Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-12-17

power, whenever we shall have the Wills
3 reconstruct Il can only be done by a1optin
policy of peace. It can only bo dene by deny
ing to the Federal government al power t
coerce. 1t can only be done BY all returning +
the point from which we started, and saying
This is a government of fraternity, govern
ment Of consent and it shall not be admins
tered in departure from those principles
When events rendered it necessary that th
plan Of a campaign should be arranged, Mr.
Davis powers were called into full energy, an(
the various battles which we're fought during
the first four months of the struggle show thu
genius which directed the Confederate strategy
and enabled them to stem the tide against vastly
superior numbers.
On the morning upon which The battle o
| Manassas was fought, Presideat Davis was al
Richmond, about one hundred and twenty miles
distant from the field. When the FIRST intelli.
genee Of the conflict reached him by telegraph
| he got into an express train and reached the
scene of action in the afternoon The battle
! then was far from being decided and, mounting
| his charger, he rode to the centre. Above the
roll of small arms and the booming of artillery
| rose the shouts of twice ten thousand Joyous
voices to greet his arrival. Responding to the
cheers of his countrymen, be placed himself
| csnsPieuoHsly in the 'front.' His presence, his
words" EDWARDS, brave csmrades l''-gave
new courage to both men and officers. The
victory was no longer in doubt, and at sunset
I hfty thousand men were flying in disgrace, and
| tiinging away arms ammunition and clothing,
| before an undisciplined army Of tWothirds Of
| its numbers.
The provisional government of the Confed-
crate States was established for period of one
year. That period expired on the 22d of February
| last. The permanent Constitution, accepted
already by thirteen seeded States, came into
complete effect on the 22l, the anniversary Of
the birth of General Washington.
The election Of President, Vice President, and
members of Congress, took place in November
last, when President Davis had 10 opponent for
his Office; in fact, he received as unanimous
and authoritative a vote as did President Wash
ington 1t is saying nothing but the bare truth
to state that one is as great faYorite with eight
millions of people of the Confederate States as
the other was with three millions Of the original
thirteen. Washington was justly denOminsted
a rebel, and su must sckno Wedge he dignifed
the term Hs rebelled against wrongs which
the mother country could and did infict without
the violation of positive law. Davis rebelled
against the violation of a carefully written Con-
stitution, and against the breach Of the articles
of eopartnership between sovereign States, and
as the executive head of seven of these States
No citizen was more loyal to the United States
than he, until Mississippi ceased to be State of
the Union, and in exercise Of her sovereign
rights demanded the allegiance OF her own sons.
In the perfsrmaacs of political duties, citizsns
Of the South consider thst they stand to their
respective States in the same relation as q sub
ject stands to his sovereign. Their obligations
10 her, in case Of collision with the Federal
government, are paramount. Citizenship IN
one State does not enable them to enjoy
citizenship in another. A citizen Of Massa-
chUsetts could not remove to Virginia, snd
there vote for President, member of Con-
gress, or any State officer, without having
first become citizen OF Virginia, in the form
prescribed by her own Constitution. In reality
the United States constituted nothing more than
a commonwealth Of republics, which in their
early HISTORY acted upon the old Greek idea, that
the best government is that where an injury Of
fered TO one member IS resented as sn injury of
fered to all. Coercion, as attempted, is mill
taTy chiefLsin created lieutenant-general by Con-
gress in terms of profound peace
Immediately after the last Presidential elec-
ton, Gen. Scott began to show solicitude for
the safe Inauguration of Mr. Lincoln. By-and-
by, he expressed his apprehension that the event
could not be cOnSummated without the c0ucen-
traton at the capital of part Of the regular
army, chiefly artillery aud Dragons.
These sppTehensions were shared by Mr.. Lin
coin AMI his mos: prominent advisers. In Gem
plisnce with their request, President Buchanan
allowed Gen. Scott 10 make such arrangements
as he might deem suitable to the circumstance.
Accordingly, early iu February, Washington
was practically converted into military camp.
The Lieutenant-Geueral was soon seen taking
the initiative for rendering the civil subordinate
to the military rule. Mr. Lincoln was installed
in Office without resistance; but the installation
by means of al armed force was a departure
from the usages OF every other instance, and
caused melancholy forebOdings that if the Pres
ident hadrequired bayOnets to place him in Of
flee, he would, as a matter of course, require
bayonets to sustain him there. And all this
took place in the face of Mr.. Stewards decara-
ton few weeks before, that the Union could
not be maintained by force, and that Union of
| force was despotsm" Aud in this light was
the subject viewed by the frsmers of the Consti-
tuition.
Three times was the proposition made, in the
convention, to give powers to the Federal gov
ernment to coerce State, but it was stsadfas tly
refused, upon the ground that it would be to su-
! thOrize that government 20 make war upon a
sovereign State. Virginia entered the Union
| with the express reservation that she would re-
| tire from it if she chose, whenever It's govern
ment became government Of oppression to her.
" 1t may be pardoned me, sir, who in my
| boyhoOd was given to the military service, and
who have followed under tropical suas and over
! Northern SHOWS, the flag Of the Union, suffering
for it as it does not become me to speak, IL l
! here express a sorrow which always Overwhelms
me when 1 think Of taking last leave Of that
object of early affection and proud association,
feeling that hencef0rth it is not TO be the banner
which, by day and night l am ready to follow,
to hail with the rising and bless with the sitting
sun. But God, who knows the hearts Of men,
will Judge between you and us at whose door
| lies the responsibility of this Men will see the
efforts have made here and elsewhere; and that
l have been silent when words would not avail
| have curbed an inpatient temper, and hoped
| that concilistory counses might do that which
knew could not be effe cted by harsh means.
| And yet the only response which has come from
| the other side has beon st0lid indifference, as
though it mattered not Let the temple fall,
we do not care Sirs, remember tina such con-
duet is offensive, and that men may become in
diereut even to the object OF their early attach
ments."
As an orator, Mr.. Davis stands in the front
rank amongst American statesmen. Nothing
strikes an Englishmen visiting America more
| than the facility with witch all public men ex-
press their ideas in discussing public affairs.
And if the style Of most speakers is not so chaste
| or classical as that of statesmen in Europe, it
may nevertheless be said that there are few men
who take even the smallest part in the politics
IN America who cannot speak with fuency and
energy, which practice and great requirements
has given them. But the subject of this sketch
is an orator in every sense Of the word. His
mind is well stored with the historyaof ancient
and modern times, as well as a minute and ex-
tensive knowledge of the various political quss-
tions which have agitated the States from the
time of their birth to the present day. Calm
and grave is he when the subject requires So
| lemnity and reason impSssonsd andiaenergetic
when he wishes to appeal 10 the sympathie5 of
| his hearers.
1t is not our intention to describe the private
! life Of Mr. Davis. His public career is that to
| which we now call attention; but in all dOmes-
tic relations, as son, husband, and father, his
actz will hear The mo sf ri0id sorntinv Tn cop-