Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-08
THE PEACE CONFERENCE SWIM.

ground.
THE PEACE CONFERENCE SWIM.
DIE
The Nashville Patriot grows not a little in
dignaut at our eharseterizaton Of The FRANK
Liz substitute compromise as "a ~freesoil
m~easurs,v and proceeds to dsnolish the impu-
tation with The assertion that it is not probable
that such true-hsartsd southern gentlemen as
RoBERr L. -CARUTHERs, WN. H. STEPHENS,
FELIX K Zo~LLIcoFFER, and other members Of
the Tennessee delegation, would give eounte-
nance to such a compromise.
It was far from our intention to cast any re-
Election upon the loyalty of these gentlemen to
the South by our comments upon the character
Of the measure alluded to; although we made
bold to exercise the prsrogative Of a free press
in passing sentence upon their judgments.
Our objection to the abordon-so called an adj
jussment-was its susceptibility Of a double
construetion-its anus-facedness-its failure
to meet the issues OF the crisis and effect a per-
manent settlement Of the slavery question.
The members Of the Tennessee delegation,
who voted for it in conference, may possibly
have entertained a different opinion, but We
learn from reliable authority that they voted
for It vsder protest, and only supportsd it as a
choice Of evils-as The best that could under
the circumstances be extorted from the relent-
less grasp Of the Republican party.
But 60 sustain our assertion, that It Is " a
frsesoil msasure,0 we only offer the following
evidences from some gifts northern supporters.
Tie New York Sun (Black-Republosn) pro-
nounces it "a restoration of the Missouri con-
promise line, establishing free labor North and
popular sovereignty South Of it." and goes on
to assert that this is "a distinction With0ui q
diBcrenes in the present case" .
The New York World, another influential
organ Of ths Republican party, says Of it
"Ths plan finally adopted by the peace con
ference does NOT commf ne Eortk TO any e.
tsasioa on aaBayj on the other hand, its opsr-
ation would be to make sseh extension NOR,
difcHlt than eBer." Again, "Nothing could
be desired that would put a more efeetusl
quietus upon the slavery -propagandism that
has been gathering such force at the South
within the last few years. It would be a
check such as the North has Reuer before pos
sased, and would, in fact, furnish an addi-
tiOnal safeguard TO the great F~rineiple s5hidI
called the Republisln party inio srisfsaes."
Now we, in all candor, submit to our CO.
temporary Of the Patriot! whether or not We
were justified in our assertion that it was
&c a f~ree-sOil measure" and would be so con
strued by the northern press. At any rate, Dc
not TAcTs show that # is actually so regarded {
It is manifestly, and beyond all dispute, am
biguous and equivocal in meaning, and, there
fore, no "seiflement.' The Patriot and ita
southern eonfederates have attached one mean
ing to its doubtful pbraseOlogy-ths New York
World and its followers another. The ques-
ton will soon arise as to which is the correct
one. The North will contend, according to
the principle ennuncisted in Mr.. LrSooLS's
recent inaugural, that the majority opinion
must rule, and we will thus be compelled to
pass through another, a less equal, and by far
more bitter contest with the anti-slsvery party
than the one in which we are now involved
and it is useless to remark that the sequel viii
be the triumph Of the northern construction.
Is the Patriot, or its party, willing to rick the
probability Of this agitation, which it secs
forsshadowed in the above indications, with
all the certainty that the Thunderstorm be-
tokens the approach Of the storm? We con-
fess, even yet, an abiding faith in the justice
Of their ultimate decision.