Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-08-04

pledged to carry out its principles. Accord
ingly in his inaugural be said of this plat
form-''it is a Law to me " He said the same
in bis message, and by so saying be meant
that however much he might desire the
harmony and prosperity Of the country,
yet be must obey the platform upon
which be wss elected, even though it might
cost the dissolution OF the Union and the
horrors OF civil war. Accordingly since bis
inauguration he has administered TIE govern.
menJ according to bis platform, but in viola
ton Of the constitution. Then it s perfectly
clear thai tbe eIe ton Of Mr. Lincoln to the
presidency OF the United States as be was
elected, was the triumph of the principles of
tho Republican party over the constitution.
By that election those principles were
indUgurated as the law BY which the gov
erument is to be administered. By that
election the Republican platform was put
in the place Of he constitution. It il in the
place Of the constitution nov, and hence
to all ntents and purposes, the constitution Of
the United States is repealed, and it was re-
peaed by the triumph OF the platform Of tbs
republican party In the election of Mr. Lin
coin. Consequently | say the United States
government does not now exist. It has been
destroyed By the people OF the northern States, |
and tsey have destroyed it for the purpose Of
getting rid Of the barriers that it put mp for
the protection Of slavery IN the South. nee
?
States government, nor has any State seeded
from that government Tbs government OF
which hr. Lincoln is the head is a new gov
. cTnment-s government that we had 10 hand |
in making, and 20 whIcA we owe no allegiance
whatever. It is government made by our
enemies for the pUr Ose Of inaictiag upon us
such injury as the constitution forbade them
70 inf I. The irlgry to be inflicted upon us
is the abolition Of slavery in the South. and
this war IS waged to force this new government
upon H., SO that the injury NAV be tie
more certainly 1 dicted. The suti slaverv
fanatics Of the North have, by threats and
dsnuhciatioRs, been waring upon slavery for
the last many years. They hsye increased in
to mighty party, and BOW having the power
to do so-obtaned partly by a oncealnent Of
their real purposes-snd the United States
goVernm-n: being in their way, they have
dssiTovr9 Il, and made another govcTnIafnt in
its place, By which thev hope 20 aCcomplisi.
their nsfaTlous desiens, and by the force Of
arms they are BOW endeayoTng 70 fsVtsn this
new government upon the people Of the South
| In this var, then, we are only endesvoEing to
resist successfully their Efforts to accomplish
this object. We are no traitors . TO any
government on earth, nor are We in "rebei-
lion" against the government that our fathers
made. We are in resistance to those who are
seeking to eUslsve us. We are defending our
fathers and mothers, and wives and children
and servants and country. We are fighting
for life, liberty, and the pursuits OF happiness,
and we are doing it in the firm conviction
that "TesistGnce to tyrants is obedience to
God" As we would resist the Efforts
Of the Car Of Russia to s1hiugate ia,
unconditionslly TO bis government, so will we
resist the efforts Of Mr.. LirCoin to subiugsts
Us TO biz, and we viii commit 10 nrrs sin by
60 doing in the latter case than we would DO in
the former. Yes, We will resist, even though
the issue before US should fin lily get to be sub
mission or death. While ws can get anything
else, we will never take upon as the reign Of
Abraham LtncoIni
Then can there Be any question, IS TO where
the wrong is In this war that ia now stfiictlng
our land? It's war OF aggression and inva sion
from The North upon those who never did them
any harm, and hence upon their part il Is
simply wholesale murder. II 4. wicked and
/ Infamous even upon the most favorable ground
upon which it's Justification has been cjsinsf.
The strongest and mos uncomprsmising " Un-
ion men" Of the North csnnst favor IL with
the least show Of reason OF Justice. II csnuoE
" restore the Union" Il cannot "uphoid the
government" It is the gTandest ahsurdty 20
suppose that this war viii m.ke the South love
the North, and that the two sections can be
brought together by putting a gulf cf bsod
between them. Hence | utterly deny that eVeH
the union man can consistently favor this war
To favor the "unionr and to favor the wHr are
two different snd opposite things. because, as
Mr.. Douglas said 30 longer ago than last win
ter. "war iE dsuDion, inevitable and eternal "
But when the real motives Of those who are
pushing on this war are unmarked, It's tuTptrds
appears as The b,sckness sf darkness iteef It
is a war uaged purely upon sectional pFinci-
pies. Il is = war Of the stronger to govern the
weaker section. It Is war Of the majority to
force the unconditional obedience Of the minor
itY. Il is wRr OF the Nsrh to oppress and
degrade the South. Il proposes to subjngate
the people Of the southern States, or slse n
''wipe them from the face OF the earthO Il
proposes to fastPn upon ten millions OF Ameri-
can frsenen government designed to rob them
of their rights, and which they abhor, or in
case OF continued resistance upon their mart, to
hatcher them 81 In cold blood l. is a war
/ prosecu'e ed by the North in defiance OF all con-
stltufion and law, and under cover Of the most
/ unmttigated falsehnOds and misrepresentation
| ss to its objects and ms. Il IL wsged in the
name OF "upholding the Government" and
! protecting" the flag; but really It is in-itsd
/ only ~ tbs hatred of aboiiti0ni-ts to slavehold-
/ ere, and the cupiditv Of northern meTcenaries
/ Who have fstteDed upon the lsb Dor and earnings
/ Of the sou bern people. 1t is war that smells
/ 70 heaven Of the internal nit, and which will,
! - carta MY as that Just God reigns ultimate
/ ly bring fearful retTibution upon those who
are waging if.
Then, admitting that we OF the Sou'h or,
g-eat sinners before God, aud that we richly
deserve TO be punished Al bis hands FIR our
| worldlness and manifold traDsgressions, yet
| rejoice 70 have TIE evidence that In this war
that is upon Us God and the right are upon our
side, and | trust that in the future our temper
I an action, both 8s to friends aud enemies, will
be snch as TO make this true OF Us to the end
aud Forever. We hsve had many evidences Of
the smiles OF God upon our cause.
He has ssrt corfusion into the councils
Of our enemies. He has made them to blum
der at almost eve-y step. He seems n have
cursed them with leaders, both in the cabinet
and on The field, who are utterly incomEe-
tent FOR The business to which they have been
assigned. But God has given us the beet Of
statesmen and the bTavest and mos. skiilPnl
7-NsrtIs u ny 49, I thank bin for these
men ne nas tiso given ms victory after VT
tory upon the field and finally be has granite
rs a most glorious triumph upon the sscre
soil Of Virgins; and, moreover be has give
rs the very season for the success OF the farnt
That we needed. Our enemies have sought
starvs us out, but God has given us the SUI
\ shine and the early and the latter rain, an
there never was such luXurient and plentifi
S,crops known 10 the South "a we have th
. / ssesson, and Just when we need them. And "a
the loss ot the medicines which the people
the North has denied US, God has more tha
indemnihsd rs by giving US good health.
Truly has God bsen mercifI and kind Ent
rus. We acknowledge our dependence upC
, hhIm, nd thank bin for bis goodness, and "
{ say to all our people. Gear not, for they tn;
, be with uE are more than they that be wit
= them" Blessed be the Lord God for his NJ
, meTited favor to our native and beloved Soutl
= ! in 8hiu 4 NJ ri IL