Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-05-04
Tks Speech Of Hsa. Alexander Lesg
From the New York DsfIy Naval

From the New York Ds1y RswEl
In the Sandwich Islands under the absolut-
ism that preceded the present limited monarch
ism, whAtsveE the king chose to prohibit fFom
public use was pronounced tahoe, and the OBJ
iect, plan OF &ction thus ssignSted became IS
if haunted by some fearful spell, e thing to be
avoided under penalty Of dsalh. However
much ths introduction intsrfe1ed With the com.
fort, health or longings Of the people, super
stitious swe, no less thsn the fear of punish
rent, secured the tGEos from violation.
Under tia shsolatism Of the present Admin
ist1aiion q tebeo has existed in this country.
Ths advisahility Of sckDo sledgipg tho inds-
pendence Of the South has been, not By direct
prohibition, but by vogue, mysterious snd un-
natural reluctance TO breach the subject, for
bidden thenie. Although the contingency from
the Atst has besn before them, although Is invi-
.ed their contemplation AZ an event within tie
range Of possibility and Of an importance HoT-
thy the most thorough reflection, the people,
and especially their representatives IN Congress,
have shrunk from its consideration, locking to
the right and TO the left of it, above it, below il.
but never straightforward Hhsn it offered to
their gaze. The cautious mariner when his ship
Is tossed by the seLapesss, surveys the complete
circle OF the horizon. His e0Wsrdice would only
be equsled by his loll7 who wilfnIly should close
bis eyes to shut oVt this or that hesdland that
might be in sight. Bat in the midg. OF cur po-
litcSl storm, tho mon whose watch it Is, who
have been chosen to marx wbas course Is being
made, systematically covsT the bi1nscle light
whom tho compass peinis csrtsia way.
Ia Republic e7eTy Rlzn IS privileged to ex-
press his own opinion upon political efsiTs.
Ths tes. Of patriotism Is not in clesTiEg 70 The
VioEs Of ths naa1y, bat in being f1iihful to ones
own conscience AID judgment. Al that mo-
nent whau the eiiizsss upon compu!siOn &C
cepis bis political faith, the w0rst kind Of des-
potism pTevsils. No man is 80 gifted in intel
lset, Sc profound i1 knowledge, 60 perfect in
mora nSture IS 20 ba fitted tor dictatorship to
the cunscienees Of bis fellow nsn. It d the
right Of eli to advise, 10 exa9Tt, 90 persuade If
possible il IL the right Of none 20 compel his
usighb0r TO hie own dogmss. He who uses IL
| tImidation, abuse, or yioisaoe TO control the
political seatmsnt Of Others is By inclination
| tyrsnt, and will hs limited in ths exercise Of
| tyranny ohly by She Bounds Of his powers.
This perfect liberty of opinie1 aud Of expression
Of opiBion is ths right Of every citizen but in
| the legislator it il right that is exalted iAt3
duty. In congress OF tho representatives Of
q great people, there must be many ccasTsdic-
tons Of opinion, and therefore some that are
right, Eoms wrong. But Wi.o among tbsm shall
assume TO pass, Judgment; whose the preTogsIve
| to tx the stamp of genuiaaaess 20 this pr7nei-
pie or to bran1 that ~ e0uDlerie!d However
| extravaganza aud false the c;eed Of = representa-
tive may sesln TO hi5 opponents, i. is bis fu,c-
ton 70 giVo it ptseTsnce, snd in proportion as he
| uttars it frankly, emphateally, sad without
reservation, Re fulfils his obligations TO him
( self, his country, AID bis constituents.
