Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-15
AN APPEAL FoR PEACE.

Ma. EDIToRi viii you permit me to say a
word-in kindness-through your columns to
the editors Of the New York EraHinsT and
l Chroaicls and the Watehmas Gad Reflector
/ For months past the Affections Of the country
| have been a heavy weight upon my spirits;
/ and now have sorrow upon sUrrow 10 an IL
Z repsrable domestic bereavement. But, midst
I ali, through all, have found consolation in
: dwelling at the throne OF grace, and looking
to that God VITO is ever pitiful and merciful.
] write, now, TO express my grief and amaze
| ment at the sanguinaTy spirit breathed BY
/ Christian journals in an hour like the present;
1 and-as know the editors Of the above named
( journals to Be followers OF Jesus, and esteem
I and love them-I would earnestly beseech
/ them to think what is the terrible calamity
/ they are inviting; and whether-while states
men are pleading FOR peace, meditating for the
] restoration OF harmony-it becomes the Cos
pei, for US to be crying out for blood; to forget
/ Christ, and take as our pattern, men Of war,
/ and oaths, like Gen. Jackson?
/ IL the Union ever can be restored 1t must
I be by the spirit, not Of MolOch, but Of Jesus;
I there must be mildness, geDtleness, forbear-
/ ance, forgiveRess-thers must be a Teconstruc-
I ton Of a shattered government, In that spirit
/ Of concession and compromise in which the
/ Constitution was originally adopted. Do my
I brethren suppose that the sword can restore
/ harmony?
Brethren, the word "rebsf' is freely en-
ployed BY you; are you sure that it is merited ?
/ I say nothing Of resistance to the Constitution
[ in your own Stats, which MIR. Webster de-
nouncsd as treason. But have you forgotten
/ that Massachusetts, has openly asserted the
] right Of 0secession?o And can you appeal
I 10 God, that YOU have fully and impartially
studied this question Of "secession?" Have
! you read the FederaliIt, and the debates In the
I several States, and In the convention, at the
I period when the Constitution was discussed
/ and ratified l submit to your attention
/ few extracts
Surely, on such a solemn question we should
/ be careful csndidlv 70 use the lights before US.
/ Buff you have examined this great and diff
I hcult subJsct-one thing is certain; you will
/ admit that two opinions may be honestly en-
/ iertained. You know that Mr.. Calhoun and
/ Mr.. Webster difcusssd this matter long ago,
/ and that the ablest men Ia the land now hold
conflicting sentiments.
Now, shall disciples Of The Prince Of Peace
I adopt their Interpretation, and insist that it
shall be enforced By fire and sword Is this
| the mind that was in Jesus?
IF the North honestly regards slavery as
1 sin, cannot see why they should resEt-how
! they can help desiring-a separation from the
/ South. Shall a document OF paper, shall self
I interest keep them still bound to States which
! Justify what they believe is sin, and which are
| seeking to dissolve the connection? II slavery
I legislation opposed to it should cease. II it
I Be wrong, where is the consistency which still
seeks 70 retain Il in your Government, to per-
/ petuate your responsibility for It Can a
I Christian regard any form Of government 30
I valuable, that il should be maintained by the
eoantensnee and patronage Of that which be
abhors as sin
An who kaow me know my devotion TO the
4 American Union, but that Union was Union
4 Of coequaI sovsreignties. Had it been pre-
/ tended that a portion OF thess soyereignties
( should ever be shut ont Of the common domain
/ which might be acquired BY the blood and
treasure Of all, I apPesl to your eandor,
whether the Union ever could have been rati-
/ fed ? And this is now the real tause Of sepa-
| ration. ] grieve to find your sheets exciting
/ passions already infamed, By charges which,
| upon examination, you would pot have adj
vaneed. You sfirm that the South wishes TO
| renew the slave trade. A year AGO the South
1 Carolina legislature rejected with horror res
olution to revive that infamous traffic; the
Georgia convention has Just put the seal OF
I abhorrence upon il, nor are there six respecta-
I be statesmen at the South who would tolerate
it. n It is ssill continued, you know where
/ The vessels are fitted out, and BY whom.
| So, again, you represent the present issue as
one regarding slavery and It's continuance; and,
/ while desiring the extinction Of this institu
ton, you yet advise the South to continue in
the Union, as the only way Of protecting II.
