The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1867-08-09
The ResnIt


the money more probably than by work
ing them themselves. They pledged them
selves in a solemn constitution that they
would guarantee and protect US in our new
property. We had fertile soil, and they
growing cities, money, manufactures and
commerce. We prospered. raised great
staples, which they consumed and manu-
featured and we and they became wealthy
together. They were very sactimonious
people, and taught that it would be moral
ly wrong to interfere with slavery, which
in the providence af God (Which they had
the principal hand in was fastened upon
US as an institution. They said it would
be cruel and wicked even zte eagitate eman-
cipation, and that it would endanger iueur-
rections and the lives Of our people.
But soon, and gradually, and progress
sively, and without any strenuous and
competent effort to prevent its growth.
there sprung up in their midst a party Ia
voring abolition at our sole expense and
risk. And when their consciences had
become very tender on the subject Of the
wickedness of slaveholding, as they pro-
nounced it, they agitated more and more !;
but their conscienees did not become ten
der on the subject of sharing the expense
of emancipation. And finally, great and
OverpOwering party grew up to be in favor
of that measure at all hazards, with the
distinct understanding it was to be done
wholly at our expense, and not in part at a
cost to their own pockets.
In all this process, annoYances to the
Southern people became innumerable and
irritating beyond endurance, while no dis
position was manifested TO share, to any ex-
tent, in the expense of four hundred mil
lions required to relieve their very sensi-
tive consciences on the subject of other
peoples sins. And they ignored the fact
of obligation resting on them to protect US,
which was contained in the compact Of
Union notwithstanding under it, by tar
ifs and cunning, they had succeeded in
turning the whole stream of gold resulting
from slave labor into their own capacious
Golfers. We were stung to madness and
desperation and rebellion by all these eau
ses, which were go manifestly without ex-
cuse and without justification Unable
then to bear more, what was beyond the
virtue of any known human endurance, we
went to war still loving the Union SO
well, and desiring its perpetuatiOn SO earn
easily that not all our people would consent
to disruption, even for an injustice, cruel to
US, and infinitely beyond all honest apollo
gy or explanation. We were poorer than
they, less numerous, and short af material
of war, aud all the means Of subsistence,
with our ports soon shut up from the world,
and unable to obtain supplies or volunteers
from any quarter. The sense of ChFisten-
dom was against US, because of slavery,
for which our Northern neighbors were re-
sponsible rather than we.
But, notwithstanding all these patent de-
facts and weaknesses, we we're imprudent
enough to rush quite unprepared to war,
and our Government was weak enough to
require more of US than any people which
ever yet lived under heaven endured ;
when it was possible to build navy suf-
icient to open any port at viii, and pro-
vide, a succession of supplies sufficient to
avoid all actual distress in the Country
With an enemy three-fold superior, rich,
provided with abundant supplies, and bav-
ing an army fed and made up in a great
part of foreign troops, SURPRISING their
own people in courage and endurance af-
ter four years war, in which we gained
more glory than any people who ever be-
fore on earth fought for and even won in
dependence, we went under, of course.
And now, not they who fought US as
brave soldiers, but they who got up the
fight and hid while 1t was going on, and
who are, from natural cowardice, incapa-
bic Of mag nanimity, are busy augmenting
the shame of an already infamous name By
trampling in the dust the foe which, in
the field, they never dared face. In put
ting upon Us negro suffrage they have cap
ped the climax of dastardy by mean out
rage, and reduced US to a condition worse
than that Of St. Domingo itself, which af-
ter emancipation, had constitutional gov
eminent. With our State administration
ia the hands of the most vicious and in
competent, selected from among US, we are
in worse condition than any prople under
heaven. The truth is, We should be in &C.
stacies to receive despot, and delighted
to exchange our present unstable and op-
pressive government for the clemency and
fOrbearance Of any tyranny which ever
governed and oppressed people. We
can but weep over the grave Of liberty,
which we are thankful is not yet forbidden
to us.-Nea1pbis Ledger.