American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-11-28
ARE WE READYI

This is question which il behooVes every man
at this time not only ask himself, but TO answer,
if he can. q .Stmpsr pGTafus !" should now lie tae
watchword of every in the South who loves
liberty or Is worthy of freedom. =. EUer ready =
a. altrags prepared are words Of terrible import
when properly used and in their proper places.
The temper and metal of Mississippi is on the eve
of being tested. We are threatened with a formi-
dable inyasiou-an invasion that viii bring in its
path destruction, desolation and death. With US
there can no longer be any conjecture as to what
invasion means. We have the example of Mary
land and Missouri. Tennessee and Kentucky. before
eyes. What their people have suffered we
know and by their fate let Us be warned.
The indications are that Lincoln has become
maddeued at The defeat of his war policy, among
his own people evidenced in the recent elections
in the North and will now put forth all the means
t. his command to bring the war to a speedy close
He has removed from the, command of his Potomac
army representative general of the conservative
party of his section and viii undoubtedly only re
tain one who will cooperate in tie emancipation
and Duneering schemes of his government. HIS
forces are fast being marshaled, for the goal to
which the creed of his party points not the restofa
ton OF the Union but the destruction OF our instr
tutions.
4
he will attempt to act here in the South. His IRON
ciads will attempt to swarm upon our coasts and
navigabIe rivers His armies will attempt to oe-
cupy more genial cline than at present. The
are now at the borders of the Gotten States and it
is high time we were asking ourselves the qnes-
ton Are IRE prepared TO meet these mighty efforts
We cannot disguise the fact and the interregatory
il one OF deep import. which should be prepared
tn answer in the affirmative And to- delay prepa-
ratio.s to make such an answer truthluly, will be
fatal. Our defenses in the hands of our best
ofieers-those deemed to be skilled in all the APP
planees of war and qualified for the positions
they hold. Bnt the planters furnishing them
with negroes labor the Notifications. and thus
enabling them TO complete them III time to meet
the blows which they are intended to resist Are
our authorities obstuctng The rivers and navigabie
streams? Are our citizens organizing and drilling
themselves in exposed localities? II not it is time
preparations made.
THERE Is no TIME roe DELAY. We have set out
to achieve our independence, and declared we
would never submit to any peace that will not
bring with it that independence. Our honor now
demands that should firmly maintain this re-
solve We must fight TO the bitter end, and at all
points, never surrendering to the impericus de-
mands of our enemy.
We speak earnestly, and to MlssIssippians' whose
State is now so seriously Threatened, and is the
special object of Yankee hatred. 0Hi subject Is
not one of political exhortation-it looks to the
personal liberty and interest of every citizen OF the
state. The question is brought home to every
Missssippian. We have alluded to the fates OF
some of the sisters in the Confederacy If Mssis-
sippi would escape like scourge lot her people be
up and doing If they would be free they must de-
sarx. fla hnon No matter how great the sacrifice
and that freedom only be ensured by action
NOW Again we ask, are ready2 have we done
all in oar power to drive back the invaders that
have already obtained foothold within our bor-
ders? Ii not, our dity is plain Memphis appeal.