The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-08-05
Communicated.
MEMPHIS, August 2, lS6

MEMPHIS, August Z, 1867.
EDIToR UNION APPEAL:--I have been in
your city but few days, and, of course, can
not be supposed to know much of the senti-
ments Of the citizens; and yet have seen and
heard enough to indicate the proclivities of
some of them. There is a sentiment which 1
have heard expressed here, and which 1 have
found to be prevailing one at the South, but
one which consider to be erroneous in the
extreme, and calculated TO foster and keep
alive that animosity and deep-rooted hatred
which have been the principal source of all the
malignant feelings that now sway the minds of
the great mass of the Southern people. say
the great mass-for l shall not admit for a
moment that the leaders are thus deceived,
but they have, by systematic course of mis-
representa- SANDER and lying, so educated
the Southern mind, SO warped and twisted it,
SO moalded and shaped it, during the last
forty years, as TO subserve their predetermina-
ton to cause a division of this Government
that the great mass of the people have come to
believe the most inconsistent monstFCsities that
| could ever lind place in the human imagina-
ton.
/ would not utter sentence that would
have tendency 10 increase the animosity
now existing, nor provoke a controversy that
would raise the flame of dscord to any greater
proportions than it has already attained. My
only object is simply 70 correct false impress
sion which find TO exist, not only here, but
elsewhere, and, so far as my observations ex-
tend, l find TO be the prevailing one at the
South.
take it for granted that no one chooses to be
in error-Lhat all prefer to know and believe
the truth. 1 also hold that there is an innate
| principle in the human mind which is agreea-
bic to truth. Now, thero is such thing a:
truth, and thore is such thing as falsehood
and these may be distinguished the one from
the other. God has so constituted the human
mind that it is able to perceive truth and de-
tect error. There are primary truths-sucl
truths as all men acknowledge, and agreeable
10 which all men act. A primary truth may
be known by this; by its not being able to b,
proved or disproved by any palmer PROPOSE
tions, and which viii compel men-thougl
they may assert the con.rary-to act as though
they did believe them. For instance, a maj
may pretend to believe that fire will not burn
and yet he will invariably act as though h
verify believed that it would burn.
Now there is an opinion entertained at tn
South-whether real or pretended-that tn
people of the North wish to elevate the negr
to social position and social equality wit
the white race. / understand by social posi-
tion and equality what / believe those term
to mean in the mouth of Southerner-intel
marrying and intermingling of the races, wit
all the concomitants of social intercourse.
have frequently heard this opinion expresse
; by many since / have been in the Souther
States. have heard it in this city. This
one of the gross fabrications by which til
people are deluded. No such sentiment hi
ever been entertained by any class of peop
at the North. l do not call the rawlings of Il
maniac sentiment. / do not allow that IL
opinions or sentiments of one in one hundre
thousand or one million TO be sufficient
institute principle on which to construct
rule. One in one hundred thousand is certain
ly very small proportion. One in a miliC
is very much smaller. One in one hundr,
thousand or in one million is so enormous
n small that it cannot affect the body polite.
cannot affect it for veal or woe. It is too i
significant to produce any serious results O.
way or the other.
Now shall assume that there are TWEEN
million of people in the free States. Nc
one in one hundred thousand would ma
just two hundred in twenty million. won
ask any reasonable man if he seriously beliey
that there are two hundred persons in all t
, Northern States that even SO much as ey
y uttered such sentiment, let alone acting up
such sentiment. / do not want hearsay t
timony or sensation articles in political pape
published for the purpose of accomplishing
- particular end without any regard TO tru
nd BY such testimony, admit, you might pro
that white is black, and that the devil il
: saint. want authentic documents, with {
seal OF the court such as cannot be question
Now who, would ask, of the two hundred
al. have supposed, ever acted on the princir
attributed to them2 If the sentiment be
prevalent as you would persuade yourselve
- believe, surely some would be found to
upon the principle they are said to entert,
ore, Now deny that even one-tenth of the
!" ! hundred have supposed ever acted on sus