The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-17
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
The Repeal OF The Fifteenth Amend.
Iucnf.

letter, the extract from Edltor Gradyb
Augusta speech and tho interviews with
Senator ingalls, and Col. Oates on the
Southern question, and you deserve the
thanks OF your readers for printing these
papers. It's an immense question, as any
thoughtful man knows. We are traversng
a field in which human history has made
no path nor left even track to guide us.
And il is the pa TT Of patriotism to point
ont the difficulties and dangers about and
ahead OF us. Long since Cob Colyar
earned the distinction of craftsmanship,
and the letter is worthy Of him. Editor
Grady is an ornate, charming rhetorician,
the bees OF Hymettus were not molo
sweetly active; he has been fecund in
beautiful utterances on the Southern
question; but il any Of them have con-
tained practical suggestion for its settle.
ment have not seen it, Senator Ingalls,
seoe the portcntous cloud that hovers over
us, growing blacker and more Storm
ridden each day, but admits that he is re-
sourceless 10 right it, Col. Oates, with
courage which should awaken interest,
boldlystrikes at the problem and after the
style OF Alexander. / differ with
him because do not believe in
n centralized power at Washington.
! do not believe the Federal Government
should have any control OF the elective
franchise; and. beside, his plan would in
cvitbly work hardship and injustice in
many localities. There may be palliation
for this political condition, but there Is
only one possible efficient remedy, and
that is the repeal OF the Fifteenth Amend
ment 10 the Federal Constitution. For
the purpose OF this paper, il is not neces-
snry TO enter fully into the origin aud
history of this tremcdous change in our
organic law. IL does not today and never
has represented popular sentiment through
out the Union. The wisdom Of the trainers
OF our system, In leaving the elective
franchise exclusively TO the States, will not
be controyerted today. Even in that
ircnzied period, the party. lash was vigor-
ously applied TO get affirmative votes from
Northern Legislatures. and TO these were
added the affirmative votes Of ten neiari-
Gus carpet-bag Legislatures, in order TO
secure the bare, constitutional majority
for its adoption, and at a time when the
people in these ten States, who owned the
property, paid The taxes, and solely rep
resented civilization therein, were entirely
excluded from any participation whaiso-
ever In public affairs. II is In
no sense result Of the war.
The amendment was approved by
Congress in February, 1869, iour years
after pcaco had been declared, and was
declared ratified in the year following.
Such radical change was not contom-
plated ut the adoption OF the Fourteenth
amendment, for the second section there
Of expressly provides the basis OF repre-
| scn,a,ion where some OF the citizens of a
! state are not allowed la vote. the first sec.
/ ton IT the Fourteenth amendment having
| declared the negroes citizens The FIJI.
| tccnth amendment u simply and solely d
rclict OF the carpct-bag period, and 30 long
~ il remains part Oi the organic law Of
this great Republic, II Is q testimonial OF
the supreme bitterness and raicor Of hu,
man passion, ~ we'll ~ OF the oppression
which portion Of the people OF the
North, aided by their quondam allies IN
the South, could iniIict ON the people Of
this section. The elective franchise is cs.
/ scntially local matter, aud should be left
exclusively 60 the states, as the law wa,
/ before this amendment Negro suffrage
might prove entirely bcnciiclnt In Mas
sachusctls but nj the same time an ap
pallng evil, u continuing, active threat to
civilization In Mississippi, aud the citizens
/ u these States arc Tire only safe ant
! proper Judges Of The wiscst course for thcii
respective commonwealth TO pursue h
this regard.
10 isnot astonishing A.. In determining
such question ~ tile ,nrm the Northern
proicctionisi h entirely dlsplcascd at VIVA
lac terms Southern election methods, ant
yet Senator ingalls, seems TO think there ID
no other course open 90 the southern Whit
man a. matters nov atand. II irccd, how
ever, from the unreasonable and un-Amcr
lean restraints OF the fifteenth amendment
the autonomy OF the States would be- ~
stored without nlinpuishing or impcrilini
single psuli OF the war. 70
all these arc cttrnally cmbalmcl
In the thirteenth and Fourlccntl
amendments. THIS change would not IN
volvc even the surrender Of patrioii
sentiment by tho Northern Republican
but II would present 10 the Southern whit
man one oi two courses. either 10 approv
oi negro suffrage anl honestly count thu
negro vote, or dislpnchisc him aud IN
dufc the consequent lu,. e political power
Either course would produce politici
quiet and take tho south. ~ angry issue
Oui oi national polilirs
Hin 1861, the NJ cvnth amendment ha'
been declared one ol thc objects II th
war, or even possible result from Il, I
my opinion Gen. Harrison would ncvc
have been Federal soldier aud II, In SIS
almost quarter OF a ccniur
since peace was declared, hc rise
10 the hugh siatosmlnship OF uDging Il
rcpyal, ~ u cnslng iVnzy's blot from
Raphael canVs b. will do morc 10 COZ
daily unite aud ITat,uizp the people ,
this great Union Than any OF all If hi
illus,dous prcleeosslr-. AMI incNiiabl
live In history a. To- great paciiicdlor ,
the American Republic.
II IL thcrhrcrcEi tNudlic To pretend tbs
this amendment Is necessary lur the ~,
lection IT the negro. i. al that l,cpublici
politicians fay is tfuo it has vOnspicuousl
Jailed % protect his ballot THE negro
, future l. nicrlmpd with the Souihc,
white man. We CloIhc him, feed lila
/ nurse him. bury lin. build his church
. and school houIos anl pay his teacher.
all these muitUm ~. thought well cnoug
o. cnniilc him i0.ns iut his political ~
must w. independent ui and IN sp.,c oi ~
aud We are angnly abused bvcauso We vi
not consent tu We TH,cncl 10y bin.
. hia relation 10 iDa ,HIntry'a politics ",
satisfactorily sptiltl, Dos pfccnCc N N
: south presents economic aud social qut
p iions enough 10 mo-. than oyciiax u
4. mind and heart OF Toe southern Viii
mnn. aud IN the arluHls cndcayof 20 aol,
. ] tf.U.p ,ff.Nn uuIfistH..IHntYI ttf. l,lpftH