Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-12-23

tAous HNI Was khtH dCtiOl Tue result Ol
the deliberations Of the Representatives
OF the people. Both the preamble and
the resolution passed By the msIority
were concocted Rs a parry measure In
n secret caucus OF the majority, and we're
then put through the legislature under
tue pressure ~ party discipline and for
party ends, without the examination OF
single witness, and against the evil
dence furnished by the written stale
ment Of peaceful and law-abiding citi-
zens Of both political parties, and Of the
highest character and standing, who
were eyewitness Of the transactions
about which they testified. To show
conclusively that this action Of The gov
ernor and Of 3 nsjority OF me legislature
was conceived and carried out purely
Irom party considerations, We need
but call attention to the fact
that the governor himself, under the
Constitution and laws OF the United
States had ample warrant and author
ity to call for troops from the United
States government when the legislature
was not in session, and hence the call
lng OF an extraordinary Session Of that
body had no other use than to make
This action, which was taken as q party
measure and to furnish to the world a
needed support for an unwananted act
oy the nu .uber Of names and officials
com initted to it. The majority who
/ siseained this action was composed
largely of colored mem bers, whose pas
sions had been aroused and whose pTeiu-
0ace had been excited by the infiammz-
tory and caluminOus proclams lion and
| message OF the governor, and In part BY
white men who were strangers TO our
people and alien to them ia sympathy
and interest, and in part OF honest,
though misguided men, who had not
the puolic spirit to disobey in the inter-
est II truth and justice the edicts OF
I party caucus. The governor, who insti-
! gated this action, is not even s citizen
Of the State, and is an utter stranger TO |
our peOnle, and wholly ignorant and I'M
mindful Of their interest. He vas 3 |
/ United States army officer and military /
! governor OF the State at the date of its |
/ reconstruction, and while occupying |
/ both these positions, he was elected 70 |
! the United states senate. The Judiciary |
committee of that body, composed OF |
| his party friends, reported that he was 1
Ineligible to the seEste, because he was
/ not citizen of the State. He is here "a
mere political adventurer, with no I
other Interest than such as results from I
his being an Office-holder, and we pre- /
sumo he would not deny that his nre. 4
| tended citizenship il this State would I
end with his official career. He las no |
sympathy for the people over whom he /
rules, and no other mCsivs 70 guide him
in his admin.sTstion than to advance
DIS prlV~Ce and political fortune, and 1
! that Of his personal supporters. In more
than one instance he has f1sgrantIy Vie
lated the constitution by appointing his
suppliant tools to Office, which, by the
constitution, were elective By The peo-
| piei and IL one instance made an ap-
! pOintment 70 such an office after the
senate, large majority of whom we're
his party friends, had refused to confirm
! ais sppointee, upon the express ground
mat ne had no power to make the ap-
/ pOintment nor the senate TO confirm it.
he has attempted to defile the pure er-
mine OF the Judiciary by assuming to
control, before appointment, the action
OF his apPointees to chancellOrships in
the distributing Of the judicial printing
among his personal friends, who, on the
strength Of that patronage, were to es-
tSollsh newspapers to advocate his
clalEns to Office. This has been done in
o-e instance, and, il is believed, il
others. He has on one occasion attempt
ed though he failed) to control the de-
eisiOn Of chancellor by allowing threats
20 be made by his friends that decision
adverse to his wishes would cause an
omission to send The chsncellOr'5 name
10 the senate for confirmation. He
usuTped the power to remove chancel-
lar, IN express violation Of the cOnstitu-
tiOn, because thar chancellor lad made
a decision that he did not approve I
Of And he refused TO appoint, dur
fpo ha Of 70 ]
all the chanceliorships but three,
which would be vacant before
the next session, in plaiL violation Of ,
iaw, so that, as we have reason to be-
lievs it, he might retain his control over
them by the exercise Of his assumed
power, not TO send in their names for
confirmation. And in no single instance,
so far as We are able to learn, has be ia
any official act or expression of private
sentiment been betrayed into an exhi-
bitiOp or the slightest concern for thein
terest or welfare OF the people Of the
State. Under these calamities, with
hostile executive and legislature, who I
seem to be willing at any time to sacri-
fee the public interest TO personal and /
partisan advantage, we feel that we are |
authorized TO appeal to our fellow-citi-
Zens Of all sections Of the Union not 10 ,
LLENAL Alc-G Ehlu1aHAcss anu U 3oh lhEiLl I
to investigate for themselves. The peo-
pie Of Mississippi are utterly power 5
less 10 defend themselves against I
these constituted rulers, unless we
shall have the sympathy and good will,
not Of any particular party, but Of our !
fellOw-citizens throughout the Union. !
We are too much concerned here to save
ourselves from local misgOvernment and p
oppression TO participate in the partisan
contests which agitate other parts of
the Union. We do not deny that there
are occasional disorders IN our midst, but :
We solemnly aver that in no part Of the
world, and in no age, have there been +
so few, under oppression so severe, and 7
under circumstances Of injustice,
wrong and insult so irritating and try +
ing. In conclusion, we beg TO he al
lowed, on behalf OF the people OF Missis- !
sippi, TO assure cur fellOW-citizens Of all +
parts Of the Union Of our earnest desire J
for the restoration Of frsternal and mu- !
tusl confidence, and that our people have /
DO more ardent wish, nor sincerer aspi- .
ration, than to be treated AMI trusted as !
equals in the Union, and to be allowed =
10 contribute their full share to the pros 2
peTiry Of cur common country, and to | j
The glory and honor of the American +
name. :