Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-21

and in such a case the action of the
Convention may well enough be final
But we do not so understand the stu
alton. We believe the people are
against negro suffrage by an over
whelming vote, and therefore we are
unwilling the Convention should fix
the black evil in our organic law
without such a vote.
But the report of the Majority COM
mittee is for permanently fixing on
the State, without the ascertained
consent of the people, the most afro
cious mischief a Republic can suffer.
We deny that such action can
either express the true of
the people, or even that of the
Convention itself. If adopted it
will be at the dictatiOn of u north
ern masters, the result of fear, trepida-
ton and weak knees. Are we in a
strait, calling for such timOrous coun-
sells? If so, then we again protest
against Obeying by halves. The XVIII
Amendment is ordered from WASH
ingtOn. If it is unsafe now to do what
a Republican people may Of right do,
if we are not at liberty to alter our
present government as we will, then
it is unsafe to disobey at all. Adopt
ing negro suffrage, withouta also adopt
ing the XVIII Amendment, is only
halfway obedience; which, besides
being more disgraceful, may be
little less dangerous than fiat
refusal. 1t is the Browning
victory" which is commanded,
not a voluntary embrace of negro suf-
frage, which is only partial in its eff
feet on the Union, and comes far short
Of accomplishing the objects of Con-
gress and proving our loyalty to the
Radical party. We hope the Conven-
ton will 90 the whole length or none.
No excuse will then be left for militia
~ government of the State. We pre-
test in the name of a free people, that
we have not yet surrendered vOlunta-
rily the rights of freemen. We are
willing to obey force, and are prepared
to resist nothing by force. But, like
JEFFERSON DAVIS, we would insist
that our manacles should be put on us
by our enemies, that they alone shall
suffer the dishOnor who perpetrate the
crime.
We are not disposed to be extreme
but rather conservative. And we
think the right way to be cOnserva-
tive under force is to obey honestly,
out and out; and not halfway, and
with hypocritical pretences. The prop
Of the Majority Committee is
one to sugar-cOat the nauseOus dose
they think it necessary to take
to prevent military interference. By
voluntary adoption, they tacitly pre-
tend their great admiration for the
monstrosity, when the coating of
the poll tax restriction is put on; and
thus admiring, make fair p%retences of
making it their own true bantling and
choice. This is as false as the de-
of CAIN, that he was not his
brothers. keeper, or that Of ADAM, that
he was naked and therefore was
There is no truth in it. We
ike straight and honest dealing bet
ter. We have no doubt that negro
suffrage, with severe restrictions, may
be less injurious than without them.
But it is the same mischief and plague
so far as it is not prevented. And
every sensible white man in Tennes-
,ee knows il to be so. We cannot
With candOr pretend voluntarily to
adopt it, except under force, with
reservations and protest. We
prefer, therefore, distinctly to say we
ldopt the Amendment, because it is
ordered from Washington, not Of cur
,wn free will, but under cOmpulsiOn.
That is the whole truth of the matter;
md it is mere stupidity to suppose
he Radical rulers are to be hood
yinked into believing the adoption Of
suffrage by Tennesseeans is 3
voluntary thing. We degrade the
state by making pretences of that sort.
But we can speak out the truth and
maintain our self-respect while we
uccumb to the powers which rule US.
We wash our hands Of this iniquity.
let its blood rest on wi enemies and
bpir cbildrnn ,