The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-10-15
From the Richmond Enquirer, Octoberl.l
President DaVis'S Atlantic Speech.

We are panied to note the tone in
which Mr. Davis addressed the people
of Georgia Its so different from the
usual calm and well-weighed language
with which he greets the public He
seems to have found it necessary to
vindicate his devotion to the whole
interests OF the country He justifes
the propriety of his military appoint
ments, explains the comparative diff
culties of the situations in Virginia and
Georgia, and adiures his auditors to
save their country from bondage.
There are some declarations wrung
from him in this defense against the
ANONYMOUS and unfounded charges of
having abandoned Georgia, which we
regret to see. The serious depletion of
our armies will read badly at the North
and in Europe.
We are sorry to see the President so
far lose his temper as to denounce
personally the authors of harsh and
unwarrantable impUtations upon him,
and even TO talk of Butler in the
language in which he deserves TO be
talked of by any one else than the head
of a powerful Confederacy. The speech
has been probably thought by the
friends Of the President essential to
vindicate him and themselves from
censure. We take leave to say it had
better been borne in silence. We would
cite a single instance, III which man,
placed in the foreground of another
revelation, was likewise tempted to
vindicate himself, and yet stood firm
until events brought refutation to ca
lumny When the Conway conspiracy
was formed, with the object of super
seding General Washington in COM
mand of the American army, he was
charged with an imbecility amounting
almost to cowsrdice.
TO these imputations he made them
no defense At Subsequent period ne
said that his alleged inaction proceeded
from the want of arms, clothing, and
supplies. He could easily have vindi-
Gated himself, but his country must
have suffered; he thought it better to
sacrifice his own military reputation
than that the cause should be endan-
gered.
The speech of President Davis has.
however, a meaning and moral 1t
imports q phase of public sentiment
unlsvorable TO the cause. 1t has been,
perhaps, extorted by the extravsgant
and csuseless charges against him
We utter but the transient words of
journal, but we can not forbear advert
ing sgain to the apparent controversies
in the Southwest We lament 10 per-
ceive, in many particulars, indications
that they exist The change in Sher-
mans tactics; his invitations for q con
ference-spufned, as we are pleased TO
see, by the Governor of Georgia-his
sdroit civilities to individuals, TO eoun-
teraot his wholesale exile Of the people
of Atlanta; his rewards and temptations
TO our men to enlist under the flag of
the United States-all these things
show that the enemy is aware of dis.
content and controversy among US
We have no word of censure where
either the parties or the controversy are
before us; but We have a right TO adiure
those who participate in the feeling to
which we advert 10 remember the
ground upon which they stand. The
antagonists of the President may be
right in their objections to his policy.
What them Is it of profit to divide
and exasperate the country at this time
upon such questions These questions
are Of importance 70 show the inccmpe-
tency of the President or the defects of
the Confederate Constitution In either
case ID is better to postpone their de-
cizion until the country shall be better