Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-07-20

by fraud, perhdy and the .bayonet,
which bresk down local rights, wipe
out State lines and draw all the powers
of sovereignty to the central seat OF
government. And this question is to
be answered: when tyranny en-
crOaches on the rights Of a people,
when is the proper and safe
time TO resist it at the first
step or the last? In answer
to the question we quote from a man
who has made the science of govern
ment, and especially the organic law
Of the United States Government, the
study of his life-a man who deserves
the title of statesman, If any man does
on this continent. Mr.. A. n. Ste.
phens, Of Georgia, wrote the following
within a few days Ps
Some misguided Democratic paTti-
sans may think that all they a &C.
complish at the next election is to
save themselves from worse evils than
those now upon them, and that even
this can be done by not only ceasing
TO denounce usufpatiORs, but by
sdRcttOn6sg all Of them, so far as the
past is concerned and in this way
they propose to make an effort, at
least. TO secure what Is left of liberty.
These men are not statesmen. II
they were, they would know that
"What of Iibertyn they consider as
left. can never be saved or secured by
/ the course they recommend Power
is ever progressive and aggressive
ever grasping and e~ncroaching. Give
it an inch, and it never fails soon to
claim and take an ell. lit is to be
successfully restrained in the end, ii
must be met at the Threshold; and
these persistently resisted, without
terms or quarters. If the citadel be
UOluatGyily yielded, the oUtpOsts viii
be taken as q matter of course. II
bold and avowed usurpati0ns, based
upon slfraud, peFfdy and violence"
and IN violation Of every civil right Of
seven millions of people, be once
sanctioned as rightfu aets-not to be
questioned-upon what rational
grounds can sensible men be inspired
with any hope of saving, by the
greatest possible exertions, anything
that may be supposed to be left OF
popular rights?
And again, when charged with a
purpose to rule or ruin the Democratic
party, and a desire to write its plat
form against its own wishes, he says,
addressing the Montgomery AdUer-
tiser:
Be further assured, gentlemen, we
have no desire or inclination to write
any platform for the Democracy. We
want no netU platform written for them
by anybody. Our whole soul is en-
listed in urging them not to abandon
that one erected for them by Mr.. JEFF
ferson mot by MI. Calhoun, and upon
which they have stood 80 long. This
platform is planted upon the ram
parts of the Constitution. Our appeal
is, "Never abandon it; never depart
from i'll"
Here is something to stir a true
mans soul. How different from a
departure" that when pressed for a
solution of its meaning, is at once
whitfield down TO the paltry dimen-
sions of a mere party dodge. II it be
true that the people of this country
cannot be aroused to vote for their
grand liberties under the Constitution
o; their fathers, but have to be coaxed
aud wheedled and fooled into it by
the devices of party trickstery, we
wish to know il this people r fit to
have liberty, or able to save it even
it has been bambOOzled into their
possession. Trust the people! II you
find they r not to be trusted, then,
the sooner the country has a master
the better for the peace, good order
and security of society. Let the peo-
pie re-elect Grant, or one of his politi-
cal school, and the master has been
y