Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-10-18
sEeCIeIIus,s address.

Erem the ElenulonQ EGamlnerl
The address Of Mcclellan to his army, which
is published this morning. with other intel
ligsRee from TIE North Of tie last date, throws q
food Of Light on the present condition of pubic
opinion in the United States Tks offset of thst
address is to guiot the violent dissension which
has sprung up, even among the soldieTy, over
the late political event
Rejecting persons in al countries Of the world
have been puzzled by the last proclamation of
Abraham Lincoln. In the South, astonishment,
rather than any other emotion, has been pro-
duced by that singular measure. No candid
observer can think the present tyranny at
Washington altogether devoid Of intellectual
power and intelligence. UupTiueipled, mean,
vulgar, eruel-it is ell thst and much more that
| is OdiOus; but neither weak nor foolish. From
! the hrsI It has been consistent with itself very
audacIOus, fruitful Of resource, and judiciOus 10
/ the choice Of means to accomplish it. bad ends
/ That it should have suddenly resorted to meas
uTs, certain to set against it nearly the whole Of
lie labO7iHg naBs, and to dissatisfY il the las.
dsgrss, all Of the educated portion of tbs com
muuity which retains any trace Of virtue or san
ily, was an apparent contradiction to its sup
posed character for cunning.
But the latest indiees Of the conditions and
! relations CT party and public opinion in the
Northern States explain the motive Of Lincoln's
proclamation. This step was tal IN after long
Z
hssitAsiOa, and haslly resolved on because i
had bseone evident, that q complete union be
! tween the administration and the abolitiouists
was the only means left to secure the continu-
anee of absolute power IN the hands Of Lincoln
and his government.
The Northern people have been silently but
profoundly divided since The battles before Rich
moad. In the previous period, the whole popls
! lssion had been united for prosecution of the
H. - a. 1
could be restored. But laltsrF the vast rasss Of
Lincoln's supporters, to-wit: the conservative
or De1ocrstic party among the politicians,
and neaTly all ef the laboTing community who
are indifferent to parties and politics not Of
the vsguest SOFT, have begun seriously to doubt
whether this Wsr could posi- bly, end ia ths res
tOTaticn OF the Union, OF even that the Southern
! csuntYy could be converted into Federal terri
tory without sxterminssing the whole prsssat
generation in 9 struggle Of twenty years Ar
rv1ng At this conclusion, they have become
avsrse to the new expenditure of blood and
treasure, and extremely dissatisfied with the
Arbitrary conduct Of LineOln's government
The passionate hope that the Union would be
! restored by strengthening the arm of the Fede-
raj governments, rendered the people willing TO
endure despoHc tyranny, actively ezeTted
hitherto unknown to any nation containing the
least admi1tuTe of ADglo-Saxon blood But the
even 1ankses became Testive under such gov
eminent a in modern times has been only par
alleled in Austria or in Russia.
The tyrans at Washington felt the ground
slipping from beneath its feet. The operation Of
its arbitrary regime, prevented any violent ex-
precision Of popular opposition but enough was
known to apprse Lincoln, Seward and the rest
that they could no longer rely on the Union
party proper, for the psrPetuetion either Of the
war or thsir own power. Forced to look around
for support, they fOsnd nothing left but to throw
themselves wholly into the arms Of the abolition
party TAis mad, fanatical, fierce, unprincipled
organization win back them in anything, provi-
ded the war shall be continued tor the destruc-
ten Of the southern people. With the army At
Its command, and this political party to uphold
il ia civil administration LincOln's gOvernment
believes Itself capable of continuing its career
without alteration. III resisted, it can and viii
resort TO terrorism for the repression Of the ma
jority. Il viii hang. shoot and imprisoG al who
are sverse TO the continuation of the war, or
protest sgainst its cruelty aud lawlessnesS. As
il is no longer possible to rule by the opinion Of
the whole, il viii do 60 By the devoted power Of
part To gain this UnscTupulous, but certain
ally, Lincoln was obliged to throw off the mask
and openly decl1Te himself Al abolitOnist OF the
darkest die And this we bs.ieve to be the true
meaning Of his proclamation.
Whether this step win not provoke thai degree
of resistance in the vast portion of the comm
nifty, who are sure 20 be dissatisfied, is problem
to be solved BY events. L Is useless for rs to
waste our time In specializing upon such ques-
ton: seeing that our own conduct, at the point
things have reGched, can in no wise be Rffected
By anything that Lineoln's government. or Lin
coins subjects, can do or desire to DO. Dslusiye
calculations Of EuropeaA interference, ard ex-
pectations based on tie relations of the North
ern people aud government, were once fashions
bic in the South, and perhaps sfected It's action
But, happily, they have no longer a serious
place before the public attention. The Southern
| people expect now only one thing-var, until
they are destroyed, or peace is-made with
beaten enemy, on his own soil What Europe
is going to do, what the North is going to do,
ara questions which perplex Us 20 more. We
are determined on that simple and clear road TO
our end, which is measured by the blade Of the
sword The South viii now light while mau
remains in it. Il hunts for no allies, aud viii
look f0T no terms.