Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-25
DIGGING UP TEE PAST.

One Of Johnsons papers has been
hunting Up the original secessionists now
taking part prominently in State poll
tics. and enumerates Governor Harris,
Colonel Haynes, Hon. John NJ Bright,
Hon. D. N. Key, General ]. D. c. At
kins. and Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar, of Mis-
sissippi. It might have found one or
two more by going over into South Caro-
lima, but this half dozen, including one
from Mississippi, is mentioned in reply
TO the remark of the LEDGE, that we
cannot call TO mind half a dozen original
secessionists Of prominence who exer-
else controlling influence in State pol
itics. Or who desire 70 be leaders. These
gentlemen may have been original seces-
sionists-that is, favored leaving the
Union in February, 1861 THAT Is our
understanding of the term for many Of
the strongest Union men in Middle and
West Tennessee voted for separation
and representation on the 9Th Of June,
1861. War was then inevitable, aud
Southern men took sides with their
State and section whether they believed
a State had the right under the Consti-
tuition to withdraw or not. These pa
pers pretend now to hold few men
responsible for al the blood Of the war.
With Falstafhan valor they stand over
the dead body Of secession and stab 1t
again and again, and even shoulder the
corpse, and with sword in hand strut
forth with an air that says, See what
i have donei" Secession was slain By
men with guns in their hands, and to
them alone can the achievement be as
cribed. The original secessionists who
went into the war and followed the Tor
tunes Of the South bear no more respon-
sibility than those who changed their
minds in the spring of 81. We eensure
none except those who offered to drink
blSod and then managed to stay ct home.
These issues, however, do not in any
sense belong to the canvass, nor do any
of the issues Of 1861. The war settled
those questions finally and forever, and
no one proposes to reopen them, except
the supporters Of Mr.. johnson, who
would appeal to the prejudiees, if posi-
bic, Of those who suffered most by the
war. No opposition has been raised TO
johnson on account Of the Union
speeches be made twelve years ago,
although he bitterly assailed the South
ern people and raised his powerful voice
in the mountains and valleys Of East
Tennessee to array the poor against the
rich, the masses against the few. No
one thinks Of holding him to accountior
the fierce denuncistions he poured forth
than--that has passed away. Yet Gov
ernor Harris and Colonel Haynes and
few lesser lights are held up daily as
original secessionists, and as such re-
sponsible for the war. This is absurd,
for no ten or fifty men could have led
the people from the plow-handle and
the workshop to the camp, unless there
had been q general underlying cause and
an occasion far above the control Of any |
leader. Everybody has accepted the sit
uation, and we do not see that the cleo
ton Of any particular class Of Southern
CONSERVATIVES, whether called Democrats
or Liberals, would plunge the State into
rniu, although those papers continually
rake room for such an inference. We
challenge any Ofthem to point to Dem
oeratic nominee in the State who does not
recognize the validity Of ell the constr
tutional amendments, or whose declare
,ions are not entitled to credit. When
the var is over and all its issues adjusted,
fail 10 see the utility or the justice of
dragging up al the unpleasant things
said and an the mistakes made by men
Who b.ppened to be prominent at time
that made their actions historic. The
war his been over nearly eight years
a new generation has grown spi the boys
then are voters now; the vigorous men
oflsso Who survived the cslamities OF
The times begin TO go down the bill
where shadows lengihen, and where
their heads are whitened with the frosts
Of many sutumns. Most Of them have
forgotten ell resentmenis, and puoheiy
OF in private viii conscientiously dis-