The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-03
Thursday. ..-JANUARY 3, 1867.
Memphis Table-Talk.

lBc telcpTaph M'els ChaiW'u W. az y.
bringing MS what pnrported to be the sub
stance Of most kind and conciliatory
speech made hy Senator WADE, of Ohio,
on occasion of q dinner given at Memphis
to the congressional excursion party. 1t
began to be thought that those terrible
Radicals would not turn out so hard upon
US after all, that the festive intercourse
with southern men upon their trip would
perhaps soften their hearts towards us a
little, and that they might not, possibly,
insist upon their courteous hosts and en-
tertainers publicly branding themselves as
fclonious criminals.
We did not at the time believe that Sena-
tor WADE, of all men, could have said any
thing whatsoever of a just, still less of a
magnanimous, character and preferred to
assume that the telegraph erred. This lat
ter was thing not unprecedented, but, &C.
cording to our observation and experience
the former was thing unheard Of.
To-day we have the Memphis AUa'anche
with a report of the speeches, and the
reader shall Judge. Here is the com.
mencement OF MIR. WADE's soothing re-
marks:
He said that upon starting on this trip
they had agreed to make no speeches. a
they did not think that this southern Gu
mate was ripe for discussion. His purpose
was to explore the vast region that lies be
tween the Potomac and the Gull OF Mexico.
He wished To return his thanks for the UNI
form hospitaitics that they had receive"
op this excursion. They had not passed u
city or hamlet but which had Inade tDeih
their guests. He, however, would rather
see something that would test their sitl-
cerity to the North.
That is. he would rather have from the
southern people an avowal of their own
black perjury, than all the dinners ana
toasts in the world. For he explains i'm
mediatelv that the test Of sincerity he
means is acceptance OF the "constltu-
,ioual amendment" He continues thus
They wanted TO know what Congress in
tended 10 do, and what the people OF the
North wanted them To DO. 1t was true nc
was not expected to speak for the Con
crcss Of tie United States, and he had II"
right to.dayto speak for Cincinnati "r any
other city. You are anxious to know what
is TO be done first, | would say that the
power belongs to the people OF the United
States: and secondly, to Congress as their
chosen representatives and iithcfe is any
thing they are opposedto, il is the one-man
mower. Therefore all Legislative action
and political power is given to the Congress
of the United States and no one else.
That is, neither Executive "onc-m man
power" nor any one else, meaning the Ju-
dietary, has any authority at all. And the
Congress Of the United States is the Con
gress of the North; and its express will is
"what the North wants us to do" and
therefore the supreme law. Senator WADE
leaves no mistake about it. lie continues:
Truth was truth, and let every man
understand it. He might speak many
pleasing things in their ears that would
leave a pleasing impression, but he had
never deceived mortal man, and he never
would. He would tell those present thar
in their deliberations Congress had enuu-
ciated certain principles. They had APP
pealcd to the people on these principles
and had been sustained, and there was no
hope that Congress would recedc one inch.
Finally, he clearly explains that what he
here say is intended Tor the whole south
rnpeoplc, and that it is his last word, and
the "North'S."
He did not speak of the people of Ten
nessee, for they had got their rights under
Government but other States had re-
sisted what had been asked OF them
They had not called on Congress for bet
ter terms. but had thrown those offered
out as totally worthless. All that was
asked was the principles OF right and jus
tice to all. Time was passing, and the iiat
hade gone out, aud these principles would
be observed. These were the sentiments
of the people Of the North and of Con-
gress. He had declared the purposes and
the sentiments of the people of the North,
and had laid them before them face 10
face and if carried out they would secure
union and harmony, as they We're the
principles of constitutional liberty.
The principles OF constitutional liberty
require that we of the South confess our
selves perjured traitors; and then all will
be harmony. Constitutional liberty de-
mands that we put our own hand TO the
instrument which is 10 overthrow the Con-
sti,ution, in order that we may be ell
slaved-that we plead guilty as criminals,
in order that we may DC dishon"red for
ever. Aud this is the ultimatum OF the
North. Banquets and hOspitalities of the
city are all very well, says Mr.. WADE, but
are you ready to sign and seal your own
shame Do that, and then let us love one
another
Other speakers at the dinner are less
explicit than Senator WADE; but substan-
tally they all come to the same point.
Senator FOSTER even condesccndS to
breathe prayer, that . As the commerce
son the mighty river is borne towards the
"Gulf Of Mexico, so may all cases of diff
"terencc between the North and the South
"be speedily borne into the Gull of Obi
"vion!" 1t is good prayer, but who are
keeping up those ceases Of difference
Not We. And what are the differences
We think that we at length understand
Senator FOSTER: the difference is that
whereas a. the North" calls us periurcd re-
bels, we presume quietly to differ from the
North; and that while this great and ON
nipoteut North, not content with enacting
our political destruction and moral dis
honor, calls on us to enact the me our