Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-10-06

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within reason and common sense. In 1
considering this grave question, we must
look at IL in the light of the present, as
the psst gives US no guide ana history i
no example by which we may De
governed in reaching a conclusion
which will be sanctioned by individual
reason or public approval. 1 approach
its discussion with full appreciation OF
its gravity and Importance, and with
an earnest desire to treat it, not az po-
Iitieal charlatan would present a party /
hobby, but in that light In which the |
American people, and particularly those /
of the southern States, should regard |
question involving the well-baiDgi per-
heps the txistence, of nearly five mil
lions Of people. So far as | may deem |
it proper and necessary to examine this |
question Of the relative duties and re-
sponsibilities Of the two races, shall DO |
80, if can, in spirit OF impartial falr-
mess and candOr, approving where may /
think it due and condemning where l
think il deserved. While l am acluat- /
ed by 9 sincere wish to direct the puo- |
lie sentiment of both races in that chan
mel which leads to the general good and
national welfare, my convictions VIII
be as fearlessly expressed as they are
honestly entertained. l have no prin-
barter for public favor.
EFFECT OF FREEDOM ON THE MICRO.
When the providence Of Almighty
God made manifest through his lnsIfu-
mentality, the actors in helatec ciVll war
had broken the shackles which, lor
more than three centuries, had heid lne
negro population OF the American COLO
nies and States In condition OF slavery,
our social structure underwent 2 sudden
and rapid revolution. -Four mllllons OF
people, held for 50 long time IN pond
[ age, and subjected to the complete dornl-
nation Of the governing race, ignorant
and meducated, were thus suddenly
unfattered and told they were free.
! When their condition was thus radically
changed, when the restraints OF seryl.
! tude were removed and they were vested
with the rights Of freemen, they stood
astounded and bewildered in the sun
! light of liberty. Helpless, dependant
scarcely realizing the boon that had
| been bestowed upon them, doubtful OF
| their new relations, fearful ana sus-
picious of the future, it is not strange
| that they became an easy prey to the
political vultures whose spreading wings
| darkened our southern sky so soon as
| the close of the civil war had opened
the wav for their ravages. Is it sur
prising, that thus circumstanced, they
should have fallen under the yoke OF
political taskmasters; should have i'm
| bibed their teachings, and gradually grew
| disrespsctful, and then hostile, to those
who had SO lately been their masters,
! And this was no more than natural, as
the white people of the south, smarting
under the humiliation Of recent defeat,
| were in no bumoT to submit with quiet
/ philosophy to a condition Of society i'm
/ posed upon them by their late successful
| adverssries. Hence, until the heated
! passions engendered by the -var had had
| time TO cool, and the pTejudices aud feel
| ings fixed upon their ml1ds by three
centuries OF custom and education had
! psssed away under the influence OK calm
reflection, they were restive and imps-
| tient, and did not, perhaps, adopt The
| best means to insure harmony and g0Od
| feeling between the races. Nor Is this
! either to be wondered at when they saw
the colored population falling so easily
and rapidly under the influence and con-
! troll of dishonest and incompetent poll
( ticians, adventures from every section
of the country, end renegades from ev-
eTy party in the nation, by VIII )m they
were used as instruments to deprive
/ them Of the rights Of freemen, and to
| ruin and bankrupt every southern State
| in the Union. Following and coinei-
dent with these things, the national leg
islature, by successive laws passed with
rapidity startling to the more Thought
/ ful ofits members, and radically charg-
| ing the organic structure Of our govern
ment, invested the negro with every pO-
litical right and privilege enjoyed by the
| white race, and, 1 may add, with every
social right which could justly and sale
| ly be made the subject Of legislation.
THE RIGHTS THE NEGRO NOW ENJOYS.
