Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-04
RIeamoNp. Fsb.usrv 17tb. 1863.

AiChAl0NDi EsD-uafy lftl, 1903.
Hon. Amos r, Johnston.
Ny DEAR SIR: Your very friendly letter @
the p instant was this momsnt received, and ]
/ hasten to respond 20 its contents. You seem tC
be desirous chat I should write to you touching
the Interesting public questions referrel to n
your communication, sud you more than init
mate wish tbas the views 90 which may give
expression ia my answer shall be allowed to
reach others besides yourself ln c0mmuninq &
wtt trlend whom I have intimately known
for mere than thirty years, and whose character
and intellect I hsTe always held 10 the highest
esteem, I can have no Thoughts or feelings con
nectsd with the Interesting points Of youf pres
sel inquiry which could desire TO conceal from
the public a. large. The truth is, that I haye
ever been Of opinion that there was far too ElHch
OF mysttication and secresy among pubic men
and certainly the abest and most useful states
men that / have personally known have been
IS distinguished for certain manly frankness
and independence in public intercourse, as for
the other high qualities Of mind and heart which
attracted to them the esteem aud confidence of
their cOunirymen and Of fhe world A sort Of
mensstic reserve ard guarded Teticenea both ia
word and act, S the uaiural demeanot Of political
ticksters and dsmsgcgues, whose sole chance
of commanding even temporary respectablity
and influence copsis SIS ia the dexterity and sue.
own dement's from The public view, and the
sdroitness which they display IN shelleTing theiT
schemes of sehshness and snaveTy from the OBJ
servation Of honest and pstriosie men Admir-
ing e. e distance the august mOdeg 90 which
have just referred, however iiltle i may regard
my own opinions and sentiments g be- entitled
to the particular respect Of Others, I do not feel
on this occasion, that j should be justifiable ia
refusing 70 comply with the comp tarY re-
q n
/ lave ever felt profound Differences, and whose
friendly regard foF myself hiss been constantly
manifested, both ia private and public inter
course for more than thirty years past. Allow
me to say TOO, that this request comes strongly
sustained BY the fact that 1t emsna;es from ibs
bosom of q community with which have been
most closely and endearngly connected for ths
greater part Of & life, now considerably beyond
the meudian-a community which has, in mes
past showered upon me innunerable Kind
nesses, The grateful recollection IF which can
never pass away until reason and sansiblity
shall have become extinct in death.
1 agree with you, my dear sir, most fully in
the opinion that whist We should exercise the
utmost vigilance and activity So keeping up the
strength Of our ARMIES in the feld We should DO
far indeed from limiting ourselves TO shs en-
p.oymeut Of those means of defense and secuIi
ty which the accumulation of an armed and
Valiant 6oiQlefy on lend &lu L1e prepa alton Of
ships Of war upon the water, may b. expected
to supply. Every wise and philantropie man 10
this hemisphere wheres0ever resident. must de-
sire that this bloody and unnatural wsr should
te brought TO al early termination Ny own
wish undoubtedly IS, that i should terminate
rs early IS weuld at all comport with the perfect
preservation of our honor, our TeeaoR. ogr sep
srata independence, and cur permanent safety. 1
have never had any mere abstract relish for the
sriliug Of blood upon the baHle-held, aad /
could feel 40 interest Whatever ia the proseeu-
ton Of aay var merely for the purpose OF grsfi-
lying a brutal revenge or with viaw e the
needless multiplication Of those horrors q earn
age. a. rsvags ana desolziioo whlca save N So
striking manner, marked all the stages oi that
siTuag whieh We are measulIy maintaining OF
al chat can render life desirable, OF ihis erthiy
sbode an object 0t respect sud of rational alisc-
ton The great question 10 be solved ct pres
ent Is, how can TINS waT be hFought to an end,
without incUrlng ihe sacrifice of any portion
of those priceless blessings for which We have
bean for We yesrs 81 aersicaly strnggling3 It
Is most obvi us 70 me, and las been from the
beein1ng of itis contest that, it was not even
possible iog the whe.s North, however perfectly
united. q GTer6hsln ald sabjug 3 the S uth,
though the government q Washington should
be ever SO wisely e5napcted and yet I never