Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-29

From the National Infeligencer.
THE CASE OF THE SOUTHERN MEM


the imposition of degrading condition
Upon them. Loyalty to government !
never the offspring Of cSactlons mad
upon the pride of a people. Communu
lies, like individuals, hsve sensimliue
which NAV be wounded. and self re
spect which it is not wise 10 disregard
Only despotic governments seek 10 crUs
tine pride and to destroy the self respeC
Of the people, that the arm Of power ma
encounter no resistance from the mOia
forces of society. A republic, on th'
contrary. should cherish the pride an,
stimulate the self respect Of its citizens
who are the antitype OF its own person
alitv, that it may he strong IN the unity
ing influence of their voluntary obedi
ence and love. Now, the people Of tn
South are a proud people. Their sci
respect Is hnconquered and uUcJnquera
lie bv the Vieissitudes of fortune. keenll
slive TO kindness TO honorable cOnces
sion and to manly forbearance, they ar
eqHallv sensitive 70 the stings Of insul
inflicted by encroachments upon thei
pride and self respect. Justice an'
moderation viii win them to any hon
orable course, but they will only be re
PEELED, perhaps lastingly alienated
iV harshness and oppression Thel
may be fastened with lgament
stronger than steel 20 a govern
ment that will respect both their right
and their feelings; but ta q Government
that insults them by its humiliating eX
actions, and wrongs them by its cause
less suspicious, they may, under thi
pressure Of circumstances, render th'
LOYALTY of the outward act, but they vii
never Weld to il the higher loyalty, th'
far more enduring homage, Of the heart
Vow, a wise craftsmanship would re-
spect these moral pecuharities of thu
Southern people, and rest its policies
either of couciIiatiOn or of government
rIpon the recognition Of their sensiMitie'
.as a people Of pride and self respect. And
for this reason the President, both in tn.
,-oncention and in the administration o
mis- scheme Of restoration, has proved
himself wiser than all the radicals of the
North, and a sounder constitutional re-
publican than they all.
Let il be borne in mind, also, that the
,.-,ule Of the South are q constitute
benceforth q portion Of the people Of the
Vnite-l states. The current OF their des-
fiDv and their lives VIII run henceiorth
conlmineling and commiGgled with
theirs forever. Whatever they are in
point Of fact hy nature and culture, or
whatever they may be made 10y the pol
5.y of the government towards them,
they viii be as component parts Of the
.areSt mass Of the American people. Has
the nation any interest IN the dishonor
and humiliation Of its own citizens
VIII the glory of the Republic be en-
hanced by the shame Of any portion oi
it's ue0ule2 . VIII the lustTe Of the ma
tional flag brighten ia the eclipse Of some
II the stars which now glitter upon it,
folds
What. in fact, Messrs. Editors, have
The people OF the South done worthy OF
degradation and dishOnOr at the hands OF
the Government Of their country Let
lls endeavor TO answer the question in
ehe impartial spirit Of history, giving Ia
them as the party destined to be arraigned
Al 5ts Ear. the benefit of the qualifying
circumstances and the charitable abate-
meuts 70 which they are fairly entitled,
ami which will be sure to be accorded tO
them. in the end, By the judgment OF
,g,ankind. Ii j. conceded that they at
tempted TO subvert one nationality
that thew might establish another
of their own. But they did 81
under the clear conviction and IL
lie firm belief that they had the right
under the organic law Of the land, TO dc
-. II was Iheir political faith, OF, al
least the faith OF a controlling majority
n them. that they had thenonstitutional
right peaceably TO withdraw pom the
gnion. IL was faith which had come
down, 10 them from their fathers. ithsd
been held as true by many ni the Wlsest
and purest statesmen Of America. ii
lad been vindicated as the true render
ing Of tie constitutional compact 10y
men AZ the North a. well as at the South
No legislative Interpretation, no Judicial
decision could be quoted against II.
