Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-18

You may ask rs, fellow citizens, why we have
this confident belief that such would have
been tie case. We sBswer-we have already
pointed out its Importance; we have said that
Kentucky neutrality would bsvs been Eo bar
rier. Perhaps yOU may doubt that; if you do,
you are not appTised Of the utter disregard with
I which they have treated it. Our observation
has been quickeHed by our sense OF danger, and
We, perhaps, are better posted. Did you never
hear Of the instance in which they landed
! two hundred armed men in the dead of night.
( marched them into the interior IF Ballard
( county, surrounded the dwellings OF peaceful
! citizens and aFou5ing the astonished inmates
I from their siumbers, placed them under guard,
( absolutely rorDlDg some to take such Oaths as
! they chose - administer, and pressing still
/ further into tue country announced their inteD-
/ ton 10 take squad Of Kentucky citizens pTis-
Oners, and shoot them down X they res sted.
Z DID you ever hear Of the steamer City Of
/ Alton coming 10 Columbus with 2 regiment OF
/ sold rs, and while her soldiers stood to their
/ guns, and the CannonneeT 6 God with his lighted
match 10 huTi death among an unarmed Popu-
/ lacs-they came on shore and tore down Tag,
/ and amid jeers anC deTision carried II off? Did
/ goa not know that only the week before The
I army had come down With the gun-boats TO
1 Columbus, troop from Cairo had gone over
/ int Ballard county and made prisoners Of
Judge atsOn ard Mr.. StoVsll citizens Of that
county, and carried them away from their
homes 70 Cairo? These tsings may have es-
capped your observation, but thev were fresh
and ,gJeeu in the memory Of those who reside
il the country where they were peTpetTsteG.
When, then, force 80 fUTnid5bs, al army,
in fact, was just opposite she town and two
gul-boats anchored almost at our Wharf-tbat
army al place they did not want and in sight
OF one which to them was Of absolute nscessl-
y, with the desire 10 Bossess-With the ability
to 90 so, under no restraints to withhold them,
and awsiing, possibly, the expected action OF
/. the Kentucky Legislature, what could we con-
clude but that this was their real point OF des-
tjnstion? And we submit to your own candbr,
what could the Confederate army, with
knowledge OF these facts conclude, but that
they were 10 immediate danger Of losing the
very object Of their earnest wishes, and that
the enemy were on the very verge Of pos
'sessing q position which would eRdanger
their entire country? Now, If taken by the
Federal troops, that a fearful and bloody
battle w0uii have followed for its pos
session no man can for moment
doubt. Why then reflect blame OF, csBsure
upon the Confederate generals for doing that
without bloodrhed and possess position, to
regain which il they had lost It, thsv would
have shed a river OF blood?
You may ask, fellow-citizens, why we citi-
1tlls OF heDtucEy GesITe that no censuTe should !
attach TO the Confederate army. We prompt !
ly answer, that if we must have an arned
soldiery quartered in our midst, our experience
and observation, as well as our sympathy and !
judgment, induce Nc to prefer the southern to
tbe northern soldier. You may differ with us
about this matter. But we beg you to rem.m- !
Der that II is our wives and daughters our |
property, cur slaves, and our homes, whose |
honor, safety and indemnity is Involved, and |
not yours, and that this Is a matter in which !
OF all others you should graft US license tc |
Judge for ourselves. When the administration /
forces, being collected in other paris Of the |
State, were sought o be dispersed, Mr. Lin /
coin put his refusal to DO so upon he ground |
that their presence 10 that locality was agree.
able to tee people Of that community. Apply 1
the same doctrine to this army, and il, uboD
their re noval, northern army is to be sub
stitnted to enact such scenes as We have Wit
messed on the opposite side OF the river, it will
be great while before the change is made BY
our roDsent.
You have now, fellow-citi7ens. The facts be.
fore you. Let an impartial public iudgs-re-
memberiDg only that you should reflect dispas-
sioDatelv before YOU condemn