Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-05
DANegas oF a sERvILE va.

long GAASL III tlld otAut lDgallhy dil4uoh
numbers, without one race becoming subject to
the other
DANGERS OF A sERyILE WAR.
Are we 10 violate the rules Of civilized wsr-
fare by inviting aud encouraging servile insur-
TectioH, which after it has borne its bitter fruits
Of indiscriminete slaughter, must inevitably end
ia the ex ermination Of the servile racer is il
humane to subject these unfortunats beings to
this consequence If the abolition Of slavery
be a necessary consequence of the war, both
races viii have to endure the evil which in their
present condition it would bring on them but
TO make emancipation the object of the war
would be to use the treasure and blood of the
country to carry out the political views which to
great extent produced the war, would bein bad
faith to the nation, and especially to those who
have freely given of their wealth and Tolunta-
riiy offered their lives to the government, after
that government had, of its own accord, put on
record that the war was not to be prosecuted for
the purpose of "overthrewIug the established iu-
stihtions Of the States" Oar energies should
be devoted to a restoration Of the Union, and
the problem OF emancipation is one to be solved
hereafter by the people of the States where the
institution Of slavery exists. To be a benefit
even to the people in saTYitude, It should not
como by FIRE and sword. The institutions Of
ages, interwoven with society, cannot thus be
DAUhbH uu WihuJub plOAEcluE lAGdlculhDit his
cry. If emancipation should ever come it will
come so as 20 be Of the grestest benefit to both
races. twill come as il did in New Jersey, by
the voluntary action of the people of the States
where the nstitutiOn exists, peacefully and grad
ualiy, and without the dictation or interference
Of the general government, or the government
of other States.
If men viii reform themselves, keep within the
law end observe constitutional requirements,
there is no reason why we should not live te-
gether ss tremendously as our ancestors did in
the earlier days of the Republic Abolition and
secession are the authors of our calamity and
abolition IS the parent OF secession To those
who regarded slavery Gs a sin, and were i'm
pslled by & law which they esteem higher than
the Constitution to effect emancipation at ell
hazards, 1t would be useless TO say anything
except that they we're no moro responsible for |
the evils incident to slavery IN the Southern
States than they were responsible for serdom in |
the most distant country in Europe. They had |
about as much right to interfere in the one case
as in the other Slavery was here when the |
Constitution was formed. It's Introduction was |
wisely left to the several Stales IN which it ex-
isted- Without this the Constitution never 1
wou!d have been ratified.
Obedience TO the law and conformity 70 astab- /
lished human government are divine injunc- /
lions, the violation of which must be offensive |
n the sight Of God.
THE LESSON AND OUR DUTIES
Having defined The nature of our system OF |
government and examined some of the absorb-
ng questions connected with the rebellion in
he light of the Constitution, It remains to state
he lesson legiimstey 70 be drawn therefrom.
md to consider briefly some of the duties which
ievolve upon us in this crisis Of our nations
history.
The great lesson to be derived is, that disre-
5ard Of the restraints of law, disrespect for iu-
iicial opinion, Indifference to the division of
'owers n our systems Of government, and the
substitution Of Individual opinion of right OF
wrong for the written Constitution, have brought
lpon the nation ths troubles that now hreaten
IS dissolution, and that not only must those in
ebslion return 10 their allegiance, but all must
e.urn to the sncisnt an1marks Of their fathers
they would again have the country united aud
prosperous.
Oar chief duty is to restore she Union Of the
states. To do this all must control their pas
ions snd prejudiess. We must have due re-
ard for the opinions of others. and not be prone
o impute- -disloyalty to those wko entertain ad-
erse views as to questions Of policy. We
mould be calm and dispsssionate yet frm and
eeided in maintaining the right. We must
rotect he lawful rights of the humb'est citizen
we would be protected in our own rights. We
hOuld respect judicial decisions, aud conform !
tTictly to the requirements of law. We should
.ot vioata the law because others DO.
FsilgHe ia the proper administration of good
overnment does not discharge US from our OBJ
cations TO perpeiuate that governments. 1t
nould rather increase cur exertions to bring its 4 !
1lers back to the irus principles on which the
overnmsnt was fouudsd-the only principles
pom which il can be successfully administered
If in retaliation for the unconstitutional acts
others we violate the Constitution ourselves,
len indeed al is lost. We should cling to the :
onstitution-" cling to the Constitution as the
liPwrecked mariner clines TO the last plank
hsn night and the tempest close around him .
We should take ca-e that both national and /.
tate governments contne their action within
2 sphere Of their respective powers. The con-
itutIonal demands of the national government
lould be responded to, whether in peace or in
ar.
CONCLUSION.
Fellow citizens, IS there no way consistent
ith the honor and interests of all TO bring to an
ID this unnatural strife, which is shedding the
'st blood Of the laud, and eating on our sub
snee There is not good citizsn in the q
hole country who does not, in his heart,desire
ace There is'not Christian family ia the :
nd, who, when the shades OF evening close
ound, do not in their devoions at the family :,
tsF, pray for peace and the safe and speedy re-
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