?" 1t is
an issue to be decided, and, when that
is accomplished, we ought to have
tranquility enough, so far as that sub
ject is concerned. The Radicals are
Cternally bowling for peace, and our
neigbor clamOrs for " universal suf
frage," both on the false assumption
that negro suffrage " will give tram
guilty" We have had the peace
giving thing in all its glory now
nearly four years. If that is " tran
guilty." we prefer a small "tempest
in a teapot" II it is war, then we
prefer peace. In Mississippi, Arkan-
sas and South Carolina, they have en-
joyed the singular blessing hugely foI
a good while. We wonder if they
are pleased with the Tranquility
It is not the sort we want. 1t Is
nothing but a plague calm, a hard en-
durance, a monstrOus evil, the peace
Of despOtism and despair in those
States, and it viii be no better in Ten.
nessee. So long as negro suffrage en-.
dures, it viii be like a forced quie.
under a Aogging, a silence under the
thumb screw and the pinccrs fOl
fear Of the rack. That is thC
" tranquility which the Majority
Committee ofthe Convention propose.
10 give Us, and which our ~neighb0l
advocates. lie favOrs a vote Of tn,
people, which is wei. But this is only
that they should " have the privilege
Of expressing a =" desire chat the Negro
should vote" To vote the other way
forsooth, would only be to " renew
future strife!" That is to say, wheI
the matter is settled, it is not proposet
by the universal suffragers to let tn,
matter stay settled. This is a charm
ing prospect for peace. GRANT anC
the Radical Congress say the sam,
thing. They are for peace only
on a condition that their parti
san policy is triumphant. They
submit issues to the people, but vii
not abide the verdict Of the people
We propose to submit that issue, anC
then abide the result Of the people,
vote, and that, however the question
may be decided, We will agitate n,
more. a man VINO goes into cour
should abide the judgment of tina.
court, whether favorable or adverse
1t is absurd 10 submit the issue to tn,
people, ifthe people will not be bounC
by a decision. Can we not agree t
submit the question and abide the re
suit? The decision may be wrong
but we can bear it for peaee's sake
and because the voice Of the majority
has spoken it. Nothing less can give
! "peace."