Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-07
sENAroR KRY,s rAux Pas.

SENATOR KEYS FAUX Pas.
Senator Key thinks the terms made
by the North with the South we're very
liberal, that the victors we're magnani-
nous, and that we should accept the sit
uation. That is just what the Southern
people have been trying to do these ten
years. Not one man in q hundred thou
sand has resisted the results Of the war.
We are ell back in the Union, il we were
ever out Of it. The war was conducted
proiessedly to preserve the Union and
the assurance was given in the most
authoritative manner possible that when
the wayward sisters we're reclaimed they
would be restored to all their rights in the
Union. The promise made in the pres
ence oil the whole world kept border
States out of the ~Ccnfederacy and kept
alive a Union sentiment at the South.
This is one common country now and
we feel an equal interest in common with
our Northern brethren in the perpetuity
of Constitutional liberty. 1t is rather
late in the day to talk about accepting the
situation. That was done over ten
years ago in good faith. Must
we continually assert our loyalty
and daily confess u sins to
the high priests of the Radical partyY
A straightforward, law-Abiding course
speaks louder than words. Mr.. Key is
doubtless sincere and patriotic. But
sitter being clsssed among hypocrites
and traitors on the Senate floor by q
brow-besting bully, we cannot see how
he could from any standpoint return
honied compliments and then vote for
a measure which be asserted was wrong
and Hncalled for and knew cast odium
on a much abused and misgoverned
State; not that we would here him or
any man deal 10 aggressive epithetS or
handy words with q coarse, abusive Sen
ator, any more than a gentleman should
stop to answer back the oaths OF a
drunken man. We have read his reasons
as given in his speech made at the time
and published in the Avalanche. We
are glad that our contemporary has
afforded this public IN opportunity
to read these reasons = so-called.
They are certainly not strong srgu
ments, but rather glittering plattudes
which, if they mean anything, imply
that the South ia not reeonciled to th'
Union and must needs produce furtheI
proofs Of loyalty. II admiration for th'
Republican party is a test, then there i
ground for suspicion. The resolution il
question is an outrageous proceeding,
Q violation Of the Constitution snC
subversiTe Of the dearest rights Of tn
people. Il contsmplates a Aagran
wrong, and Mr.. Key voted for it know
ing and admitting it to be such. Hi
reasons in support Of that act are no
satisfactory except to those who symps
ihize with the Morton and Boutwell, vie'
Of the question. The resolution We
either right, legal and proper under th
circumstances and as q precedent fc
future cases that might arise, or th
resolution was 8 usnrpation, illegal an
wrong. That is the only proposition II
Tolved. We are not discussing sid
issues, but the naked question at issu'
No amount Of sopbistry or reaseniD
can justify 8 wrong, and Mr.. Key
speech, as published, does not help b
case. Whenever we are convinced tn
Mr.. Morton's resolution is legal an
proper We will agree that N
Key did the proper thing in voting for
Until then we hold that cur SeuGt'
made a serious mistake. The Wick
burg Herald remarks that there is qui'
a distinction between submitting to Il
reconstruction acts and to what some
the Southern States have had put upt
them, and We hope all fair-minded pc
pie North will learn to make that d
t~inetion after a while. Let US at lea
hope that Southern Democratic Senate
will inform themselves better and I
again SANDER a neighboring State IS I
Senator Key"