Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-27

The deSertlon OF eX-Speaker James
L. Orr, of South Carolina, over to the
Radical enemy, hitherto announced,
has not more startled the country than
it has his old friends, who once sup
posed he had sense, better judgment
and more integrity. The reason he
gives is sti1 more startling, novel,
and indicative OF treason and
thirst for Office and spoils. He adj
mits as to the State government that
Sin some of its departments retrench-
ment and reform Is, doubtless, greatly
needed-some of its offices are filed
by incompetent and corrupt men, who
should be driven from the places they
occupy" and that "more economy in
the appropriations and disbursements
of public money should be practiced."
Yet he says, reform is impracticable,
by the Union Reform party lately or
ganized, because the Republicans
I" have control of all the de-
partments of the State govern
ment, and have a majority of more
than 10000 voters to preserve and
perpetuate that control" Hence it is
the duty of men pretending to be
honest to go over to them! This is
new. He proposes to vote for Scott
for governor, Notwithstanding his
infamous character has been recent
" proclaimed and proved, and to
support a party outright which is not
less infamous than its leader, because
the only hope of reforming it is by
the example and accession of fresh
traitors like himself! This is soon
servatism" with a new wrinkle. The
way to put down rogues is to vote Tor
them, join them, go into their conspir-
acies, countenance their crimes, and
endeavor to hold them back! He
thinks that no other way will answer
than such as will give them full sway,
and will soonest give Office to him
self. He is subtle and ingenious in
furnishing a reason. He says:
When you attempt to reform a party
by destroying (which is the present
mode of reform adOpted-the first law Of
nature, self-preservation, appeals to each
member of that party TO resist the new
movement, and avert its destruction.
Such an a~ntsgOnism has another most
baleful influence. The most active, and
oftentimes the most INSCRIPTIONS parti-
sans, exaggerste the importance of main
tanning party usage and discipline, and
the great mass of the honest portion of
the party are thus diverted from a careful
examination into the fitness of those
seeking TO represent them, and from abu-
ses and corrUptions existing in the party.
We submit that the very thing he
Is doing is to reform the Radical party
by destroying it. The more traitors
it receives to its bosom the sooner it
will be driven on to the devil; and
perhaps on that ground it may be
well he has gone over. When all an
tagonism to the Radicals of South
Carolina is disarmed, are weto expect
that crime will forego its carnival?
When, un%opposed, they are done
manipulating the State and the spoils,
what will be left worth having
which they have not appropriated?
Will there be ten righteous men who
have not fed remaining in all the
Sodom they will make? There ought
to be none, On the platform of Orr,
who proposes as the only feasible
means of overcoming rascals to Join
their rogueries and share and receive
the spoils. we observe that he is
rather tender-toed when he ~confesses
the Republicans of that State are not
quite pinks of all perfection. Like
one who would keep back a part of
the price, or one al confession who
would not uncover all the badness of
his villainies, he speaks of "sins of
omission and commission" and is
careful not to admit they are robbers,
worse than Dick Turpin, who did not
some good with their money.
IS quite conservative" He sac
cepts the situation" He yields to
accomplished facts" He believes
"there can be nothing more obliga-
tory" to such, like himself, as are
hungry for Office. He thus concludes
a letter, which blasts his reputation
forever, and which a man who values
a good name better than great riches
could never consent to write for any
possible price. He will find as to his
future that this political blunder is
''worse than a crime:"
Notwithstanding the fact that Just cause
OF complaint may exist against the Re-
publican party for sins OF omission and
commission, they have don much TO
ameliorate the condition Of the white
people Of the State-ameiiOrations which
the Legislature of the State, in 1856 and
1866, refused to grant. That party has Sc
cured a homestead to the head of every
family. Thousands of women and chill
dren in this State would have been house
less and homeless, naked and starved, but
for the beneticent provisions of the home
stead enactment. Every voter thus pro-
should remember, when he comes
cast his vote, who furnishes a shelter,
in the sunshine and storm, yer the head
of his wife and children, despite the stale
claims of heartless creditors. That this
party has protected all debtors in
their Constitution from paying debts con-
tracted for slave property.
That this same party has been equal TO
the humane progress of the z in abol-
imprisonment for debt. That this
same party, whatever may have been its
extravaganza or improvidence, has raised
the market value of the bonds of the
State from twenty-siX cents, in January,
1858, to about ninety cents at the present
time.
If good and true men will consent to
the reconstruction acts of Con-
gress, and the legislation, Federal and
State, necessarily growing out of them;
IL they viii accept the new conditions
surrounding US; if they will affiliate with
he Republican organization, especially !
in this State, We will profit largely by
what they have done correctly, and much
canb be accomplished to correct abuse and
mal~fessance that may have grown up in
The anomalous state OF affairs surround
us.
Believing no good result can flow from
,he Reform movement, 1 shall vote for
,he nominee of the Republican party.
Very respectfully,
JAMES L. ORR.
TX raSnOpca 70 oI1r 1oodo- oF 4bo