Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-13
STATUTORY REVISION - cOEsTITU.
TIOHAL kEvIREScREcE.

STATUTUkI hEblblUN OONSAAAS
TIOHAL kEvIREscRNcE.
From the points of view indica-
ted above in treating of ga people
who know their rights, and know
ing, dare maintain them;" Of a
people so conscious of their
strength too, that they will, when
exigencies require, exert it in every
way necessary to re-establiSh the
government they originated on the
only durable basis that free govern
ment can be perpetuated-juStice-
it can be confidently assumed that
the people Of the United States
will, without disruption of order,
at this juncture prune off the fun
gus growths that have fastened on
their constitutional tree to the sap
ping Of it's vitality, while they we're
at the same time covering it with a
dense and luxuriant growth Of their
own parisitical foliage, a magnif-
cent tree in outward appearance, a
mass of tangled vines in reality.
The people, through public meet
ings, have already to some extent
proclaimed their dissent of certain
noxious legislation. In the nature
of the cases and grievances sought
to be redressed these meetings are
as yet but primary, and, in a way,
desultory. Where the ingenious ef-
feet is apparent and more quickly
realized and keenly felt, there the
peoples reprobation is first ex-
pressed the sentiment, however, lie
general, pervading more or less all
sections; each succeeding meeting
therefore adds force to all previous
ones, SO that, gathering strength as
it goes, the determination to act
theoretically to the effectual repres-
sion Of these evils till government
as it was ordained and as it was at
first administered is purified, wakes
strong to the achievement Of I'M
doubted and perfect accomplish
ment. If it we're possible that
their voice of remonstrance-au-
thoritatiye remoHstrance that, if
need be, will assume the tone Of
command-could long remain un-
needed, the sovereignty Of the peo-
pie, violently aroused from a dor
mant state, would be violently
asserted; it cannot, however, be
gainsaid; it must be obeyOd.
Dilatory as the peoples restrain
ing and %overruling action may at
times appear, it will, sooner or
later, and gently or harsbly, as cir
cumstances call for, crush out the
artfuI and abnormal legislative ex-
c~ressences forged on the organic
compact Of a just equality; will
exterpate the noxious parasites
grated on it's tree Of constitutional
ly defined liberty.
Throughout the land the people
are awaking to a keen sense that
inordinate injustice has been done
them in the name of law they are
daily growing stronger in the con-
Viction that the remedy lays with
themselves alone; that eyen-handed
Justice for them as a people is OBJ.
tainable only by them as the SOY.
ereign people. Startled into full
and dire apprehension Of the evil
entailed by special and SpeciouI
legislation, aud the building VI
thereby Ofpriyileged classes through
the enactment of laws false to thei
institute of government and it
equities, there has been infused b,
these fatal stabs at organic limita
ton, new vigor Of opposition in thu
public mind to their continuance
aud a growing resolution that tht
pestilent infractions must b
scotched and killed.
Laws subversiye OF the rights O
the many, but SO ingeniously word
ed as to appear for the public good
have been time and again delibe
rately concocted 10 the interests o
the few. Lawyers" eminent law
yers" is the phraseOlOgy-did tina
work. Railroads were enormousl