Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-10-03

Mr.. PRESIDENT; Having uniformly and dc
cidedly expressed my unwilhngness to hold an,
official position at this time, i did not expee
my name would be brought before this c0nven
ton The nomination you have made sublect
me to great Inconvenience, whatever may be Ia
result Of this election. l came to this conven
ton expecting to aid in placing at the head
, the ticket the name OF one whom leel TO b'
4 more fit than myself for that honorable position
, Bat, sir, whatever may be the injury to myself
l cannot refuse a nomination made 10 a manuel
that touches my heart and fills me with a still
stronger sense Of my obligations to this grea
and patriotic party. In addition to my debt o.
gratitude to partial friends, l am impelled by the
condition of cur counIy, to sacrifies my person
al wishes aud interests to its good.
Two years have not passed away since con-
vention, remarkable for its numbers, pa iotism
and intelligence, assembled at this plaza to
avert if possible, the calamites which sfflct
our people. Ia respectful terms, it implored the
leaders Of ths political party which had ri-
umphed at recent election to submit to the
people of this country some measure Of cOncilia-
ton which would save them from civil war. 1t
asked that before we should be involved in the
evils and horrors of domestic bloOdshed, those
upon whom it would bring bankruptcy and
ruin, and into whose homes il would carry DESC
lstion and death, should be allowed to speak.
That prayer for the rights of our people was de-
Tided and denounced, and false assurances were
given that there vas no danger. The storm
came upon Us with all its fury-&nd the war so
cons .antly and clearly foret ID, desOlated our
| land. 1t is said no compromises would have
| satisfied the South. If We had tried them, it
would not now be matter Of diseordsut opin
| ion. II thsse Cffers had not satisfied the South
they would have gratitied loyal nen at the North
and would have uaiied as more perfectly.
| Animated by devotion to our Constitution and
! Union, our people rallied TO the support of gov
ernment, and Oae year since showed en- armed
! strength that sstonished the world. We again
appea ed to those who welded this mighty ma
terial power, to use it for the restoration of the
| Union and 10 uphold the Constitution and were
told that he who clamored fer his constitutional
| rights vas a traitor
Congress assembled. Inexperienced in the
conduct of public affairs, drunk with power. it
began its course ofsgitation, outrage and wrong
The defeat Of cur aIms at Manassas, for a time,
filled it with terror. Under this influence it
adopted the resolution of Mr. CTittendeu, Dc.
clsring:
" That the present deplorable civil var has
been forced upon the country by the disunion-
lists of the Southern States now in arms against
the constitutional government, and in arms
around the capital; thst in this national emer-
geucy, Congress, bauishiUg all feelings of mere
duty to the whole country that this war is not
waged, on their part, in any spirit of oppression,
or tor any purpose OF conquest or sutIugati0n,
or purpose of Overthrowing or interfering with
the rights or established Institutions OF those
States, but TO defend and maintain the suprem-
acy of the Constitution, and to preserve the
Union, with all the dignity, equality and rights
of the several States unimpsTed, ard that as
soon as these oi Jects are accomplished the war
ought to cease"
Again the people rallied around the flag of the
Union. But no sooner were th5ir fears allayed
tdan they began anew the factiOus intrigues-
the violent discussions and the unconstitutional
legislation which ever brings defeat and dis
grace upon nations In vain were they warned
Of the consequences of their follies. II vain
did the President implors foIbearance and mod
Grafton. No act was omitted which would give
energy to the seceSsiOnist5, or which would hu-
initiate and mortify the loyal men Of ne SoufA
Every topic calculated to divide and distractt al
North was dragged into embilteTed debates
PrOclamations OF emancipation we're urged upon
the President which could only coEh5cse the
property Of loyal citizens at tho South for none
Others could be reached by the power of the gov
eminent The c0nhscatiOn act had already for
feited tie legal rights Of all who were engaged
10 or who aided and upheld the rebellion These
were excited to desperate energy by laws which
made their lives, their fortunes, the safety of
their families and homes depend upon the sue
cess of their schemes. From the Dragons
teeth, sown broadcast by Congress, have sprung
the armies which have driven back our forces
and which now belsaguer the capital of our
country. The acts of the national Legislature
have given pleasure to the abolilOnists victories
to the secessionis,s But while treason reioices
and triunphs. defeat aud disgrace have been
brought upon the flag Of oar country and the
defenders of our Constitution. Every man who
visited Washington six months ago, could see
and feel we were upon the verge of disaster.
Discord, Jealousy, envy and STRIFE Pervaded its
atmosphere.
went to the camp of cur soldiers Amid
the hardshiPs of an exhausting csmps' s'gn-I
amid sutferings from exposure and want-amid
those languish;ng upon the beds of sickness Sr
those struck down by the casualties of wsrj
heard and saw only devotion to our Cous.hu-
ton, and love for cur country's flag. Eachyeye
brighteLe1 as it looked upon the national stand
ard with its glorious emblszonry Of stars and
stripes. From this scene Of patriotic devotion
went into our national capitol; I trsversed its
mosaic pavements; l saw upon its ceilings all
that wealth, lavishly poured out, could do to
make them suggestive Of our cOunIy's great
ness and its wonderful wealth of varied prodGc- |
tons Art had exhausted itself in painting and
sculpture to make every aspect suggestive of
high and noble thought and purpose. Full of
the associations which cluster about this vast
temple whicheshould be dedicated to patriotism
and truth, entered its legislative halls their
gilded walls and gorgeous furniture did not
contrast more strongly with the rude scenes Of
martial life than did the giistening puueScence |
aud Thin lacquer of congressional virtue contrast
with the sterling loyalty and noble self sacrifice
of our cOuntTys defenders. | listened to de- |
bates full of bitterness and strife
l saw in the camp homage to cur national
hsg-s stern defiance of those who dared to
touch its sacred fold with hostile hands. heard
in the capitol threats of mutilation of its en-
blazonry-by striking down the life of States.
He who would Tend our national standard by
dividing our Union is a tIaitoE-he who would
put out one glittoring star from its azure field is
u traitor, too.
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.
Let us now confront the facts of our condi-
ton, and they shall be stated in the language
of thosa who brought this administration into
power, and who now are politically opposed to
the members Of this convention After the ex-
penditure of nearly one thousand millions of
dollars, and the sacrifice of more than one hum
dred Thousand Northern lives, in the language
of the EUcaing POSt
'sWhat has been the RESULT Our armies of
the West the noble victorS of Fort D0nelson
aud Shiloh, sre scattered so that no man knows
there whereabouts, while the foe they are sent to
disperse is a hundred miles in their rear threat
ening the cities of Tennessee and Kentucky,
and even advancing toward one of the princi-
pal commercial cities of the free States. There
is no leadership, no unity of command, sppa-
Tently no plsn or concert Of action IN the entire
region we have undertaken to hold and defend
At the same time, our army of the East, mum,
beriug $50 900 troops; fully armed and equipped
and admirably disciplined, after investing the
capital of the enemy, has been driven back to
its original position on the Potomac, decimated
in numbers and unprepsred to make single
vigorous movement in advance"
And it adds:
''New it is useless to shut our eyes to the fact
that this is failure, disgraceful, hnmiiating
and awful"
The EpeniHg Journal, the accredited organ ot