The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-06-24
Letter from the Hon. EIn-
i. erson -Etheridge, Present Clerk of the
Republican, House of Representatives.,
to the Citizens of Memphis, Tennessee.


Mr.. ErHErIpGE, Clerk of the House
of Repre- entatiycs, and for several terms
member of Congress from Tennessee, hav-
ing been invited to join in a public cele-
bration of the anniversary of the surren-
der of Memphis to the Federal arms, re-
plies in the following able and interesting
letter. Its just sarcasm upon the Presi-
dent for his broken vows and maladmin-
istration Of Office is very striking. Mr..
ETmERIDGE was made the Clerk of
the Republican House of Representatives
in July, 1861. lie had labored hard to
keep Tennessee in the Union, and. in
1862. visited his State, where he was in
strumental in bringing hundreds into the
Union army. and persuading thousands to
take the oath of allegiance:
WASHINGTON, D. c., May Is, 1863.
GENTLEMEN; i have just received your
letter of the 7th inst, inviting me. in be-
half of the Washington Union Club, of
Memphis, to join in Il public celebration
of the anniversary of the surrender Of
that city to the Federal arms. You also
speak kindly of nag past efforts to induce
the people OF West Tennessee to consent
cheerfully to 'sthe restoration of the ma
tional authority throughout the South. !"
! I'll believe that by meeting you on the
occation referred to- could be of service
to single honest, law-abiding citizen, or
truly repentant rebel, or that / could con
tribute, to the least extent, in ending the
war and restoring the blessings of peace
under the Constitution, / would certainly
attend. But have no such faith in my
self, and therefore I shall rot go.
In your letter you express the opinion
that bya "dircct personal appeal / might
encourage the loyal and reclaim the dis
loyal" / confess my establishment at
such astatenent; and l can attribute this
opinion Of yours to nothing but failure
ON our part to comprehend the masterly
policy of our great and good President
and the wise statesmen who aid him in
shaping aud directing the civil policy of
the Goyernmcnt. When you have fully
studied aud understood the grand purposes
Of our most God fearing and law-abiding
President; when you are more familiar
with the profound military strategy,
which, as !. Con,mander-in- Chief of the
Army and Navy Of the United States,'
he is now displaying; and when you fur
ther remember the astonishing success
we have had in rcclaiming our misguided
countrymen,' andi in conquering our sway
ward sisters shall be amazed if you
continue to believe it necessary to zen
courage the loyal or ''reclaim the dis
loyal" Why encourage the toyats Is
it possible they iced encouragement in
Memphis, where, for nearly year. you
have been inside the Federal lines? Where
every mig hit tattoo is substituted for "H ush!
my baby, don'tyou cry" and at reville
ssHail Columbia" arouses the people to a
consciousness of the great security which
is afforded to the PROPERTY of the loyal
people in Memphis and ssaH the country
round that (politicaD Jordan" How
can you or encourage the loyal" when
our matchless President, the late Con.
gress, his sage counsclors and his peerless
military subordinates, have already done
and promised all which wisdom can sug.
gest, which our sacred Constitution author
iscs, and which the Christian religion tol
crates and ndapproves? There remains moth.
ing for us to do, unless it is to obey oul
incompatible President in all his wise
! measures to conquer glorious peace
True, we have among us croakers and Cop
peaheads--silly, brainless men-who ara
so unwise and unpatriotic as to question
the wisdom Of our injefatigable Presi.
dent If you have any such in Memphis
you should at once denounce them as il
|sympathy with the rebels; you should
send them to their friends sidown South,t
or to the Dry Tortugas, which is under.
stood by many TO be place where overy-
body is tortured with thirst for rifle whisky