The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-08-10
THE ISSUE.

The great question which should be to-day
impressed upon the popular mind, is, shall we
maintain our government, or, forgetting our
duties thereto, and our rights as American
citizens, shall we permit its destruction, and
consent to live in anarchy This is the only
alternative, and the deluded followers of reck-
less, ambitious demagogues are beginning to
awaken to the issue. All other questions are
subordinate, and descend into utter insgnif-
canoe compared with the idea of our countrys
salvation. There is no medium ground, no
neutrality in this unnatural contest, in which
the liberties of thirty millions of people and
unborn generations are involved. You are
either friend or an enemy to the government.
If under the deceptive guise of neutrality you
withhold a cooperating hand in sustaining our
government, you are certainly not our friend,
but an insidious foe, and would, in the dark
ness Of our discontinue, not only exult over
national reverse, but clandestinely pierce the
heart of the mother that gives you vitality and
succor -
The infamous rebellion which was inaugu-
rated by the disappointed ambition of few
political tricksters and treacherous aspirants to
political power, at first displayed itself in the
masked form of dark, deep-laid conspiracy to
overthrow the national government, and con-
struct upon its ruins despotism more CALLING
and grinding than any tyranny which ever
oppressed the down-trodden people living I'M
der the monarchy of the old world. The
scheme was devised and managed by men who
rff IN he ~
operating with party which owed its ascen-
daney to the corrupt means of intrigue, bri-
berry, fraud, Hypocrisy, and falsehood. The
treason-plotters succeeded in deceiving the
masses into disunion by the same clap trap and
villsnous article and cunning which carried
this party into power; and finally the party
itself exploded in consequence of the foul cor
ruptions within, the disorganizing elements
thereof seeking other spheres of action-the
traitors part coalescing in movement for the
subversion of the American government, and
the destruction of the grand temple of human
liberty.
But this is no time TO dispute over the
causes which led to the rebellion. The rebel
lion itself is no child's play. The one great
opJecs Is 10 put 1t down-to crush the monster
that he may never rise again; and to do this
work effectnally, many seriously think is to
remove all causes which led to the rebellion, or
which gave it life and support. Remove the
cause, they say, which produced the unfortu-
nate condition of the country, and the war
will terminate, and not till then. The North
is just now beginning to appreciate the mag
nitude of the rebellion, and she will roll up
her hundreds of thousands of volunteers who
will proceed into the very heart of the rebel
hous region, and, if necessary, with the Bosom
of destruction. The spirit of determination
is thoroughly aroused in all the loyal States,
and before another six months shall have
passed, the wicked Southern Cotton States
rebellion will feel the crushing power of the
grandest and most gigantic army the world
ever saw.