Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-22
LETTER FROM GOV. wTCKLIFFE.

Dear Nrs You ask my opinion OF the
uroprietv OF the call made for q Demo
cratic convention 10 meet in May, at
Louisville. 7 have no hesitation IN eX-
pressing my appTObaGOBo OF the cali made
and my earnest hope that there may be
a large meeting Of the Democracy and
Others without regard TO former diiier-
ences upon questions Of policy when
have been settled aud have passed away.
At this time there are but Two parties in
the United StateS-the radical Abolition
disuriop partv and the National Demo-
cratic vartv. The first nos aims at the
destruction Of the Constitution and the
union Of the States. Il wages a Legisla-
tive war against the principles Of free
government and the personal, vested
rights Of the citizen. The other, the
Democratic party, IS exarting its strength
to UonSUmmate the peace promised by
the result Of the war waged ~ the
United States to maintain the C0nstl-
tuition and the union Of U8e States; 70
uphold the white mans government
against the assaults Of the faction in and
out Of Congress, which seeks 10 convert
our Union Of free States into q cGHz0llda-
ted despotic government. the President
has placed himself in the breech n Is
lab0ring to protect the Constitution and
the Union as IL was. VIII not che De
mocracv Of Kentucky come TO the rescue
and Strengthen bis hands, at this time Of
trial and danger % civil liberty The
Democrats and conservative re Of ali
the other States are coming forward to
sustain the President in his patriotic ac-
ton, ard to Febuke tHs-usurpeTs in Con-
gress. Kentucky yilinot proVs ]racreant
10 her duty. The Democracy Of Ken
lucky, recoilecting the noble acts Of the
fathers ofoUr political faith in 1853, VIII,
unterrisai by usurped power, speak
boldly an support Of those time-honOred
principles She has ever cherished
and maintained. Besides tnls duty,
stilI another one is imposed upon
us By the circumstance in which
Kentucky is placed. ihe &Gr has been
closed nearly twelve mQEth5, kentucky
was not one of the reoeii0us States her
citizens are at peace. There is not an
armed rebel in the state, nor man VINO IS
not satisfied llst the war has termina-
ted. There is 40 disposition "a cssiSt the
execution Of the laws Of the Emitted
States. Free from p spirit Of ipspb2rdi-
nation and rebellion, not threatened 10y
invasion. her civil tribunals are IN the fall
and Guiat enjoyment of the free exercise
Of al their G0~frs. Yet her citizens are
denied the privilege Of the freeman's
writ Of hateGs csrDEg hsT Eitiss and
towns and villages have been tiled with
the officers and soldiers Of the United
States, klsek and white; the right Of her
citizens to q fT05 and peaceful election Of
public officers has beeu interrupted and
prevented, and for attempting to
vote. her citizens have been ares
led and impriSousd by the military
pog1er of thC United States. we have,
without Tie authority Of law, the Freed
mems BureSG within M State-the
agents Of this Bureau GSaTcising lawless
and oppressive powers. i ash, ny 2re
these tE!ngs permitted in Kentucky? l
answer, that President johnson has been
deceived by the maeA.2etions Of inter
esgad mau by false reports saG STATE
ments Og those who are engaged in the
wicked purpose "a cQnsummating the
ruin Of the Government ala CHANGING
its organic law. Let tie freeUeu of
Kantucky rise On DJGsse, and send TO tine
President TIE evidence of the true facts,
and. my word FOI e. he Will do her
anpIe Justice. I regret 10 cay tSet two
Of the leading papers are opposed TO
the meatirg u tie Convention. One
of these, which has seer opposed the
Democratic party, finding itsef Without
. party 10 rule as in times past,
propgass the organization OF q new
party, under the pane Of the Union
johnson party" Parties ilu1ded upon
pessoEs. however distinguished, must
sooner so ,sDet fail. They are Short-lived.
such a partyl s Ets4ye8 to follow the
man whose name Il bears ~ ~ that he
says or does. IL may be efficient Ia an
.AnHan4.nH.. L~# vmw..-N. y ~. /
maintenance ~ principle. l regret, also.
that some ofthe membeIs e The Legisla-
turc, iu a meeting at Erat3SforG, q,
pressed nsesE opposition 70 the COnven-
ton 10 be heldlu 8aay, {u conversation
with one If the leading mentsrs Vi this /
s-eeting, / asked him why this organ !
ilea oLgasition. His reply was plain and |
direet le e Qsi not wish the Democrats
20 WELD pgyerlu KeDJQcky am too
old and indrm 70 desifesng Personal adj
vantage in the existence or triumph of
such powar at this time. The Demo
oz-tv Of the United States, organ
lied upon principles, sad not upon the
political standing or OpiDi9hs % apy Qpe
man, is the only party that can save the
o-osefnHent from present m-lsmanage-
ment ana u4lsaqGt6 ruin. My only hope /
j. IN the urmuess Of tns President and
the Democratic party. ! have in early |
aia prayed the good Lord not to permit
my eye iG see the dissolution of the
Union. l O Prey that a life nearly
exhausted by more than three seese s.nfs /
a43 fen, may be prolonged to enable me
10 witness tlc overthrow Of that power
which threatens 10 destroy all that * |
worth fighting for in our Government
If j n.hd the strength to make my voice
heard IN every valley and on every hill
top in the State, | would urge my fellow
eslzens. Democrats Of old and all who |
agree aAd think as I DO, to come to The
meeting on tie hfst Ct May next, and
sneak a. men and freemen Wno love lib
erty ought to speak.
@, Z. WIcKLIFFE.