Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-23
"Our Profoundess PeriI.0
Concerning Military Dictatorship and PrOUi-
s5Oaat Government, and other WhisperiHgS Of
these Revolutionary Times
rrespondence Of the Cincinnsti GazetteII

| Concerning q Military Dictatorship and PrOUi
sloaat Government and other WhispsriHgs ot
these Revolutionary Times.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.l
WAsHINGTON, September I0-Let me say q
word about that dictatorship business, on which
you were so recently moved to comment edito.
rally
For months past have seen floating through
the Eastern papers illusions to some declaration
that there was a growing sentiment in the capi-
tai IN favor of making Mr.. Lincoln a military
dictator, which declaration they attributed to
the Washington correspondent Of the Cincin-
natl Gazette" If that phase applies to me, l
Deg to disown having ever been guilty of writing
any such verltable essence of stupidity II it
ever appeared in the Gazette in any form
which seems doubtful never put it there, at
any rate.
If there have been three old women in Wash.
ington who in mortal terror, while they drank
sheir tea, of having Jackson suddenly appear to
steal the teaspoons, ever thought of such resort
from their danger as making Mr.. Lincoln mill
tsry dictator, they must have Just escaped from
some charitable idiOtic asylum, from which they
never should have wandered. Unquestionably
there are not three sensible men in the whole
city who have ever for an hour entertained the
suggestion.
IT, BY any combination Of misfortunes, there
should ever arise a necessity for military die
tatOr, it will be because Mr.. Lincoln has failed
to make the full and proper use of the military
dictatOrs power, which he already claims and
exercises. 1t viii be another man not more
power, which will appear the necessity that shall
prompt the change.
And now, having said this much, by way, as
Kentucky politician would say, of clearing
my record let me add that the most significant
as well as the most dangerous, sign of the times
Is the under-cunent OF ominous whispering on
this very subject
The New York Tribune was right when q few
days ago it declared that our prOfoundest peril
lay in the possibility that the people in the an
guish of their anxiety to crush the rebellion,
might consent to evince their gratitude to the
savior of our nationality, by making him a
present Of oar liberty. In other words, so s1-
hsusted are we becoming with the distractions
OF our civil war, that too many might be willing
to accept dictator who should end it.
cannot adequately tell you how unsettled
the very foundation of all things seem becom-
ing. The very air is electric with the sparks of
revolution; and the whole community has be-
come so inhammsble that single spark might
set it in blaze. We seem treading the thiAness
OF crusts that can cover = crater. ANY moment
there is too much danger it may give way and
engulph us.
" uoti iOI tAdLAplS must DC lQ6 CQuQllOn OF
public affairs when 4 prominent United States
Senator can publicly declare that if the capital
were in any large city, we should have a pro-
visional government in thirty days l do not
know that 1t would be right to give his name,
though the remark was publicly made, but
Senator-not a Western one /
precisely that, in so many words, |
to halt dozen of us, the other day on the |
avenue.
Nor are there wanting military men who have |
for months been looking forward to a dictator |
ship at the end of all this distraction. l know
one prominent general who, six months or more |
ago, wrote to friend that dictatorship would |
be the upshot of this business, and that he want
ed him to enter the army once more, " because, |
when the time comes, our friends must have a |
hand in the matter" Aud the generals conduct |
since has convinced those who are behind the /
curtain that his eye has never lost sight Of the /
glitteTing prize.
Said one of our most distinguished public |
men, but day or two ago, in a conversation to |
which | had the fortune to be a listener, " |
have been spending the afternoon talking 10 one .
Of our leading generals on this very subject of |
3 possible coup d'etat He has given me an
inside view Of military Vaccinations, and l tell |
you, we have more than one general who has
been trying to shape events so as to make him
self dictator" And that public man knew
whereof he affirmed.
From the outset these Vaccinations have
been confined almost exclusively to generals of
The proslavery school. Never heartily in favor
Of republican institutions, it was not unnatural |
That they should look for opportunities of per-
'onal sggrandiEement in the wreck of those in
stitutions which they believed the cOnvulsions
Of the war were sure to bring. The old secret
organization among certain of our regular army
officers, which looked to the establishment Of a
great military empire, the inception of which
should be found in the conquest of Cuba bore
Northern as well as Southern names upon its
lists and Simon Bolivar Buckner could point
10 more than one fellow member among our
national generals. The organization of course
las died out; the idea has not
But Of late these revolutionary ideas begin
10 be whispered in these quarters. Within
fortnight have heard the words provisional
government " on lips that year ago would not
have been tempted TO syllable it. l do not say
hat with any class of our loyal men, admins
lration or anti-sdministrstion, such q contin-
gency has come to be regarded as necessary or
probable; but do think it a fact Of marked
significance that the idea begins to be tolerated
as possibility. The times are revolutionary !
The sooner the powers that be recognize the fact
the better for us all
So Esng as the popular feeling remains right,
80 long as the Wholesome national jealousy of
popular rights is,not debauched, the schemes of
the military Aspirants can find no foundation on
which to build. But there lies the danger which
BUR rulers, must beware Of A people, exhausted
with fierce dissensions, prays for the strongest
rule 10 delIVer it. If that strongest rule be not
.Jund moving within our Constitutional forms
and through our established authorities, it will,
n the last extremity, be found outside those
forms and authorities
In all this there is a lesson. 1t is brief, but
pregnant in meaning:
The time for suppressing the rebellion and
preserving our republican institutions unimpsir-
ID is short"
Let US hope that we shall in no way fail to
improve it to the utmost.
Is it well to say such "incendiary thingsl"
some timid innocent may inquire. Yes, sir, it
S well You never avert danger by shutting
POUR eyes to it, FOrswsrned is forearmed
There is virtue enough and vigor enough in our
Deople-if they only see the dAnger-tO avert it.
Only let them be warned, and let the admins
ration be warned in time