IL was as often supported a-
opposed in the harangues Of ora
tors and in the lucubraiiOns Of politi-
cal essayists The logic Of the hayoaei
had not yet engrafted the opposite con-
struction upon the constitutional com
pact. That this faith was honestly EN-
Traced and sincerely entertained by the
people Of the South they attested by the
highest evidence that man can give OF
the sincerity Of his cUnvictions-they
sealed it with their blood, and with the
loss of well nigh their all Of earthly pos
sessions. II Is submitted that men act
ing upon political faith so universally
accepted among themselves as trUe, and
attesting the sincerity Of their cOnVic-
tions by 50 many costly sacrifices, may
have been mistaken; they may have
erred, as I believe they did, both in the
Interpretation Of the Constitution and in
the attempt to reduce their cherished be-
lief 10 practice.
While il is cOntended upon the one
hand that prOtracted probation under
military rule Is not necessary 10 insure
the loyalty Of the people of the South,
that they have done nothing worthy OF
degradation and dishouUr al the hands OF
the Government Of their country, and
that no possible good can iuure % the
country or to any Of its sections by the
exclusion OF the present members from
the South from Congress, it is main
tained, on the other, that great wrong
and, perhaps, irremediable mischief may
be- done 10 the country and 10 its high
ct interests by the refusal to admit
ITEM. Eleven states of this Union. and
the people of eleven States, viii be
shorn by that act Of representation in the
councils Of the nation, and the maxim
and the practice, too, Of IsIstish tyranny,
IN the days of our colonial ancestors, will
be revived in Republican America. The
Constitution, thus stabbed in its vitals by
the hands Of It's selected guardians, will
bleed at every pore. The country,
shocked by the continued disruption ol
its parts, viii feel, IN all departments OF
The national life, the fatal arrestOf new
social c0uyulsiOn, or, perhaps, the earth
quake jar Of a great moral revolution.
The South being reduced virtually ts the
condition Of subiugated territory, a
standing army viii have TO be kept up.
IN time Of profound peace and al
enormous cost, 10 garrison its towns and
MAINTAIN military rule over its people.
The finances of the country. needing
sorely at present the resources which
might De derived from recuperated and
prosperous South, viii become more and
more embarrassed, ending, al some not
distant day, In a monetary collapse and
rain to the commerce and Industry of
tbe country. The people Of the South.
already impoverished hy the waste, and
sorely tried by the desolations Of war.
will be remanded, for an Indefinite De-
rfoH 10 the numberless privations and
,.,,,,~sssions Of military rule; the current
,gfl,air sfftas;;ons, now beginnibgtG flow
.t,gs,d fho Union as Of old, will be turned
t,,cl- ,,,,or it,so4ross faot finally arrested
nd mrs orievous viii be thetest pgtupoI
,Leir loyalhy by the bitterness OF gteat
aad most Guselsss wrong. Inc paclh
eNtiOn Of the country, now 50 easy Ol ac
co-nplishmefft and 30 slear ~ consul "a
ti,s will be arrested, perhaps indeil nitfl.
postponed, and the patriotic Chlef Mag g
istrate of the nation will be, in effect re
Luksd by Congress, in the midst oi Il IN
poble ahd humane labors 10 restore sIi
peaee aud prosperity II The country
surely, hessrs. kditOrs tile baEa possl
bility, far p4ore, as in this case, the Ger
tainty Of evils and mischief like these
and more even than these, being brough
upon the country by the. Fepudia-ien o
the Presidents policy in the exclusion O
lhe Southern members from Congress
should give serious pause and reflection
10 those by whose agency, If at all, thi
deed r. 90 be done.
To these members AAemselEes the los
nf seats in Congress will be, in its mer
personal bearings upon themselves,
matter, ] presume, Of no very great ino
Fneut. It's true, being elected by TIA
free voice of their several constituent,
ana believing themselves constitution
adv entitled TO seats In Congress, the
would no doubt be pleased, on mere per
eoual grounds, and still more gratified o.
account Of the people they represent, {