Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-22
NORTuERN Loyalty,

At the North just now the test Of loyalty, or devo
ton to the URiou, Is no longer q support of the old Con
s~tituion. It has become an obsolete document, 50 fa
a 1t should have been the guide Of ell political action
and such has been the dsbauehment of public opinion
by the leaders Of the dominant political party, that with
their followers their behests are the accepted governing
policy. Tyrsnts have always taught that loyalty is due
10 men instead Of principles, and the Republican party
Of the North has accepted, and is acting upon, the
dogma. BEEcHER's sentiment that the " Constitution
is only dead ~sheepskin parchment and the President
Cabinet and Congress are the government" IS the prin
ciple upon which LINcoLN has asked the people to al
low him to administer public affairs it is the ~despotism
he has forced them to submit to they have been com
PEELED TO ignore tbs WI ten law entirely and to-day
regardless Of Constitutional rights in any particular,
sole power is concentrated in LINCOLN and his immedi-
ste advisers as strongly as it was in thatof CHARLES I,
who dared to say " the king can do no wrong"
We have watched the proceedings of the Federal Con
sresss 50 far as they have reached Us since the CON-
msnesment Of the present session, with no little interest
Iaboring under the belief thai, perhaps, the verdict Of a
majority Of the people Of the North, Is expressed in the
elections Of October and November last, would operate
10 some extent IN giving character TO the action Of their
Legislators. We had supposed they could not entirely
disregard the voice of their constituents But thai the
supposition was fsundationless every successive days
report of the proceedings has convinced as.
LIycOLs is the government During the interim Of
the last and present session, the orders of himself and
cabinet ruled al. This was without even the color of
authority. Against it his people rebeled in tia only
possible peacsable way, through the ballot box. But
their verdict is as completely disresarded noD as were
their circumstances before. Aslbserviszt CongTessis
st hand to give semblance Of legality to the despotiein-
clinadons Of the tyrant, and he is at present as arbitra-
rfy the ruler Of his people IS il they had no law, and
were simply the creatures OF Liz viii Ho dictates, and
his Congress submissivsIy records, the policy Of his gov
eminent and obedience to the Administration, rather
than the CONSUMPTION, is now tbs test Of loysltY, 70
which the people Of the North are forced to submit
The rump parliament headed by Praise-God BarebOnes,
was not IS plant 30 its master as the ramp Congress Of
AboitioRdom is to-day 10 its accidental chief the first
were 60 wOrkerI, the last simply tOos-tbs first assisted
in originating governmental policy, the latter simply
confirm governmental usurpations.
It remains to be seen whether this people, who have
been so boastful Of their have won poHti-
cal victories on the platform Of free speech and freedom
generauy-win continue subjugated. The indications
at present are that they Will not-thst public sentiment
Is rising above the slavery that would force itself upon
them. Uprisings are manifest in many quarters, and
are frequently uttered. While the PEG.
pie Of the COnfederacy are rejoicing st their timely
escape from 40 unbarable thraidom. those Of the North
sre only beginning to multer as they appreciate their
position. While we are fres, it is yet to be determined
whether our enemies viii deserve to be 20. The seeds
of a revolution are sown among them, and we OF the
South are, II must be admitted. watching the result
interest Our future is fixed as we have wiled-
theirs must be as they will