Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-02-22

have betrayed those who have trusted them
with important Offices. Zach vies with the
Other in the race Of dishonor. DAVIS makes a
speech approving the Chicago Platform and
advises compromise. ETHERTDeE goes one step
beyond, and declares that the South has never
had any cause OF complaint, aBd that the
North has always yielded every thing demand
ed BY The South. Zach lends bis voice to
eheerthe dropping spirits and Tagging courage
OF the enemies Of their section. The last
GROWING act Of their infamy was exhibited in
taeir action upon The Stanton bill, which will
place in The control Of the incoming President,
all of the militia OF the several States that re-
main in the Northern COnfederasy on the 4th
day Of March next. By itsterms,t the militia Of
Tennessee and Of Maryland may be subject to
a draft to recruit the army CT a ~Blaek-Rspub-
liean communicated The object Of the
bill was to assemble and equip an arnyfor the
suppression Of that movement in the South,
which they elect to term "a rebellion"
It was regarded as the test vOie upon the
question Of coercion. The southern members,
with a portion Of that remnant Of the north
err Democracy who are Jet permitted to lin
ger in Congress, rallied to resist this mon
strous enactment and declaration Of hostility
TO the South. In this great crisis, when the
issue Of peace or war was pending, these two
r~ecresnt traitors and rivals in ignominy, were
found side by side, in the ranks Of the enemy.
They may possibly reach the prizes they seek,
but they viii hnd a more appropriate reward
in the ~deHunciation and scorn Of all honest
men.
TwENTY-SECOND OF FEBRUARY.
The Birthday Of WASHINGTON Itis with
a sort Of awe we say the words, and c%oniure
up the recollections ihe words inspire. It is
the anniversary Of a birthday, but re do not
seem to stand mentally so much beside the
couch where a rejoicing mother elaspshe new
found treasure to her bosom, as before the gate
Of the tomb at Mount Vernon. We think Of
the ashes that moulder within, and summon in
thought the form o. him whose last remains
are silently fading into nothingness. We see
him as be looks around the scenes be loved so
well, and watch bis eve as it rests nomnet on
the glitering surface Of the fair Potomac.
Bat the sight recalls no ,smile-no fond reeol-
lection gilds the re-animated face with mo-
mentary JOY. Sad, severe, almost stern, be
looks, though love and kin.ness lingsr in bis
eyes, as be recognizes the changes time, am
bition and human passions in this land have
made. The Union be 30 deeply loved-whO
has suliied is beauty? What sa~cTilegious
hand has shorn It Of its charm? We cannot
without a shudder, contemplate the memory Of
the great departed in such a connection. The
frown is gone, the sad face becomes pale, the
form me'ts into a shads-it is gone, and the
dilsPidsted tomb and the gliding river alone
remain except the troubles Of the time, the
murmurs Of discerd, the surging Of the con-
t%sntiOus populaee, the portentous darkness
that hosers between to-day and the future
they remain also.
Uosanetihsd hands have touched the once
sacred ark Of Union, and its holiness is gone
The word that once awakened a proud echo in
our hearts has lost it's charm. The flag once
honOred with a great peoples fond devotion,
hangs furnished and dropping; its stars dim
med, its stripes faded. These are mournful
thoughts for WAsHINGToN's birthday, but they
are natural. We love the name of WAsHISe-
TON We cannot hut sigh that bic great wish
has proved a vain one. But all is not lost,
although a cherished anticipation has been
disappointed. Destruction and change are in
cident to all thai human thoughts create and
human hands have made, but where a strong
vitality exists a reconstructive process must
ensus. Here is no decay, perhaps only a su-
perabundsnce Of life and vigor. Wild branches
nay be prunsd away; efste leaves may fall
from the parent stem, but the tree survives,
and will on many a summer yet to come, re-
eeive upon its lefty head the fruitful shower
and the smiling sunshine.
WAsHIEGToNl his memory yet survives
unshorn Of one single trsnsce1ssnt beam.
His country may be severed, but not to him.
However opposite the sentiments that ill con-
tending hearts, there is but one thought, one
united beat ofpuIse toward him. He is Of no
section, but Of all. The future may see Us
many, with varied lave and clashing interests;
but never will it see the time when WASHING
TON is not reyered. To the most distant speck
Of tine our race will glory to claim him as
t5sir eouutryman. BY bill and stream, or
mountsins cold. and where the restless sea
forever leaps On frozen plains, and where the
tropic sun sheds down undying summer where
ever victory shall conduct our far descendants
on this vast continent, the name Of WASHING
TcS shall meet with universal reverence. It
is a glorious thought, on this hundred and
tyenty-ninth anniversary Of the great and
good GEORGE WAsHINeTON's birthday, that
the memory we this day v~enerate is undying,
and that DO changes nor divisions can rob US
Of our heritage Of love for the southern gen
tleman whose name throughout the world is
synOnymOus.with excellence, heroism, purity,
and truth.