Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-09-15

| passed the administration OF thS
South was largely in Republican
hands; that they could suppress dan.
gerous combinations by their OWL
authority, or by application to the
General Government in cOnstitu.
tional way. But the administration
was becoming unpopular. The peo-
pie were complaining more of the
administration than the conduct oil
the South. The Sumner affair, which
occurred about the San Domingo
business, in some respects most ex-
traordinary in our history, was on
hand. How, he asked, would have
Andrew johnson come out Of his i'm
peachment with such a case against
him? The elections of uncertain
issues were approaching, for the prepa-
ton of which they set about. They
would again make fight on the old
issue of the war, and so they got up
the Ku-Klux for the enforcement of
the Fourteenth amendment.
He then alluded, as a speciality, to
the part of the law that authorized
the President to employ the military
forces of the United States to suppress
instructions, domestic violence and
unlawful combinations under the
circumstances set forth, and to sus-
pend the writ of hdbeGS corpus under
the previous law, and it was made
criminal to deprive any person of any
constitutional right, and the offender
could be prosecuted in judicial pro-
ceedings, which was right and proper;
but in the case of this law it was not
a judicial proceeding, but a war. 1t
was the commander-in-chisf at the
head Of his army entering State, not
to make an arrest, but to cut down
and slay. State governments We're
pushed aside, the Courts were shut
aud were not wanted, the writ of
h06eas corpus was suspended, and the
Federal Government took absolute
and supreme command. Never before
could the general Government
march armies into a State on
account of any disturbances there
unless invited to do so. The
whole matter was left to q single man
to declare-he became judge and exc
cutioner; "behold, a despOtW The
State was under his heel; the writ
was in his hand, but the people never
placed it there. How carefully they
had tried to guard i'll It never should
be suspended unless when, in cases of
rebellion or invasion, public safety
may demand it, and even then it was
trusted to no one mans power, but to
Congress. one of whose duties was to
watch this one mans power. How
came this writ in one mans hand?
He said we were at peace with every
nation, all our land yet stands in
arms, and not one solitary being in
our lands in arms against the Federal
or State Government. He said each
State stood to expect military inva-
sion, and writ Of hGbedS corpus might
be suspended. We made a perma-
nent despot over us all to correct tenn
pOTary and local evils. and the State
was silencad. It had been said that
the President would not use this
power. A free people would trust no
one with this power. How violent,
dangerous and unnecessary was such
legislstiOnl The war was over, but
the spirit was upon us. The sword
was everywhere. The old-fsshioned
way of getting places was dying out,
and the practices of despotism were
taking its place. He would admit
that there was disorder and bad ad-
ministratiOn in the States recently in
rebellion. This should be corrected, |
and all the rights of every
inhabitant should be enforced
and respected; but there was
better remedies for these evils than
the sword, and before we used the
latter, we should try the other, and |
whatever we did, we should be sure
that we did not violate the COnstitu-
tion.
he alluded to the condition of
the South and intimated that nothing |
else than bad administration could be |
looked for. A large part of the popu-
lation but yesterday were slaves, to- |
day they were rulers. The Fourteenth |
amendment cut of from participation |
in the administration of the govern
ment. number which had been esti.
mated at not less than one hundred |
thousand, who were in every way |
qualified to render good service. |
The conscience and administration of |
all their States was handed over to |
those who are without education or |
experience; to strangers from the |
North, who, in a majority of cases
had failed and who were regarded uu-
worthy of any responsible trust. |
Fifty of about eighty members of the /
last Legislature of South Carolina, he /
averred, could not read or writes The /
total increase of the debt in these
States was estimated at one hundred |
millions, and these States had little or
to show for it. The mis-
in New York is COM
mented on everywhere, and those re-
sponsible held up for public eondenl-
nation. This was right, but had we
to say of the mismanagement
over nearly One-third of the Union,
and OF the policy that had
brought upon these States this
heavy calamity. The only remedy for
these evils was amnesty; vengeance
was only destructive. It cured and
restored nothing. Amnesty was OBJ
liviOn of the past and restoration to
full citizenship, with all privileges;
amnesty was kindness, and kindness
was wisdom and always the best
craftsmanship. He was not there a
for them; they would
not allow him to supplicate for them.
They, prior to the recent war, served
9rs, and were never deficient in any
service. They were, in no respect,
his hearers interiors. They were
their equals as manly, proud, gifted
and intelligent people; and would
you. he asked, have them less. He
touched on the financial policy OF the
party in power, saying that the recent
placed US all on a dead
evel Of equality of rights, privileges
and immunities, so that taxation
sould be impartial; there should be
no fayOritism or determinations all
should bear its Just burden;
exception Of some was discrimination
against others. An immunity was an
exemption of the charge of duty or
tax; we were equal in immunities,
yet the wealth, equal to the entire
valuation of all real and personal
property of Ohio, was in bonds of the
General Government, and not taxed.
This, though the Government had a
,lear right to tax it, was pressing the
people very heavily for the means to
meet its liabilities and maintain itself
rom day TO day. Take another in.
stance: we have large debt; we must I
honor it; TO repudiate it, would dis
yraee the Government and dishOnor us
Our only means Of honor ,
ng this debt was by taxation, which
'hould be imposed only for the pur- {
bose Of revenue, and yet we had a
ariff framed, in many places, to de-
eat this purpose, and to enrich the 1
ew at the expense of the many. He
lid not now refer to it as a CONNER
.ial measure, in which sense a prohib-
tory or protective tariff was unworthy
If this age. He spoke of it only in
with this doctrine of rights,
privileges and immunities. In all leg !
station of this kind, our first duty is :
n frorr,a ff oO that ~ obar,l1 non, v,,r-,I \