Daily union appeal. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-186?, 1862-08-29
THE If PREsIpESTraL.

"Lf could save the Union without freeing
any slaves, would do it and if could save
it by freeing all the slaves, would do it, and
if could do it by freeing some and leaving
Others alone, would also do that The
President to Horace Greeley.
: Few persons can claim with truth, to hold
the ruler Of the United States in higher esti-
nation than we do; and it Is only our extreme
solieitude for the continued success and re-elec-
tion of the party he represents, and the coun-
try it is so ably saving, that induces US to re-
mark that we would, for the sake of his repu-
tation as a most polished gentleman, q refined
scholar, and great statesman, be gratifed
with number of others, (less than twenty
millions,) to read from him one public docu-
ment that could not admit of half dozen in
terpretations.
The word IL occurs so very frequently, 80
necessarily in all he has said or written, that
were il only as curiosity, we should welcome
from him any document in which that mysti-
flying part of speech had no place.
GREELEYs letter was insolent, but it was at
least plain and straightforward. What the
man wanted could be understood by one who
ran as he read. But we confess that, with less
than twenty millions of others, we are at q
loss TO understand what ultinato definite pol
icy the presidential answer conveys.
Its second sentence begins with 81 if: aIf
there be in it any statements or assumptions
which l may know to be erroneous, do no.
now and here eontrovert them"
The third sentence begins with an if af
there be any inferences which / may believe
to be falsely drawn, / do not now and here
argue against them"
The fourth sentence begins with an if IF
there be perceptible in it any impatient and
dictatorial tone, waive it in Difference to an
posed to be right"
The sixth sentence begins with an If "If
there be these who would not save the Union,
unless they could, at the same time, save
slavery, do not agree with them; II there be
those who would not save the Union unless
they could, at the sans time, destroy slavery,
I do not agree with them"
The next begins also with an If and con-
tains as many IFS as it does lines, forming the
graceful and lucid motto of our humble edi-
torial on II. In the perplexities of his posi-
ton, the President may have grasped TALLEY-
RAND's seldom quoted idea that words were
given to hide meaning. But be has certainly
improved upon it greatly, for he hides intsn-
tions not with but word, and that one
Of the shortest in the language, thereby justi-
flying US in our old opinion of his superiority
as iingnist and diplomatist over even the
gentleman de PerigorG
The abusive rebels OF the South have 50 per-
-sistentiy denounced him a. an unlettered boor,
that he has perhaps been led in the inditing
of his publications by desire to prove that
he possessed the power of diplomacy as COM
pletsly as the CHEsTERFIELD whose politsness
he equals; but it might have been a. well,
perhaps, had he for once favored the people
Of these States with document from which
they could gather some knowledge Of his real
intentions in regard 70 the abolition or preser-
walton of Slavery. -
his diplomatic use Of his farorite syllable
viii simply serve to afford the press and pub
lie headers Of the South = new. opportunity 70
represent the war. as being waged By hinn
merely 10 abolish slavery, while Messrs.
GaxEIx, PHlLLlFss etc, will c0nstrus il into
an assertion that be snteztsins ne such moiiss
-