The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-04


More Evidences Of Decay.
The Press Of yesterday contains 4
lengthy communication from Hon. D. O.
Humphreys, Of Alabama, who, though
an original Union man, became involved
in the guilt Of rebellion, soon after it had
been inaugurated. He was candidate
for elector on the Douglas ticket, in 1860;
and during the controversy, early IN 1861
he favored the policy Of compromise; but
when once the war had commenced, be
went into II, and supported il with 81 bic
energies, until the cause became hopeless,
and the Presidents amnesty prOclams-
ton gave hope Of forgiveness for all past
offences.
Mr.. Humphreys urges q speedy resto-
ration Of the Union, and return of the
people Of Alabama to their allegiance,
through q convention elected for that
purpose He recommends that 3 body
of that nature be chosen, TO repeal the or
diDance of secession, passed three years
since. While we are not disposed gen.
orally TO quarrel about means, when q
desired end is to be accomplished, yet We
do protest sgsinst any formal repeal Of
acts unconstitutional, null, and void; the
very repeating set gives color 10 their
claim 70 validity, unless preceded by =
preamble explaining TIE reasons for its
passage. A resolution condemnatory Of
the whole proceeding would be nearer
what is demanded.
Mr.. b. compares the prosperity of the
South three years since, with its desc
lation. now, aud asserts thatn not only was
there no cause for war, in the beginning,
bat that there IS no hope from il in fu-
ture. If the insurgents would save them
selves, they must do 50 now. 0verrunning
theSouth will destroy its system oflabor:
without labor its armies cannot live and
without its armies, il must succumb. He
assigns Is months hence, as the farthest
possible era, Of the existence of the Con-
federacy. Terms he thinks can now be
obtained from the o. s. Government !;
terms which will save all property, save
that in slaves; but when completely al
the mercy of the loyal people, the rebels
can expect none. With reference to
Slavery, he says;
Upon what terms may the Union be
restored? Just as it was, save the feature
ofAfrican slavery. It is evident that the
South must make material change upon
the question before she can again live in
peace with the world. Nations more for
midAble in sll the elements of power
than the Southern States, have often been
forced TO yield TO the pressure against
them, and TO change their policy. This
great moral, religious and political ques-
ton they should meet like men, as becomes
q christian people. We should meet il
openly and boldly, and If the voice of
Christendom is against US, yield to that as
the voice of God. We have undertaken to
fight out of il, but it sticks the closer TO
ms. We cannot shut ourselves up with
the cotton States and defantly proclaim
10 the world that our system is peculiar
TO ourselves, and it must not be investi-
gated. It was thought by many that we
could be Independent of the world, and
that the world was dependent upon US
There is no doubt but Mr.. II. is an ex
pOnent of the views of the rebels gene
rally, regardless of the manner in which
they became involved in the crime of
treason. They find that they were mis-
taken; that their leaders we're not good
political economists, when they believed
that q non-manufacturing could succeed
in contest with manufacturing people;
that they little understood the character
of the people of the North, when they 80
confidently predicted that they would
not fight; and that they over estimated
the number and influence of their friends
in the loyal States. In place of enjoy
ing unparalleled reatness-instesd of
finding themselves the recipients of the
homage of the uuiverse-the rebels now
see and feel that they are ruined, unless
they can make terms with the national
government; and hence il is, that so many
lately stepped in guilt, are now coming
forward, and taking the oath of allie
glance.
1t may be said, and doubtless with
truth, thai this repentance is not sincere;
that il is q mere question of dollars and
cents; but the public can rest assured |
that these men will never again engage
in rebellion, after the present one is
crushed. They are completely humbled,
they have learned q lesson they will not
soon forget; they have been enabled,
after wading through rivers of blood, to
understand that the North will fight,
snd that no sentiment is so dear to its
people as that of nationality; and through
he pail Of starvation which covers the
and, they have been permitted to CLEAN
\ few scattered rays of the lights which
he science of political economy sheds
abroad, and they are enabled to perceive
hat the only truly helpless country, is
hat which depends upon raw material
Ior its wealth.
Emancipation in Maryland
The question of emancipation has
,een ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in the Legis-
AZURE Of Maryland, upon propositions to
- e . CA.a. n.....-a.--. a .r,n-,a |