The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-01-06
Earl Russell and the Rebels.


In the EdingJurgh (Scotland) Gale
DOMAIN Mercury for December 3, we
find the following sensible article on
the recent correspondence between
NJ sssrs. Mason and SEdell and Earl
Rhsell
Let US take glance at this Confede-
rate manifesto, which has called forth
Lcrd Russells peculiar letter 1t has
come at time when such an article
was very much wanted Mr. Golden,
in his speech at Rochdale. dwelt forci-
dly upon the fact that the leaders in
the Confederate rebellion have never
yet given the world q statement of
their grievances Why did they 80
into rebellion What were the wrongs
of which they had to complain The
world naturally expects that when any
parties in country take up arms
against the government under which
they have been living, they will offer
some good and distinct reason for do
ing so We, in this country, gave
very good reason at the time we ex-
PEELED James II. and welcomed vii
liam Of Orange. The Americans, when
they entered on their war of independ-
ence, issued a mastery manifesto,
which every body now Acknowledges to
have been a sufficient justification of
their conduct The Hungarians and
Poles, ia their abOrtiye efforts after the
attainment OF freedom, had and gave TO
the world a statement Of grievances
which few people Will deny to be a toll
cradle justification OF their conduct
But the world has been looking in vain
for a statement Of Confederate griev
Gnces
Abundance has been written and
said by the Confederate Congress and
their agents, but never have their
wrongs, which caused them 10 take up
arms been written down aud submitted
TO the Judgment of the world Ii the
leaders OF the rebellion, who are, as
Mr. Golden has remarked, men of nigh
intellectual ability, and quite compe-
tent 10 state their own case as 1t could
admit of beng stated would lust set
down plainly, in half a dozen sentences
(more or fewer if they please) what
we're the wrongs that led them to en-
ter upon their attempt, the world would
be able to Judge between them aud
the Government against which they
have taken up arms About this time
four years ago they suddenly went in
&c rebellion They had some reasons
for doing so-some wrongs that could
only thus be righted What were
they2 They have been fighting these
four years, and have never Yet gwen
the world the plain reason why We
would fam have their grievances set
down in black and white. that all the
world may be able TO examine them,
and 50 be IN q position for Judging be
tween the COntederatss and their ad-
versaries. Their statement of griey-
snces is still a des.deratum
When the official manifesto Of the
Confederates made its appearance some
days ago We hoped We were 10 have II
at last but no-the document does not
condescend upon single grievance.
There Is plenty OF rhetoric ia the man
IlestO but even In literary point of
view the production Is very poor at
fair The paper is written throughout
IN the rhetorical style, which is the
worst possible for tae distinct state
ment of facts, and the best possible
when there are no facts which can con
yeniently be distinctly stated IL il
easy enough 10 descant in eloQuently
general terms about the dispositions
principles and purposes by which one
IS actuated the hereditary rights and
cherished institutions one IS defend
ing; the interest Of civilization and
humanity concerned ia the struggle,
the invaded tresides desecrated affairs,
violated liberties and birthright, and
the prescnptJye Institutions which
guard and protect them. iu defence of F.
which one is fighting, and the "en.
hghteDed Judgment o. the world. the
sober reflections Of our adyersalies .
themselves, and the solemn and rieat-
eous arbitrament Of Heaven to which
one commits his cause This will not
do, however, for those who want Lot
figures Of speech bat facts; noJrhetori-
cal hourishes, but the plain, sober, and,
II possible, passlonless statement Of
grievances. Defamation goes for
nothing 10 question Of fact Let the
case be stated and the proof brought
forward Il Is not stated la this mani
festo
The document begins by saying that
this Is 4 proper time 10 declare the
principles, de, Of the Confederate
They nave always deplored the "neces.
sity which constrained them TO take up
arms ia defence Of their rights and OF
the free institutions derived from their
ancestors Surely We have got some