Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-20

pr..i,t. mi, illustration. And the illustrstiou
auulies TO the Government treasury az well
But that, think, is now properly guarded
and so we have another improvement upon the
old Constitution.
In the fourth place-and this is the principal
and most important point Of alive have set
tied, and, trust, settled forever, the great
question which was the prime cause Of our
separation from the UEited States-I mean
the QUESTION OF African slavery. The old
Constitution set out with a wrong idea on this
sub;ect-it was based upon an erroneous Prin-
cipie-it was founded upon the idea that Atri-
can slavery Is wrong, snd it looked forward to
the ultimate extinction Of that institution.
But tine has proved the error, and we have
corrected IL In the new Constitution. We
have based ours upon the principle of the
inequality OF races - and the principle is
spreadlng-it is becoming appreciated and
better understood; and though there are many
sven in the South who are still in the shell
upon this subject, vet the day is not Far dis
tsnt when It will be generally understood and
appreciated-not only in the South, but every
where else. The world Is rapidly progressing
in its views on this subject; and In a very few
years we may witness great changes in respect
70 this institution.
But. nv countrymen, shall not detain you
much lcnger. We have formed 4 Government
for ourselves which possesses In itself all the
elements Of grandeur and prosperity; with .
climate unsurpassed, soil richly productive,
and people possessing the most Conservative
character. we cannot fail 70 increase rapidly.
| I cannet paint to you now the glorious vision
which rises before my view; but, nv country.
men, II we are only true to ourselves and to
our priuci iples-f we viii observe and prae.
tice patience, conservatism, patriotism, virtue
and intslligence-theFe is 10 calculating the
result Of our experiment. We are small now
that is, in the eyes Of soms-but IN nv
Judgment not 50 small, after all. We com.
meneed with six States, and we have seven
already; and, besides this, we have a popula-
tion OF five millions-more than the thirteen
colonies possessed when they separated from
Great Britain, and fought the Revolutionary
War. But admitting that our country is
small--it viii not always be so. Looking far
to the south, we see Mexico, Central America
the tropics, and the isles of the Caribbean Sea
all gravitating towards Us. To the north,
there are North Carolina, Tennessee, Ken
tuckY, Virginia, Arkansas, aud MiBsouri-all
gravitatingltoward US. And We shall not stop
hers-even the great northwest is gravitating
toward ms and, as The act OF disintegration
progresses in the old Confedsracy, States will
be broken up, and may come in to US, when
they see that we possess the best Of Govern
ments, / say, my couhtrymeB, all this may
occur, If We are but true to ourselves and the
great principles upon which our Constitution
is founded. But let me say here, that IL any
Of those States desire to join with Us, they
must first prove that they are worthy 10 asso-
ciate with US that they have changed the er-
roneous principles which they now hold, and
take upon themselves the true principles which
we maintain. II they do not, we will not lei
them come.
Then let me eXhort you, my eountTymen, to
practice virtue, patriotism, intelligence, pa
tience. forbearance, and Cancellation; let ns
ask you to stand firm in the cause Of truth, ol
right, and Of Justice, and we will have q glo-
rious future before Us. And who knows but
that in a short time that nag (pointing to the
Southern Confederaey flag borne BY the Ciinch
rifles, and futtering to the breeze,) may wave
in lands q thousand miles Eway-And where
people do not now even dream Of it. And here
let ne express to you my admiration for that
flag. Though we have parted from the Old
Confederscy, we have not parted from our
principles-and come what changes ofgoVern-
ment there may, trust we never shall. Il is
well, therefore, that we should have retained
some Of the emblems Of the old fag-it is we'll
that we have retained The stars. The stars
were always dear 10 me; for, like the stars
fixed in the armament Of Heaven, they are
the emblems Of stability, ard Of eternity, and
] sincerely trust that the stars upon that Gag
nav also be emblems Of the stability and du-
rability Of our new Government.
must confess, my fellow-citizens, that, so
far, everything has succeeded beyond my most
ssnguine expectations; and everything is now
favorable to peaceful solution Of our difficult
ties. Until very few days ago, thought
that bloodshed was inevitable; but am happy
to inform you that when left Montgomery, II
was the general impression that Fort Sumter
would be evacuated within ten days. | may
be mistaken in this, but ] give it to you as the
honest conviction Of my judgment. | do not
know whether this is the result Of a desire fol
peace on the part Of Mr.. Lincoln, or whether
il is the result Of inevitable necessity, but
feel confident that it viii be done-and I care
not which horn Of the dilemma be takes. We
want paace-we have nothing against our
northern brsthren-we have left them-but we
desire to live on terms Of peace with them.
And Ihope we shall. II will be a great moral
spectacle, and an example to the world, which
| should ike to witness. A great people
throwing of one Government and taking on
snother, without war, without bloOdshed, and
without anarchy. I hope it will be so. But
while we want peace, we do not intend to pur-
chase it at the sacrifice Of truth, Of right, and
Of Justice. No, my couutrymen, If war mCst
come, let US be prepared for H-perhaps that
is even the better way to avoid it-ia the Ian
gnage Of Washington, "ln times OF peace we
should prepare for war" And while hope and
trust that we shall have peace; yet, gentlemen
Of the Clinch rifles, it is well that you should
continue to bear your arms and keep your
powder dry.
And now, ny eountTymen, propose that we
tonight ratify the new Constitution. There
fore, ask that all those in favor Of it will say,
" ave.
A universal shout here went up in favor CT
the Constitution.
Mr.. Stephens then concluded by saying, And
now, fellow-citizens, I propose three cheer
for the new Constitution, and bid you all good
night.
The three cheers were then given with a
hearty good will; three more for Viee-Presi-
dent Stephens; and three more, By the assem-
blsd crowd FOR the Clineh rifles.