Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-07-30
rae EREiJsA Pssss GA the American


Fhs EHFiIEh PEsss ea the American
war
The following is an extract from aa article
appearing Ia the LsRdon Eeoao@ss! Of the eth
instaHtI
We last week discussed the prospects Of the
unionists reducing the secessiOnisis TO submis-
sion by mere fighting and blockading, by de-
featng them in the field and shutting up tleir
ports. We assumed, for the sake ef argu-
ment, that northern victory over southern
troops and northern destruction OF southern
commerce was az probable the ftderaiists
believe It to be certain. We granted all that
the free States boast as to the superiority of
their resources. And Notwithstanding that,
we arrived at a most confident conclusion that
the foTcible reincOTpOTatiOa Of the secediag
States was about as hopeless scheme as it is
unwise an aim.
But suppose it done. Suppose the South so
efsctusll beaten, and broken down by the ruin
Of its commerce, the privation Of its people,
and the defeat OF it, army, that It is reduced to
sue for peace and TO accept the terms dictated
by the conCusring North. Lat Us suppose
further that hose terms are no. neediessy
bUmiliatiHg, but consist merely m the re-
scinding Of all the secession ordina Gces and
the restoration Of the authority OF the Wash
ington government over the whole of the rebel
lious States. What has been gained thereby
Aud how much Of what is gained con be
preserved? How is the conquest to be upheldI
How is the suppressed will Of the people to be
kept down? How are the captive millions to
be retained in their forced allegiance? How
can they be made to work a joint system Of
government, OF which they are thwartiHg
members and unwilling constituents?
How is the administration of ten distirc'
States, all recalcitrant, and covering hundreds
Of thousands Of square miles, TO be carried on?
Are federal governors and federal officers to
be appOrted to The work ? and how, amid
hostile people, can they enforce their DEGREES
The slave States, forced back into the Union,
must be governed either as conquered lands or
free and equally endowed portions Of fed
eral republic. Ie the former, what staff Of
civil officers and what military fotce would be
adequate to maintain authority, and to enforce
order snd obedience? II the latter, how will
the State machine work, with three ffths Of
The senate and Of The house Of representatives
benz upon thwsrting every movement? Ten
independent States and eight millions os free
men can only be governed with their own con-
seat, and through their own officers and their
own citizens. And what chance is there that
their own eficers and their oWn citizens will
govern them in conformity with the wishes
and plans Of a central government which has
lst conquered them, humbled them, overrun
their plantations, bOmbsrGed their cities, ruin
ed their commerce, and inhcsed the de3diiest
wouud upon their pride?
TIE very idea is absurd. To sUbiuyate The
slave States, difficult as it is, will be Infinitely
easier than to keep them in 5ubieciion. l. is
obvious, on a moments consideration. that
they can only be kept in the Union (af er being
forced back into I'D with their own free con-
sent-snd what prOspec- OF that free consent
can even tie most saBCuine fancy hold out TO
Us? Il was peT5 mptogily-eVeD insutinglY-Te-
fused before a blow was struck and when alt
was comparatively cain: will it be given by
men nfuristfd BY the modification OF defeat
and disappointment, to meT HON they dis
liked and despised az equal feilow-citizsns,
and whom they will absolutely abhor as con-
queFors and masters? II fue, could the forci-
bic reconstruction of the Union be maintained
for a year, or would it bring with it any one
advantage, even if maintaiBsb.e?
Bu- one single consideration would seem to
be sufficient 10 render ali this argument super
luous. Does GOt The mere existence Of demo-
cratic iHstjfDti0rs-(aRd no Gus, so far as we
have heard, has ever dreamed Of sbolishiDg
tbsse) e)-TeRdeT any policy or any government
im96ssible that Is denounced aud detested by
the people? Unless, therefore, tue Southern
era, OF a decided majority CT them. are OF can
be made friendly to The Union-unless, that is.
The srcesso1ists are, or become, hostile to Sc
cessioa- a-thefecoHstTUctiOB Of The Union is a
pure impossibility. Some Americans, ge bear, |
are wild enough t0 assert that tue influential,
4 not The commercial, majority in the slave
States are CaiaDists al heart, or will become
so after good beating. But this is a question
OF contingent fact, on which We Con accept 10
mans dic:um.