Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-03
Is Reconslruclion Possible 2

Prom the chicago Times
JEFF Davis asserts in his message that the
reconstruction of the Union is impossible The
governors Of the seeded States have asserted
the same thing. The several legislatures Of
those States sustain the governors; the rebel
press scout the idea of reconstruction, and the
grest mass OF the Southern people ars now Bit
teriy opposed to the old government and Union.
Here is population Of FIVE and half millions
of whites, as sagaeious, entsrpTising and deter
mined as any on earth, controlling from three
to four millions of negroes, who with their labor
may Justly be counted as effective in defensive
warfare as the whites, making an aggregate of
nine millions, inheXibly opposed to the Federal
government, and asserting their independence
The government has wsged a war upon them
for two years with al its ensTgies and it is now
as far from success as st the commencement of
the struggle. Its exhaustion has not been as
great as theirs, because ofits superiority of re-
sources, bat it has bean equal to theirs whom
comparing the means Of the parties at the cut
set What is now to be done
Shall we grant the independence they assert,
and consent to dissolution In the loyal States
none but those who have siesdfasly made war
upon the old government, and prayed for its
overthrow, entertain any such idea Shall we
continue the war when the obstacles to success
are seemingly yinsurmOuntablef If these obsta-
cles were real, instead Of unreal-if tho mi st
formidable Of them might not be removed by
change of policy that SO far from being disbon-
orable, 10 demanded alike By justice and the
loyal public sentment-then interest and hu-
1aanity would require instant negotiations for
peace We believe the re-establishment Of the
government IS a matter for cur determination,
and not that Of the Confederate leaders Re-
construction in the present attitude of the be-
ligerents can only be accomplished by the ex-
rs af han
white and black, in the Southern States. It is
madness to dream of this result.
But when restoration is offered In such man
ner that the interests Of both parties ara mani
testify subserved BY it, and the honor Of each
preserved, viii the people Of the South reject
the offer, and sacrifice themselves to the ambi-
ton and malevolence Of party leaders TIE
answer to the ssseyeTsiions flthe Abolition press
that no terms Of peacs save those that iavolye
dissolution will be listened to by the South. Is
to be found in the simple, practical truth, that
if such be the faet-if the South is unalterably
pledged to this positi0n-the war should instant
ly cease, as the Subjugatien Of the South Is an
impossi5iity.
But how is it known that reconstruction upon
any terms viii bs rejected By the ConfedeTa.es,
aud war, with its chances, preferred Tae
terms now offered by the government we know
they will not accept The declarations made
by them that none will be accepted ere based
upon the supposition that the preseat policy
viii not and cannot be changed. Davis 50 as
seTts iG his message.
One fact is evident The hostility Of the
South toward the Federal government may
more easily be overcome BY offering terms that
preserve their interests and honor, than by de-
clgrations Of policy that, il enforced, will de-
stroy their interests, aud degrade them before
the world