Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-05-01

the BLrOugs "A community IN WlAcL
the knave and the red-handed muir.
derer never trembles before heinvis'
ible majesty Of the law, is TO be pided,
for with them the clamor Of the moi
rules, instead Ofthe edicts Of the writ
ten law. No man who is not prepared
to subvert thee Constitution, destroy the
government and resolve society into
its original elements, can Justify law.
~lessness. Nomatter what evils, either
real or imaginary, may exist in the
bOdy-politic, If each Individual is to
be permitted in his own way,
and in defiance of the laws
Of the land, to undertake to
correct those evils, there is not
a government upon the face Of the
earth that could live a day. All gov
ernments, the best which have been
devised, encrOach necessarily more
or less on the Individual rights Of
man, and to that extent, r regard
ed by the Hcentious as evils. But
shall we on that account destroy
government, dissolve society, and
inaugurate anarchy, 8 condition of
things in which every man shall be
permitted to follow the instincts Of his
own passions or preudices or feelings?
We trust for the future our people viii
be governed by these considerations,
and pay that obedience to law which
is essential to good government. The
statistics ofthe country show that there
is more crime committed in the North
than inthe South; yet for vile party
purposes the South is represented as
a land Of 'ssvages, who disregard
law and order. Argus eyes are upon
our people. Committees have been
appointed to nose into our affairs, and
to misrepresent the condition Of so
ciety. 1t is important that our peO-
pie act with more than ordinary
circUmspectiOn. They are anxious
for peace and to see the heel Of despOt-
ism lifted from their necks. Nothing
will contribute so much to this result
as good order and a strict observance
Of the law of the land. 1t is true the
South will be slandered and maligned
even if a perfect millennium Of peace
pervaded her people. But any viola
ton Of law, anything like the out
RACES which are daily committed
in the North, will give a
pretext for additional falsehOOds
and for renewed ersecutiOns Violence
will occasionally occur in the South,
as it occurs in all communities, but
it is the interest Of the Southern PEG
pie to unite in putting down all who
engage in any violation Of the law.
The law-abiding and Order-lOving
part Of the community must divest
themselves Of their Characteristic
timidity, and join the press in frown-
ing down everything calculated to
paralyze our friends and to strengthen
those who hope 90 retain power by
80 Southern Outrages," whether real
OF manufactured. Two or three dozen
reckless wicked men can make the
Impression in a community Of as
many thousand that their opinion is
public Opinioni The sober, quiet,
.ubstantial part Of any community
ire for the most part modest and
hrinking-tOO shrinking for the pub
ic good. They have a great aversion
coming into collision with any
opposition. They are quiet
nd silent, and their voice is not
.eard nor their arm raised in an
3gonism; and hence they are erro-
.eoUsly thought to a~cqUiesce with the
.Oisy. Indeed they themselves do
OF know their own strength; where
on the contrary, the laWless and
few make a great cutlery.
ON the fact that w-ickedness is a
cry active virus IN the bosom OF
ian, and nerves him with unwonted
lergy. The recent Ku-KlUx bill,
assed by Congress, is intended
an electioneering scheme to
AIRY the next Presidential election.
here are no Ku-KlUx in the South.
here are, occasionally, deeds Of VIC
snce in our midst, but none of these
riginate in politics, and when they
o occur, our people denOunce them.
repeat that the Southern people
Mould so act that the unconstitutional
III, passed for the purpose of Oppress-
e them, will become a dead letter,
nd that the committee appointed to
lvestigate the Southern Outrages will
compelled to pay an unwilling
ibUte to the peace and order that
ervades every Southern State.