Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-10-20
hawkins AND SLAVERY,
How Well He Has Been Repaid
for His Republican
Principles.
Nashville worIy. IS.

The country has had more than
twenty yearsof continuous Republican
rule. 1t is easy to point out the evils
of its administration, for they are
numerous and glaring. But when we
look for its merits it is hard to find
one principle which it has consistently
supported from good motives and car
ried out in good faith.
The abolition of slavery has been its
boast; yet all acquainted with the his
tory OF the times, know that slavery
was not abolished upon principle, for
President Lincoln, in his inaugural
address, solemnly declared that he had
no desire to interfere with slavery,
where it existed; and that he had no
power to do so even if he desired.
Long after the war had begun, when
Southern victories still kept his armies
at bay, as a military measure he issued
a conditional measure that after a
certain date slavery would be abolished
in all territories and sections which
should still remain in rebellion or in.
surrection against the authority of the
United States. This 6as intended as
a threat to bring the South to terms.
1t was thought that shareholders
would not further risk their property
in a contest with the United States il
they could be assured that they could
save their property by timely submis,
sion. Ii had its effect upon some,
particularly in Tennessee.
In West Tennessee a movement
was set on foot by shareholders to save
slavery in Tennessee. Alvin Hawk
ins was the organ, the champion and
the standard bearer of that movement.
tie was elected to Congress for that
purpose, and went to Washington to
take his seat. As the rest of the State
had failed to elect members, Alvin
failed to be seated. If Tennessee had
sent a fulldelegation and Mr.. Lincoln
had remained true to his pledges,
slavery would have been retained in
Tennessee. Governor Hawkins failed
in his programme, and slavery in
Tennessee was abolished. However,
by q convenient fiction of Republican
invention that public money must
be lavished freely to all Republicans,
he was voted $1,000 for a session in
Congress, in which he was not allowed
to take his seat. This was more
money than Clay, Webster or Cal
houn either ever received for a years
service in Congress.
Governor Hawkins has never been
guilty Of fighting either tor the indie
pendence of the South or its subjugQ-
ton. But we are informed by Gen.
Thorpe that be did offer his services,
and did 90 TO Washington to labor for
the perpetuity Of slavery.
Governor Hawkins was a public man
and a legislator long before the war.
We have never heard of a public or
private act or utterance of his which
showed the least hostility to slavery
until after the war. Political neces-
sity at last brought him to the disiran
chi emeDt Of the whites, and the en-
reimbursement OF the blacks
The man of color constituted the
majority of the vote which, owing to
Democratic dissentions, seated him in
the gubernatorial chair two years ago.
They we're under no obligations to him
then, and never were. A large num-
Der Of them are beginning to study
their true interests, and fud that there
is no just cause why they should for
ever remain merely the tail of the
Republican kite.
These signs OF independence among
the colored voters carry CONSERVATION
into the Republican camp; and strange
to say excite horrorin the bcsoms Of the
Democratic boilers. Democrats ought
rather to rejoice hal Republicanism
is losing its grip upon the solid Afri.
can vote. Whoever prefers Bate to
Hawkins must rejoice to see colored
men quit Hawkins for Bate. Stick a
pin there.