, 1863-04-07

- Hk6 NAMTy1AH0 LICK ' Ii G4116G
Prophet.
From the Nashville Union, Of the ad.]
On the 11th day Of last December, one Rich
ard Merritt, {this means me Maryland Dick
Merrick, J made q speech before the Young
Mems Democrntic Club, Of Chicago, which
was so well liked BY his auditors, that they
country, and sent multitudes Of them to the
armies Of the Mississippi and the Gumbcr-
land In TINT speech air. Merritt makes the
following bold prediction in reference to the
Emancipation Proclamation:
ttMen Of Illinois, on the LIST day ofJanuary,
if the President, accomplishing the act which
is to give effective operation 10 this decree,
deeignates the States in which it shall apply,
| there Is not man in those states who will not
tly to arms. Mothers will give up theiE cllll-
| drcn to the battle, and the cold blood Of worn
flow again with the restless ardor of youth,
and the Iegions Of the rebellion will advance
| power you eannot snbdue, except at the cost
Of your own aud your country's ruin. With
the objects announced in this proclamation sls
the ayowed purpose Of the war, the South
cannot be subdued, and ought not to be SUBJ
j dued."
This prediction was re-echoed and reaf1rm-
cd By the conservative press generally. The
proclamation they all agreed. would make the
South IA unit against the government" !"
Three months have elapsed since the publica-
tion Of the proclamation, and what has bee1
the result? Has not Mr. Ner7itts prophecy
fai1ed signal1y? We do not know Of oneloyal
man in Nashville whose fidelity to the cause
Of the Union, has been shaken In consequence
Of the proclamation. We do not believe there
!, Is one instance among us, of i Union man
having Joined the enemy since the 1st Of jan
uary. We have not seen or heard the slightest
evidence that the rebels throughout the whole
Sonth have gained single convert. On the
. contrary, we haEe been assured By many intel
Ggent, loyal refugees, Shareholders themselves
who have escaped from Georgia, Alabuma
and those portions Of this State which art
within the rebel lines, that not one loyal mar
Of their acquaintance has warered in his faith
The prediction Of Mr. Hcr,itt, fathercd nj
doubt by wish, has been signally flsiled
t and We may add, disappointed. We have heart
8 many intelligent Shareholders, refugees from
! various counties in East aud Middle Tennes
: see express deep regret TINT the State was ex
empted in the proclamation. The loyalty o
! | the Union men Of the South is made Of noble
, stuff than such men as -Ntrrin suppose, VIII
:, act and speak on the supposition that the pat
! riotism Of the Southern Unionfsts will las
$ until their property is touched, and no longer
5 We tell these Northern Copperheads that II
e love the Union for its free, enlightened, an
progressive institutions. We had rather be
)" quea.h q good and stable government to on
children, than leave them the inheritance {
all the splendid plantations Of Middle Tenne:
r see, with all its negroes for their bondsme1
: We fight for freedom. We fight for nation
l. a1ity. We fight for justice and humanity.
:: other patriots can afford to give up their sor
\ as q sacrifice to the Union, the loyal men
d the South can afford to give up their ncgroe