To the operations Of these laws, though
| they were passed without consulting
| the wishes Of the southern people, there
| was but little opposition, and their pass
age was generally regarded as the incl
| dents which in time would naturally
follow the great changes made by the
war in the relations existing between
the two races. Under these laws the
colofed race have guaranteed to them
the same rights and ths same protection
IN their enjoyment, that are awarded
in common to every other class OF our
| citizsDs. Under them the c0lored man
may come into the courts Of justice, sit
| UDOn liTtt5 Ellu aoEiSt III
the laws Of his country. He may sit in the
councils OF the gOvernment-Desr the
ernaiue Of Justice, or become the chief
ruler Of the nation though ten millions
OF white men in America were debarred
by law from ever reaching that high
distinction. We may live at home
protected by the law, and go abroad
clothed with all the pride and high
dignity Of American citizenship. To
this high position he has been raised
from slavery and degradation, in the
short space OF fourteen years, by the
generous muni6cence Of a great gov-
ernment. Is not this enough TO gratify
the ambition of the negro himself, and
to reward the zeal of his WaTmest friends?
Ought he to ask further legislation in
his behalf, when il can only have the
effect Of exssperatiDg those among
whom his lot is east; when it can, by
no possibility, bring any substantial
| good to him, and is greatly calculated
to impair the highest interest OF him
self aud his children for generations TO
come? But not content with all the
benefits that have been so layishly be-
slowed upon them, the cOlored people,
with & restless impatience and agrees
i've eagerness but little in accord with
the patient fOrbesrsnce which has st
tsched to their character in other times,
insist upon further legislation in theirin-
terest, and exclusively for their own
. benefit They and their psrtisans now
insist that the instincts Of nature and
race, the pTejudiees or education, ano
barriers OF society, felt and recognized,
I for generations, by twenty millions o.
, people in this country, shall be disre
I Al NJ hNy q GTnRln QQ1
! of legislation, IS Tepugnant TO common
/ sense as it is to every principle Of con
r stitutionsl law.
2 SUMMERS PANDORA BOX.
( On the niuth day Of March, 1871
2 Charles Sumner, senator IN congress, {
q man Of varied learning huterrstie view
' as a statesman, opened (unconsciously
I perhaps) PandOra's box Of evils for thu
S whole people OF the south, both whit,
g and black. On that day he introduced
= in the senate of the United States thi
: civil rights bill, since grown famou
!. throughout the country as measure
+ more frzught with mischief, more unjus
: 10 its determinations, more odiOus IL
: its leading features, more in conflict will
g organic law and established usage, thar
. any measure ever before submit
It legislative body. Former laws, long es
4 tablished custom and the prejudiees o
Is race and education, as well as the fixe,
= usages of society, have all combined t
e erect too able a barrier between TIN
g social intercourse Of the two races to b
u broken down by any act of legislation
l. 1t can only be removed, II removed a
2, all, by patient forbearance, the effect 0
u time and q total revolution of society b,
e some means not now, / confess, apps
Q rent TO me. / oppose this bill because
L believe IL TO be foolish aud unwise; be
q cause whatever may be the intention {
= its friends in forcing itupOn congress tn
/ only effect il can have is To outrage tn
Is feelings of the southern white people
q under the natural belief that it is onl
;? intended to insult aud humiliate ther
% by continued aud persistent system
X Oppressive legislation. / oppose it bS
T. cause know, as does every thinkin
D man In the country, that one Of its mo-
% inevitable and unfortunate results wi
e be to stir up evil passions, engender
Il deadly hostility between the white sn
10 the black races, and transmit to the
a. children an enmity that will kno'
% no compromise, and will seek no peacl
c. oppose it bscause / woul
az not by law compel any man of an
IN color to accept social afiiliation. n
C; pugnaut to his tastes and inclination
1e / would not pervert and prostitute Il
Y, functions of government 10 jmpO
ID social conditions not required by Y
?. good ofssociety, upon any race or ella
rs of our people. Let the German, Il
In Irshman, the American and Il
n Englishman, the white man and Il
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