The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-17
A pERF1DIOUs PEOPLE.

dto,ities 10 Gte Dead.
Hard words never convinced anybody /;
but language must be used according TO
propriety. We require harsh terms,
therefore, TO fittingly describe the con-
duct'and policy Of the rebels. They set
out upon a proposition involving great
principles-a declaration that they seek
rights and liberties under new form of
government which they falsely allege
were denied them under the Government
OF the Unitad States. Such proposition
involves the grandest principles known
to the human mind To carry into sue
cessful execution principles Of such mo-
ment, requires the exercise of the most
exalted virtues--nOt simply temperance,
frugality, f-denial, fortitude, courage,
but Of truth, honor, and the highest ex-
ercise Of humanity as defined by the
wisest standards Of civilization.
With such a scheme before US, is it
possible that any just human being can
admire the rebelliOus people who are
now in arms seeking to overthrow this
great free government, the weight of
whose little finger they never felt save in
the exercise of its benefcence. Granted
they have exhibited courage, fortitude,
military skill-what other moral quality
in the long catalogue of private or public
virtues have they displayed?
Truth? Was not the rebellion founded
in Misrepresentation and falsehood? Has
it not been sustained by duplicity, by
the violation Of every private and public
right; by the power of brute force; by
the exercise of the most despotic tyranny
upon the face of the earth; by driving
people from their homes, imprisoning or
hanging them ruthlcssly; by destruction
of their property; by relentless perse-
cutions for the mere entertainment of
political sentiments adverse TO the de-
struction of parental government which
they revered
Justice? Has any private or public
right been held too sacred against their
merciless exercise of power? Has the
agOnized voice of the miserable people
caused them to hesitate an instant in
tearing men from their homes and families
TO murder or to force them into their
armies
Honor? Is there an evidence of per-
fidy which is wanting against them ?
Have they not proved themselves Spar
tans in disposition and adeptness in the
art of robbery? Have they not shown
themselves Cretans in their misrepre-
sensations and deceitfulness Have
they been true to any to whom they
have pledged their sacred honor?
Humanity? What outrages in the long
catalogue of infamy in war have they
not perpetrated. True they have not fred
bound Yankees from the mouth of can
non they are hardly so reiinedlycivilized
as the British-but have they not con-
fined prisoners of war in loathsome dun
geOns; robbed captives Of Their apparel
and personal property; plundered the
dead, and descrated cOrpses on the battle
field We stop the record for very
shame.
Can a great nation be established
upon basis of falsehood, vice and crime ?
Can liberty be invoked in the name of its
antipodes. Can people distinguished for
duplicity, perfidy, and barbarous cruelty,
establish an honorable name among the
nations of the earth. Forbid it, Almighty
God. Wicked nations have, in Gods
providence, temporarily ruled over the
destinies of the righteous, but truth has
prevailed at last, so this horrible rebel
lion may sustain itself yet many months,
but il is written in the logic Of truth that
the right must finally prevail, and that
system which seeks TO shackle freedom
of thought and of action, must ineyita-
bly, fall before that which offers the
widest liberty TO the exercise of human
faculties. II is upon this rock that the
rebellion must split. II is upon this rock
that the Union must be preserved
But we have roamed into depression
Facts are the most powerful arguments
sustaining the indictment we have en-
tered. We charge the Confederate Gov
eminent, its authorities, and its people
with duplicity, perfidy, and humanity
and assert that they are not governed by
principles Of virtue, which justify civil
lied men to hope that they can succeed