Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-11-25

to make EanEeu a free State, AZ patriots theY
ought . desirs 70 give 10 the Soaih the power
CT self-prosectioa under the ferns OF the Con-
In che department OF the Government
at least, By which harmony might be restored
TO the country, and a security given to the
Union which never can exist without Il.
The North already has a large majority in
the House Of Representatives, a majority OF
two in the Senate, and the power 70 elect the
President further power they cannot want
but for purposes Of aggression. In this view
Of the question, Il is our duty 10 be prepared
for any contingency, never losing sight OF that
article Of the Constitution OF the United states
which declares the sxiomatic truth that q
g well regulated militia, being necessary 10 the
security Of q free State, the right Of the peo-
pie to keep and bear arms shall not be IN
Fringed.s Our fathers well understood when
thev adopted his provision OF the COnstitu-
ton. the dangers to which our institutions
might be exposed, and thereby secured the
means Of safety. This, however, to be avail
able, must be accompanied BY the courage and
the will to use those arms when necessary
against all enemies either foreign or domestic.
Our Institutions are already protected BY the
Constitution and BY the decisions Of the Sd
preme Court Of the United States, but ss con-
stitusious or DEGREES Of courts, have no self
executing power, It may yet be that the duty
will be forced upon US OF standing 10 our arms
In he maintenance Fl our just rights.
Constitutions sufficiently control and guide
the patriotic and just, bat they are not worth
the paper they are written upon, TO resist ia
natics, usurpers and tyrants- lhe bayonet, or
he fear Of 1t alone, can check them, and the
only liberty now in the world has grown out Of
the tact that the Anglo-Saxons aud Anglo
Americans have never feared to defend their
privileges with srms in their hands, even unto
blood when necessary.
The late decision OF the Supreme Court in
reference TO the negro status, our rights 10 the
Territories, and and the recognition Of the
duty Of the Federal Government, under the
Constitution, TO protect US and our property,
there is the end Of the argument, aud OF the
law, and beyond it there IS TO appeal but to
force. IL these rights, thus established, should
be invaded or denied US, can there be one msu
in all the South, 80 very a coward, OF, 50 much
a traitor, as 10 fail in their vindication, even
though that vindieation may ceme through the
instrumeutslity Of lead and steel? II we are
true 10 ourselves we will not falter. The Con-
s~titution has done it's duty. The Court has e.
tsblisbed our rights; it has fixed the point al
which resistance TO tyranny becomes a duty.
L has said to power, thus far, but no farther
il has made our quarrel Just; II has marked th'
fighting line. from which We can take no steT
backward but with dishonor. This is all thai
I constitutions or laws can do, the balance Is FOL
ourselves.
Let us be prepared, eternal vigilance and
sacrifice is the price of liberty no people
ever have been great and free, no people ever
can be free who are not military IN theil
I habits, and ever ready to defend their In
stitutions and their laws. We as a peo-
pc enjoy the peculiar privilege OF bear
ing arms. and being the defenders OF our own
rights and liberties. II we should ever be de-
prived Of the one or lose the other, 1t will De
because we are unworthy Of them, and had
not the courage to defend them. 1t is, how
ever, not only our privilege, but It Is our eoun-
den duty. ss a free people, to cultivate a mill
tarv spirit and to obtain military knowledge
in this view Of our duty it viii be my duty TO
effect a thorough organization Of the militia OF
the State. This | would feel bound to do, even
though there was no immediate danger men
acing Us. Bat situated as we now are with
danger the most imminent, it is absolutely ne
cesssry 20 our security and the permanenee OF
our institutions. That the overthrow OF our
social organization, IS the fixed purpose OF 3
very large number Of the people Of the non
slaveholding States, is beyond a doubt. In
the late Presidential election, it Wasfally man
ifested-and they had well nigh succeeded as
thew carried eleven out Of sixteen of those
Ststes-They are now preparing for another
struggle. They teach hostility to Us and ouI
Institutions in their schools, they preach II
from their pulpits, they print it in their books
thsF proclaim il in the hustings-they agitate
it in the State and Federal Governments. Theil
course is onward, and | believe canoBly be ar
rested BY force or fear. You might as wei
reason with a msdman, rs z fanatic. How car
you approach a trancendenyal Of the higher
iaw school-Eho has a law Of his OWN para
mount 10 the Constitution Of his countTy-zLC
a region boiler than that Of the bible. II can
not be done, an / fear that We act upon talst
promises, when we encourage the expectation
that this fansticism will die ont or recede from
it's purpose-GOd grant that it may be so, bui
such an expectation is not justified by the
teachings Of the psst-aIl history shows that
such fauaticsl organizations have generally
succeeded in their purposes, or had TO b
crashed out by force, and strangied IN theii
own blood.
The former we never can permit-for the
latter let as be ready; our security as a state
and the permanence Of the UniOn depends up0I
the hrmness and concert of the South. Let M
noe BY our supineness invite aggression, but BY
a thorough srming and organization %conyinc'
our sss8ilants, thstwe cannot be attacked witt
impunity, but on the contrary that we are full
ready, and willing and able to take care Of our.
selves in the Union if We can out Of il il w
must. lie. US act thus, taking our messurt
feaTlessly and openly it is our right and daty
ana it IL possible that even yet, being thus ful-
u and sOlemly warned Of the consequences
that there may be sufficient patriotism snd
sense Of justice at the North, to avert the great
I calamity Of disruption with which the country
IS now threatened. and which Is Inevitable n
things travel on in the direction to which they
are now tending, Ia addition to this, let as ap-
peal to the Democracy Of the non-slsVehoiding
States, and all other patriotic OF conservative
men there, and everywhere, urging upon then
TO stand fast, and struggle on in defense OF The
Constitution and the ~UHion-hoping that tbs
sober second thought Of the people may yei
save the country. This, with thorough prepar-
alton on our part, Is all that We can do-ths
rest we must leave to that God, who has thu
far guided and prospered Us as a nation, trust
ing and praying that the same kind Providence
which has been vOuchsafed to US in the past
NAV be continued in the future, well know
ing tbat except the Lord keep the city, th'
Waterman waketh, but in vain.