Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-09

world. II they were abused, as we hear
thev are, is it reasonable 20 suppose they
would remain away from their friends in
the north while the freedmen's bureau
can give them transportation
The eloquent gentleman from Massa-
chusetts Mr.. Banks has truly said the
fifteen southern states are . unit a
be might IS truthfully have added, the
course Of the majority in this house has
made them SO. They were not a unit
at any time prior to the war, when
wings and democrats contested with
varying success every political oatile-
field in those states; and though tue Old
whig conservatism was borne under du-
ring the war, at its close suen was tne
desire TO place the men OF inst purely
conservative party m positions OF trust
that Tennessee selected every member to
this congress from that party Missis-
sippi did the same, including her sen
ators : Arkansas I believe did likewise,
and most Of the other southern states /
am told at least initiated these examples.
These representatives came here not TO
act as a unit with or against either party,
but to cooperate with good men from
the north OF all parties for the purpose of
repairing the damages Of the war. Were
they allowed TO do so? The sad history
| OF this hour answer sternly in the mega
tive. One party met them on the
threshold aud with glad hearts and ex-
tended arms exclaimed Welcome,
brothers; the other, with cold, cruel, un-
forgiving, ~puritanical disdain, shut the
door in their very faces. Hence, who Is
~astonished that the fifteen southern
states are a unit, and who dare say they
ought not so to be2 In this, too, l speak
whereof / know. / and Others came
here expecting TO cooperate with the re-
publican, which we believed was the
union party but when we saw hat 1t
only aspired to sc a sectional party, and
learned the treatment that u cOnstitu-
ents were 20 receive at their hands, our
self-respect and-love of country forced
Us to seek utilization elsewhefe.
To Illustrate more clearly that the
south sought in good faith to put forward
her conservative men, and not those who
had urged them into rebellion, 1 may
add this fact the Mississippi cOnven-
ton that passed the ordinance OF seces-
sion was composed OF seventy-nine
democrats out Of ninety members, while
the convention called to r~e-establish fed
ersl relations had these numbers re-
versed.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, I desire distinctly
to repeat there is no necessity for this or
any other protection for loyal white or
black people in the southern states be-
yond the laws already in practical oper-
alton there. These raw-hes bloody
bone stories that have imposed on the
credulity Of northern minds till they
have become ridiculous in the estimation
Of the unprejudiced are in the main false,
made Of whole cloth, and are cOncOcted
and promulgated for base and designing
purposes. There is not one of these self
eXiled lOyalists who processes to be afraid
because OF his loyalty to return TO his
home, who would not take the first train
/ for home with the bare protection OF q
commission to collect the internal reve-
nue. in his district, or any other commits
sion that would pay better than hang
ing round here aud ~fa6ricating these
stories.
True, there Is more lawlessuess there
now than prior to the war, as there was
when the comparatively few soldiers
returned from Mexico, and as there is
now in Maine, where the prison statis-
tics show an increase in crime Of one
hundred per cent, and thattnTee-fOurth
of all the criminals are returned soldiers.
1 Gentlemen should remember that war is
not refining or outstanding in its iu-
/ iuence aid the southern states are no
exception to the rule. In my OWL loved
! state I regret that we sre less cOutented
and hopeful than elsewhere in the south,
because there. as in 1851, a minority
---.T .-aaHH- la mhA -a9na - nAWwrz
and are attempting TO perpetuate their
rule over the msjority ia violation Of the
fundamental principles OF republican
/ government. What was usurpation
then is u]suTpRtiOu now, and the same
| disgraceful overthrow that overlook the
usUrpers in 1861 will Oversake those Of
1867.
NowMrSpeaker even il protection was
needed, this proposition does not and can
! not afford it. And having protested in
behalf OF our national honor against this
fmpolitic and impracticaOle course, / also
desire TO protest in behalf Of the officers
Of the army who would be designated to
ill these positions, not that they would
be uncOurteOusly received and treated by
tho southern people, who have a high
regard for The officers of the regular
army, much preferring them 10 the self
styled southern loyaiists, but these Off
GERS would there make and cultivate
acquaintance and probably form attach
ments which would soon result in the
same d~isgraceful accusations being made
against them as have ON this floor been
made against the naval academy at An
n8polis. ! hesitate not 10 say that the
general of the army is to-day more
highly appreciated by the former sol
diers Of the south than he is by the
politicians Of the north.
These soldiers know the almost super
human efforts that have been made to
induce him to join the politicians in their
utter disregard and violation OF the con
ditiODs on which they surrendered, and
they know that he has been supported
in his refusal 10 join them by that highest
Of human attributes, a soldiers honor.
With this knowledge of their regard Tor
him / listened with peculiar interest 70
the gentleman from MASSACHUSETTS, Mr.,
Parks while expressing the probability
that be was the only man who could
satisfactorily carry out the wishes OF
the nation. The worlds history presents
no spectacle so sublime as for these SOUTH
ern states to consent as a unit to place
their destiny in the hands of this man,
INV NLAAEA AhNA NbAA1ta0Hs Avn - AZ
among the im~POssibiiues, as evidenced
by their present respect for and conf
dence in the president, who two short
years ago va more Objectionable 10
them and more dreaded by them than
any man in the northern states; but
who, without undOing or URsayiDg one
act or word, and only by ~evidencing q
Willingness to forgive and forget the past,
with its errors and consequent sorrows,
has made for himself an abiding place
in their hearts that would cause them, il
necessary, 70 lay down their lives in his
support.
In behalf Of the southern people I de-
sire in conclusion to say as a cOmmu
nifty, with rare exceptions, they enter
tain no feelings Of luminosity toward the
officers or soldiers Of the national army,
who, while the south was in armed re-
bellioD, discharged their duty even to
the laying waste Of the land Of their
pride aud affection but toward those
who did not have the courage TO fight
them while in arms, but who since their |
surrender continue to offer insult and
and who, judging from their
own corrupt hearts, c0ustrue their de-
monstratioBs Of present loyalty into
peridy, they do justly entertain the
.profouBdest feelings Of indignation and
contempt.