Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-06-16
Letter from D. 3. p,ekip,,p. ufK.Y.

1etAeA AANA- ~ y 0ANAAAaAa3 Va ~ =
READ 10 THE DEMocRAlI1 CONVENTION Al
sPRNGFILED. Ill, on WEDNESDAY LAST.
4 BiSeHAmPros. June :, 1855.
Ny DEAH sra: Your favor Of the 22d ut,
inviting me to attend and address an adjourned
meeting Of the Democracy of Illinois, in Spring
field, on the 9Lh instant, was duly received, and
ought to have been earlier acknowledged
Having for some time contemplated family
visit to some relations IN Michigan and Illinois,
have delayed in the hope that might unite
both objects in one journey, and avail myself
Of your kind request to meet my Democratic
friends in Illinois. A special professional en-
gagement, however, for the city OF New York,
next week, compels me to defer ny visitation
for the present, and I can now only give q
hurried respOse in return for your courteous
consideration.
have regarded with exceeding interest the
struggle which the Democracy Of Illinois have
maintained in the support Of the National Ad-
minlstrstion on the Kansas question. That
devoted Territory has quite too long been the
snort Of demagogues and spurious philsnthro-
/ pists, and in endesvcrins to deyolve the respon-
sibilities Of government upon it's own people,
and leave Congress to the discharge Of its
/ legitimate functions, the President has, in my
judgment, acted wisely and deserves the yigor-
Gus and united support Of the Democratic party.
Whatever may be the determination of its peo-
pie upon the question Of the constitution sub
nitted to them by Congress, it can never be
reviewed again as an elemsnt in the political
affairs o. the Union.
Il has, as was said in times Of domestic man
ufacture, been spun beyond the stTeAgtk Of the
Do0l, and viii be treated as az exposed and
exhausted imposition. Its sudscious managers
may. BY the aid sf their political gaivanism,
quicken It's muscles with few spasmodic jerks
and tricks, but It can never be again brought to
its feet, to roam over the country as a distuTber
Of the public peace.
Those who have sndeavored to perpetuate
the mischief Of this disgraeeful struggle, viii
be, In aftsrtimes, remembered for the wrongs
they have inflicted upon the cause OF popular
government throuhout the world, when mere
partisan advantages are buried and forgotten
forever.
Stimulated By our intestine divisions, the in
science OF our proud and naughty trans-Atlsn-
tic rival has revived and put 10 practice her in
famous claim to insult and degrade our flag by
searching our merchant vessels upon the high
seas, and the mider form in which she propO-
ses 10 administer the degradation is to f5st
search 10 see uhetkeT she should search or NOT
This scandalous conduct has been practieed by
that power at intervals ever since we had exis-
tence as nation, and it is high time that all
minor questions were laid aside, and this one,
so vitality affecting our sovereignty, be set at
rest forever A war between two such nations,
would be, admit, rsprosch to both eiviliza-
tion and christianity, but 6tis not the whole
Of life to live, not all Of death to die - nnd
when sovereignty cannot be maintained inyio-
late, it sinks beneath the meanest and most ab
lect vassalage.
2 | cannot doubt but our government will do
all in the premises that becomes a great and
generous people, and if war must come, we can
then exclain, =" They would have it so % but
the true way to avoid that terrible trial, the
Hltims Rdtie Of nations, is TO stand firmly upon
the right, and resist the encroschments OF tyr
amy at the threshold, and not wait for them to
pollute the hearthstone.
Great Britain will undoubtedly disciaim the
line Of conduct pursued by her officers in the
recent outrages; for she has often disclaimed
before, and usually Immediately thereafter has
hoRored the offending officer BY promotion.
In short, her whole course upon the subject
present the strongest evidence that the wrongs
are committed under the secret instructions of
her cabinet, and rewarded by her appreciation
and prsferment, and | am free 10 declare that
it would afford me the most infinite satisfaction
to know that one Of our ships Of war had at
tackled and sunk the first OF those searching
vessels coming in its way, that our government
in its turn might show its civility by 80 dis
claiming" the act too, and its sense Of the ser
vice by promoting the officer who should render
it. I have the honor to be, sir, truly YOURS,
D. S. DICKINSON.
! Conr Chairman STATE Central ro-u ,7,itt-s