The Hon. Alexander Long, Of Oaio, whether
right OF VICE. in his political thsoIy, has eer-
ssinly approved himself right in his conception
of REPRESENTATIVES officisl duty Ia his speech
| in the house on Friday lEst, he distinctly placed
upon the reeeEd his honest convictions shat tie
| reeognitionof Southern Independence was PIE
| ferAbs TO s pIolsnEetion Of the war Thst this
| was an honest expression Of opinion none will
doubt who know how far The intolerance of the
/ msiority in Congress prompts them % abuse
their power in persecution It requires no eouT-
age to advocate the policy and uphold ths doc
| srines of those who hold tbs ksys Of patronage
snd the rod OF Authority. But coursge and yir-
| tue aud tTus patriotism inspire the man who
| in his place of cfise eonfroRts the odds against
him, and vindicsses doctrine thss Is suTs TO
bring down upon It's apostle tha wrath and the
| yesgesrce Of thoss who ha7s power TO mako
wrath aud vengeance crush its objses. Ths Ua-
republican intolerance of the Abolition faction
has been already demonstrated in the effort
to punish Mr.. Longs honesty of expression by
! his expulsion from the house. Let Us see if the
DsmoeFatic members will dare to emulate his
fearless views by sharing with him the Fespon-
| clliisy CT PUA1u EoLhAESAt
MIR Long SAID II believe that t1eTe are bat
two alternatives and these are, either the ac-
knowledsment cfthe Independence of the South
as an Independent nation, or their complete
subiugetion- and determination IS people
and OF these alternatives prefer ths formsr." s"
We pcint 10 the record of the war thus far to
prove that this estimate of the alternatives is
true. Il hss been sufficiently demonstrated by
the unaninity, tho energy, the courage and the
success with which the South has supported it's
clsim to indeBeEaonce, that its people are ire
yecably welded 70 thsiE intention of establish
ing separate nationality. We know by what
they have endured already that only the most
com plete subiuzstion, attended with sll the hoT-
rors of 9 devastated country, Of dspopulated
cities, Of an exteTmin2ted people, attended with
all the dangers and expense OF sn immense
standing army TO hold Ehem a5 subjected prov
inces, attended with al the ruiz Of our Tepubli-
can institutions that sanction no government
except by the will of ths governed, viii ever
enforce upon them political cempsaionShip
| with The North. What man that holds repubh-
cAnisn to be his most precious political treas
ure, will hesitate between the alternatives
These that thirst for power that thirst fol
wealth, that aim to build mp = great eonsoli
. dated empire upon the Iaihs of that inheTi
ssnee cur fathers gave Us, those that arc 2mbi
tons 10 create nation that will make eonquss
It's glory and extent of territory Its attainment
shose who would thrust their co1ntry into th
wild commo!ion that has made Europe sn 4rsni
tcf e3ntinpai leoutsnsion, sud hope amid 81
general wranciilz 70 WELD tho balance ef p0yge
upon earth; those who aspire to the msgnih
conce aRd might of q gigantic military despo
tisn1, more tenacious Of their influence abroas
than OF sbeir libsrlies at home, will cIy for va
to the bitter end" and sss IN the subjugssion 0
the South only the FIRST step of their aggTsn5izs
- Ia nj a. 2-f z1n
consider that cur mission Il tST9pubiics1iss ,
!essf this continent, who love liberty esster thaI
pO-gsr, who cac better brook two republics th2I
one despotism, who cen look forward 10 the dsJ
,shau a mighty Union will bs Reconstructed
uUon principles acceptable 70 al, but Iho esn
/ rot appreciate the beEeEesnce Of UnioI
founded upon hate ead csmsHted by blood
those, ia g word, who are the servants OF dis
passionate Judgment and q pare patriotism
= and not the slaves of faRstioisln, wrath acC
: priae, will say with Ar. Long, Of !he tT'
r alternatives, ] prefer an acknowledgment o
the ipdependenes Of the South. FhG
4 prefsroncs decidedly Eeeords with tA'
I seutimeaIs Of the Daily Ns1S. In every mate
7 rial particular, We entirely sgrse with the sab
! stance of AT. Longs speech. TIE same view
hsye repeatedly been advanced 10 the eolgms
of this paper, aad its editor in kis EgreSsiona
: esuacity, Is upon the record as tAs advocate 6
= separation in preference TO war Of exsormina
Hou. In FebTury, 1868, he said in the Hous
5 Of Represents ives, alludiBg to the war, "Tsths
: than prolopg it, would e5ncsds ssparstiol
!, ass only ReaRs Of an ultimate REUNION upc
J, sue principles ss true republican should er
L EtsYtaiR. When the p0lposs OF the S0u5her
= people to abstain from political canpaaionshi
q with Us shall have been demonstrated as fze
+ and irTsYocable, then as necessity useless
struggle against, / shall not only counsel, aha
= urge, separation" We esl now upon ellie
g representatives of the psopie who hold tAeSsu
opinions, TO have done with timidity, and
/ plainly and fesrlessly express their exact sent
: menis, without reserve, conditions or equiy0ca
: tions.
s -,