Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-25

tWN ,tAElENN VI LAf NOultNf4dLt EtdlFN. ou
the first ballot, LANDoN c. HAYNES, Of Wash
ington county, was elected. After six inc6cct-
ual ballots for a second, the convention adj
journed. The vote upon the final ballot was
about equally divided between Mcssrs. Henry
Ewing and C~ARUTHERs.
SECRETARY SEWARD AND NORTH
ERN COAST DEFENCEs--ANOTHER
Mr.. SEWARD, as we learn from late northern
papers, has recently issued a circular letter,
% directed 10 the Governors of the lake and sea-
coast States, in which be urges them to take I'M
mediate steps to strengthen the public deienses'
al points which are likely 20 Doe in danger, TO
increase the Notifications along the shores Of the
ocean and the northern lakes, and place the
same in a position to resist the approach OF dam
ger from national foes. The appearance Of this
remarkable document, at the present i%uncture,
when but a very brief interval VIII elapse BE-
fye the assembling of the rlmp Yankee Con
gress before which the subject would naturally
aad properly come for its action, has
created a very lively excitement throughout the
North, and one Of the first results Of its appear
Hnce was observed in the effect it produced on
the New York stock market, where on the day
succeeding the publication of the circular, United
States stocks suffered a heavy decline.
The Yankee press is filed with comments upon
this extraordinary circular, which is pronounced
q be a paper Of great significance, and one
which must omman the serious attention Of
tle country" Such a document. it is urged,
would not emanate from so high a source, at
slch a crisis as the present, unless elected by
reasons Of paramount importance. Nothing, It
is argued, but a desire TO arouse the nation to a
sense of a great emergency, and prepare il in
time for a necessity which may soon arise, could
have induced the Secretary to put forward this
letter at the present time while only the most
pressing need could force the Federal govern
ment TO apply to State authorities to undertake
the construction Of fortifcatious and public de-
fenses, which It is the province of the national
Congress to provide, aud that only a few weeks
before Congress viii meet.
We have not seen the letter of tie Secretary,
which seems 70 have created such a lutter
among the Lincolnites, bat we must confess that
a. Us lieAE eNf4AA1 10 IN ElFAl NuAA0lJlL4bN III AAi
arguments they use, and TIE conclusions they
draw seem TO follow with perfect Legitimacy
from the premises assumed. In the Chicago
Times Of the 2lst. we find the following para
rraphs extracted from the letter, in which the
Secretary. referring to the inrigueso of secession
agents SAYS:
Taking advantage Of the embanassments of
agriculture, manufactures, and ommerce in for
eign countries, resulting from the instruction
they have i~naugumted at home, they seek 10 in
volve our common country in controversies with
States with which every public interest and
every interest Of mankind require that 1T
slsl remain in relations of peace, amity, and
f. -ndship.
/ am able 70 state, for your satisfaction, that
the prospect for any such disturbance IS now less
serious than 10 has been at any previous period
during the course oftA- Instruction. 1t is, new
-rtheless. necessary now, az it has hitherto
been, to take every precautor that is possible
TO avoid the evils Of foreign war, to be superin-
duced upon those Of civil connection which we
are endeav0ring to cure
The language Of the above, the editor thinks,
though marked with the diplomatic reserve nee
essary to prevent foreign complications is sufi-
GENTLY plain for the comprehension Of every one.
Il is a distinct avowal that there has been a
prospect of hostities with foreign nations during
the rebellion, and that that prospect is only
" less serious than It has been at any previous
period during tie course Of the instruction"
This means that there is danger now and that
danger must be Of a very mminen and grave
character which demands a resort to the States,
when in a few weeks Congress will meet to pro
vide for the national defenses. 1t Is this which
gives the ~letterits peculiar significance.
Several facts which, have recently transpired
ar considered as giving force and emphasis to
this inference of danger. The projected expedf
ton Of France. Spain and England to Mexico,
the military preparations of the British govern
ment in Canada, and certain information which
the Lincoln administration has received in re-
gard to the intrigues Of the secession emissa-
mes, which has. awakened alarm and demands
instan; preparation, are mentioned as among
the number.
Of course, We are not in the most favorable
position to form an enlightened opinion upon the
subjects but we confess that there appears 10 be a
strong probability that the umors of an early
recognition Of Southern independence by the
leading European governments, which have OBJ
tanned such extensive circulation recently, may
not be altogether groundless, and that it is a
knowledge Of this, coupled with the additional
fact that the LincOlnites find they viii be forced
10 back down from their recent bullying attitude
81 fight, that causes this sudden alarm among
The lately boastful Yankees. Whether, however
this be the real cause Of the present panic, OF
whether this panic, Ike others into which the
c~elestials Of the North have fallen, be alto
geth-r c~ause4css, time alone can determine. We
may well afford to await with patience the de-
~velopments ofthe future, satisfied that if it bring
lis no encouragement in the recognition of our
efforts to shake eft the yoke Of oppression. sue
cess must SnaIly Crown the efforts of men ncrved
with the unalterable determination to conquer or
die in the effort to achieve their freedom and in
dependence.