Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-03
GBt MIengBis appeal.
Remarks OF Judge swayne in the Prcsby-

y II
Remarks OF Judge swayne in the Prcsby
terian Assembly.
The following remarks delivered in the Pres
byterian General Assembly, during its reeen
session in Augusta, by Judge Swayne, of Mem
phis, will be of interest to our readers:
REMARKS.
Pending the selection of a place for the hold
ing of the next General Assembly:
Mr.. MODERATOR: 1t was my pleasure to
second the nomination of the city OF Memphis.
and that being the place Of my residence, 1t is,
perhaps, proper that l add a word also on the
subject. The other nominations are Of the cities
of Richmond, New Orleans, Nashville, and
Montgomery. At each Of these places, except
the last named, the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church has been held the old as
sembly, it was true, but at times when that
assembly was true TO itself anG when its sessions
were agreeable and desirable to all who now
compose this Church. IsuDpose, therefore, and
in further consideration Of the fact, that this
assembly also is sit ing now near the seaboard,
it viii not be seriously claimed that the next
assembly should sit in the Atlantic or Gulf States,
or at Nashville. Here the nominations of the
cities Of Richmond. New Orleans and Nashville
were severslly withdrawn.)
Then, these Withdrawals, Mr.. Moderator. leave
in nomination Montgomery and Memphis. 1t is
said for Montgomery, that & generous hospitality
would welcome the assembly, and that the 10
cality is accessible. doubt not the hospitality.
That is an element OF Southern character. But,
what l have to say for Memphis is, that her peO-
pie are as large hearted, and wiz be found as
cordial and courteous, rs those Of any other city.
Yet, sir, do no. misunderstood me. / say TO you
frankly, that tie assembly may not be mistaken,
nor our peOp'e misunderstood, that we cannot
ofsT, because It is not in our power to extead,
such pHncely hospitality IS We are enjoying
here ia The homes ofthis elegant people, nor do /
think we should at empt that in which we would
but signzlly fail.
I've nav not learned. and ! think we could
not initiate, the forms and facilities, the shapes
of kindness and courtesy, IN which the members
of this assembly are entertained, aud which are
peculiar to this evergreen city ON the banks Of
the Savannah. They viii make the name Of
Augusta, accompanied by the pleasant associa-
tons we have formed, as green in our memory
and as fresh as her beautiful magnOlias. But,
though we cannot aspire 10 equal success, We
hope to furnish enough for the purposes Of life,
q couch sor repose, something to eat, something
10 drink lsughterl, and, viii add, an alum
dance on the latter-the great Father OF Waters
Is there We hope, also, that our population is
sufficiently large to authorize the persuasion that
we may entertain the assembly.
Although our city IS in the infancy Of its pro-
gress. we count about 5000 ESTIMATED by
strangers at 50,O0O) As to accessibility, We
naay be rather coneeited, but we think no city
n The Confederaey may be compared with ours
aor this. By reference to the map, It viii be seen
ehst Memphis is geographically and almost ex-
gSly the center Of the Confederscy. II is inter
meiGate to our northern and southern boundary,
our eastern and western. 1t is sppr0achable for
nearly 9 thousand miles above and below, by one
of the qSndest rivers IN the world. IL is the
ferminf5 of eOnTerging roads from every point Of
the compass. The Memphis and Charleston
road, the great artery of the South, leading from
all the Atlantic States, with its numerous con-
nections from the right and the left; The Mem
phis and New Orleans road, and its connections;
the Memphis and Kentucky road with its con-
aections and the Memphis and Little Rock
zsAd.
Thus you see, that no place can be more ac-
cessible 70 the assembly, covering, as this rep
ressntsffve body does, the entire ConfedeTacy.
You Of these old States Of the seabOsrd, speak
of any city as " the West" We know no
" West there but the country beyond. The
giant strides Of our country westward you have
not vet realized. To realize this progress, to
conceive that one half the area of your church
lies west Of the Mississippi. and 10 take in the
great idea of the entire country, / invite you to
the bluffs of Memphis, from which common cen
ter you may contemplate the whole, and from
whose nights you may survey the entire field Of
operations Of the church, religious, benevolent
and educational.
1t is suggested, also, that Memphis is a militia
~ csSmp-which involves q compliment 1t is
not now a military camp. The hosts who were
there. and the thousands on thousands Of brave
hearts frcn her own bosom, have passed on to
the seat Of war. She is rather a hospital, where
the forms Of our women, ike angels from Heav-
are ministeriDg round the beds Of the sick
and wounded.
And it is also suggested that Memphis is ex-
posed to the enemy. Memphis is desirable to the
enemy sirstegicailY and retributiyely for her
prompt patriotism and isTge heartedness but we
think they viii not be able 10 0mnan forces to
take and bold her And, Mr.. Moderator, probs-
bly, they are not so fond Of attending religious
meetings as TO select the time Of the sitting Of the
assembly TO be present there, and, / may add, if
they do, with your prayers and your arms and
the God Of right You may then have an Opportu-
nifty to help welcome them, and furnish them
occasion to remember the GTeenes Of the revolu-
non, and the waller Of Presbyterian arms and
hearts Of the other days that tried mems souls"
Twill only add, to what I have said, that if it
shah be the pleasure Of the assembly to sit in
Memphis, they win be cordially and Hospitality
by the people of Memphis.