The question is not about slavery, but aAfh
the equality Of the States. Would. Nv IN The
bear to be disfranehised by-sung the power,
slave States2 Suppose T. that none but slave
the South shoulAs3er occupy tue territories;
holders slsubmit to this for your devotion to
we-6mon2
Once more. You ehargs the South with dis
affection 10 the Union and Constitution; but
when, where, have they shown this disafee-
7 Aforc 0-1-T ~ nj
lshed BY cur forefsthers-a Union which pro-
tected them In all their rights, and which guar
anieed to them perfect equality with the other
States. Have they ever sought 10 deprive the
North Of any Of its rights2 Do they now seek
% interfere with the Northern States, or to de-
gfsde them from any privilege they claim ss
I eO-,qusl soVereigns2
C6aviDeed that they can no longer dwell to-
gethei with the Northern States, the southern
people veek peacesble dissolution Of the CO.
partnersAip. deeply lament the separation,
but Il It must take place, should not the Chris
tisn address bis brethren In the language Of
Abraham 10 Lot2 Can you hope 10 force If
teen Statesto come back and love you2 Can
we think OF the horrors Of civil wsr-com
merce blighted, business stsgnated, bankruptcy
and ruin everywhere, the nation loaded with
debt she can never pay, the entire Lao
drenchsd In fratricidal blood, lust, murdf
rapine desolating every hearth--can q Chr n
tian an.icipsie al this-and the bsneful effect
Of all this upon the cause Of Christ, and the
baEefui influence Of all this upon the character
of our people Tor geneFations-and vet crv, I
ffHavoc,n and urge on the bloody spirits who
are esger for battls2
Feeling secure in their ofices In New York
and Boston, it is easy for editors to write arti-
clss, 10 hll columns demanding mcoereion,v |
and calling for force. But, brethren, rest as
sured, n war begins at the South, 1t viii
spread, like q eonfagrstion, through the entire 1
land e viii be q most ferocious conflict, and 4
a conflict for many long fearful years.
Al this period Of the world, in this land Of 4
civilization and religion, Is war the proper ar
bitter FOR civil dissenslsns? Above all, shall /
the ministers Of Jesus invoke The sword and |
bayonet and artillery to settle differences Of /
opinion honestly cherished2 "Peace hath her 4
vic ories no less renowned than war - and /
surely these are the victories for which the 1
champions Of the cross should now pray and
The following are the extracts referred to |
above
sfIn confsdeTaey, TIE people, without sx-
aegeration, may be said 10 be entirely the mas
tsrs Of their own fats."-HazaiOa, page 1O6, |
Fedsralist
osr political system that the State governments |
viii. in all possible contingencies, afford COM
pIete security against inVasions OF the public 1
liberty bv tbe national suthority.n-Ib. ,. 1O7. |
an the establishment OF the Constitution,
the States should be regarded ss distinct and
independent sovereigns, and they are so re-
gsrded - Madison, FederGlisf, p. 156.
at is vain to oppose constitutional barriers
70 the impulses Of ."-Ib., ?.
l62.
aThe Constitution and Union can be super
cedsd without the unanimous consent Of the
states which are parties 10 II, upon the tran
gcendent law Of nature, and OF natures God,
whish declares that The safety and hsppiness
Of society are the objects 10 which all politi-
cal Institutions must be sacrificed.
"a compact between independent soVer-
eisns. founded on acts Of legislative authority,
can pretend to no higher validity than league
or treaty between thf parties. It Is an sstab-
Iishsd doctrins on ~ subject Of treaties, nat
IN thA artielea arc nla.ualg conditions Of each