Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-23

I
Governor BrOwnlOw was Governor
were so burdened with taxes without
anv voice in fixing them, that many
of them became restless and were
hard to control. They not only Tor
several years felt the oppression OF
taxation without representation, out
they saw their money when pald
squapdered. and their State debt con-
stautly increased, until it seemed the
burden was more than they could /
bear. They saw the white men VINO /
were entitled to vote by the law
as It was passed, literally dflv- /
en- from the registers office, whlle /
thev saw certificates put in the hands OF |
those who would use them for party |
purposes on the day OF election With |
out stint. They were taunted ana IN |
suIted as "rebels" and "poor White |
trasb.1 until many of them were |
driven to desperation, and IN some |
localities masked men did commit |
crime. But this was generally con-
demned. and the prOVocauon was
acclaimed TO be no excuse or Juslh-
p 4. and all the conservative pa
cato. ehe State are committed IN
pers IN 4. 1t terms against tins klnd
the stronge- The great body oil the
Of iawlessne5s. ct and sincere ia
DeODle are earn = it. and Will, II
their opposition to "a have a civil
tbav can be allowed - N. soon re-
o, Ternment of their ON yer law
strain and put down whate,, Son of
Iassnpss the times and condls.
our State have produced. ~
An the people ask is trial, Win /
the offices of the civil Government
filed by fair elections. 100 4bo+
Petitioners would further state lhat |
they do not wish to be undef9tOOu -
admitting. even by implication, th9
right of Congress to disrupt the clNIl
G0vernmeDt of the State TO suppress
crime If it exist. They sOlemnly pro-
test that the trainers Of the Govern
ment never intended that Congress
should interfere, in any manner, WIN
the State Government, except 10 aio
in enforcing the law when the State
authorities were too weak 10 90 ~
but so careful were the trainers OF Inc
organic law upon the suDlect, tuae
they restrict such interference 10 cases
where the Governor or Legislature
ask IL. and then it is only 10 De cone
bv furnishing military aid, without IN
the slightest diSrupting the state UoN-
ernment.
Petitioners most sOlemnly protest
against the proposed overthrow OF
| the State government; ana II the re-
| belIious course, in the late war, ol
portion Of the people renders Jhe pro-
/ rest unayaiiing as to thenly may not
! the few who are righteous, and whose
| number is far beyond what was re-
ouired TO save the cities OF the pam
/ from destruction, be heardt IneIe
are thousands and thousands OF men
| in Tennessee who fought Tor the Ohlom u
| in the late war, who Will ieel tnaI Ali
! is lost if the enemies Of constitutional
/ government shall succeed In thls Ct
! fort to strike down state.
! Petitioners in the name ana on De-
half of the unOffendiag women anu
children OF Tennessee solemnly pro
| test against q step which must Drlhg
anarchy and, sooner or later, civil
war.
They point to the blood OF all the
TennesseAns who have died defending
the national flag, and on behalf oI
4 their orphan children they solemnly
Drotest against this destruction OF ciVH
Government in Tennessee by Congres-
sional interference. g.
Petitioners beg to remind the Presl
dent of the United States, and the
Congress Of the United States, ina
the step, when taken, will be regarded
bv intelligent men everyWhe-e as the
first bold and determined step q
change the form of government;
will confirm all who are now douotins
the capacity of man for selI-goNern
ment; il will dampen the ardor Oh al
the real friends and believers IN lh'
perpetuity of our form of government
1t will withdraw capital from Jne 10
gitimate channels of commerce ah'
trade: it will discourage our men Q
enterprise and totally paralyZe thei
efforts: il will alike disturb the mer
cantile and farming interests; IN
word, this fatal step, II taken, WI
r break the hopes and blight the pros
poets of the people Of the whole StaIe
, except the men who get Office by II.
! Tennessee Is Just recovering from
long and dreary night OF suffering
and shall the beams of light, whlcl
are breaking upon US, be cut on, an!
the night of death-mOral and polltl
, cal death-again be our portion
: May God in His mercy forbid II!
e 1t has been suggested, and we thinI
5 the suggestion a good one, that in d(
|. fault of a public meeting, the aDoV
\ protest should be signed by the cit
h zens Of Memphis and forwarded
Washington by committee OF lea(
t ing citizens, or intrusted TO the hand
q OF the committee from Nashville, col
i sisting Of x-GovernOr Neil S. Brow
'e Judge John M. Lea, Judge 10.
y Guild and Mayor Morris.