The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-08


Coming Back
lr-5i,-. A upeeutng ef southern men'-thst is
as 9tb.sv Of former seOesSionists,--Was held
1sa in Memphis on the afternoon Of the lst
instant, to discuss what action it was proper
for them to take in visw of the close of the
ar. y.Wsr. About thousand we're present, from
u West Tennessee, ArkAnsss and Mississippi,
mainly from places outside our army lines.
The leaders In The meeting had all of them
-.o been prominent, during the last four years,
.-o5 in their support of the rebellion The
@ proceedings are reported in full IN the
Memphis BzlLet1I, and read very funnily.
Judge swsyne presided, and made s
lengthy speech, saying thst he wanted to
forget the past four yesrs, and that the war
was substantially ended in favor of the
FEDERAL Government and laying downthe
following propositions, -..r-
Ist That the country must be and re-
o main enc undivided. .gi- q
l-9 I'd. That property in the negro shall
T. cssss. . -= ...-l. . -
Col. Grace, of Arkansas, followed in 3
very spicy speech, which he conn enced
thus: -s,.,tr- .,e-i
Fellow CILIZenes--I tl0a WIZ.
.-.a drew up the ordinance of secession in the
-is7- Legislature Of Arkansas; have been IN
the Geld fighting against the Union tor
nearly four years. but now 1 am con-
Guered and whipped man. Laughter.
AS was gallant IN going out 10 fight,
now propose 20 be gallant at surrenderibgr
snd submitting 10 the arms of the Govern
ment - pOs
Resolutions were adopted declaring it
their duty snd interest as it is their wish,
70 oreturn to the Union, "under such re-
atrictions as may be most consistent with
the good of the whole people Of the United
States" and recommending" amnesty,
repeal of conhscstion, and removal of civil
disabilities. Resolutions in favor of free
labor were laid on the table, the meeting
not being ready to come out in advocacy of
the system. 4..
ThemoVement is q very significant one. It
is, st the present juncture even more impor-
tant. SIS an indication of the temper of the
Southern people, than the surrender Of
army after army among the rebels. Every
body understands and comedies that the
rebellion exists no longer. But it has not
been so clear that the restoration of rebel
territory to the Union and the resumption
of law and order therein woald be either
easily or quickly accomplished. The vast
territory of the South, and the particular
ID. advantsges which its forests, mountains and
msrshes afford fer irregular Hsrefsre, would
render IFS repossession ard restoration to
quiet and peace very difficult task, should
any considerable portion of the people
persevere in the aIsst ditch" policy. In this
light the remark of the London Times that
1.-THE war prove revolution the troubles
of the North had only commenced, snd-
that other of the London Tader that only
the first act of the war had been closed
and that in the second the South would
be more successful, have an element Of
truth. But every indication points to the
cor: n:lusisn that there will be no further
o.. difficulty in subduing the rebellion. n The
surrender OF confederate armies was
one conspicuous omen. This meet
ing, a large and Influential one is 8
still more significant one. In both il. is
essy to read the fact that the people Of the
South are weary of fighting, and thorough
ly "subjugsted." $50 h.