Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-07-10
COEsTDERATIONS FOR THE PEOPLE
OF ARKANSAS.
s'THE WORDS OF TRUTH AND SOBER
NESS %

% ARKANSAS.
s'THE WORDS OF TRUTH AND SOBER
ness
at is true that most men are apt
enough to civil wars aud cCwMOtlOns as
novelty, and for a fash hot and &c
tive but through sloth and Inconsistency,
and weakness of spirit, either faintlug
ere their own ~preIences, though never
so Just, be half attained, or through an
inbred falsehOOd aud w~ickedness, betray,
ofttimes TO destruction with themselves,
men OF n0blest temper Joined with them
for causes whereof they in their rash
undertakings we're not capable
It may perhaps be conceded that, as
we had lived and isbourej in Arkansas
during nearly thirty years, when the
late civil war commenced, content TO be
a-Drivate citizen, and never seeking
Office, aud as we shared her fortunes
throughout the war, we may without
i-mpr0priety venture TO address OurselC
especially e. her citizens, upon a topic
Of general and engrossiDg interest, on
which men may well differ without i'm
puguing the motives Of each other.
"The effects Of tyranny Row sit heavy
on the Commonwealth" in al Of our
Southern States and Tennessee does
not fnd her load lightened by her read
mission into the Union. We profoundly
regret to learn that in al probability q
large majority even Of the thinking men
in Arkansas. who embraced the cause Of
Southern Independence in 1861, aud
struggled, in arms and otherwise, until
June, 1865, to achieve that independence,
will unite in the wretched work Of re-
construction and accept the negroes Of
the State as their political equals
We 90 not quote from MILTON the sen
tenee that preeedes this article, ia order
to apply it either to the people Of Arkan-
sas, or to those, the loyalty to principle
and the manliness and courage Of many
Of whom cannot be doubted, who advise
those Of her people who stood by her
and the South in the great struggle, to
yield 70 the burtben Of tyranny that
weighs so heavily on her, and accept the
n~ngenerous terms dictated by the inso-
lenee Of licentious power, lest worse
should come Of it, in the shape Of dis
franehisement and c-onfscation.
We admit the force Of the arguments
that are thus used to influence the people
to take such action as We cannot but
believe win prove their undoing. There
Is always an immense force ia arguments
that are addressed 70 the fears and ap-
~prehensions Of the people, and ia consid-
erations Of expedieney and temporary
advantage, when there are dangers to be
Eaet and loss TO be certainly incurred, in
following with unfaltering STEPS the plain
but rugged road Of Duty Bat We can
not convince ourselves thst these argu-
ments are conclusive, or that, when
weighed against others and Judged Of by
comparison with the glorious p~recedents
Of past heTOism, they ought to govern
the conduct Of the people Of Arkansas.
II they had a10ays proven Irresistible,
AL who have died as martyrs Of the
Right and the Truth would have pnr-
chased safety BY apostacy and the lover
Of liberty would have always helped the
Tyrant to enslave his country, because
bis doing 50 even withoUtsu assistance
was inevitable, fnd The punishment Of
refusal would bs e~onascation, disfral-
ckiaement and exile.
Let not these who are advising submls.
sive cooperation 10 the work Of recon
structio6 take offence 1t this illustration.
int rather cslnly reflect whether it is
aot & plain stateinent Of the very issue
presented 10 the people. Wedo not
write il in any offensive sense, but 10
prove to them that they are in error. !
Let them also ask themselves whether. F.
wheu History shall hereafter Judge
colby aud impartially Of the transac
lions Of to-day, it may not, without being s
lnzensrous, use the same illustration. =.
me Christian captive. held in chains J
and subjected 10 servile labour by the :
Algerine, has sometimes yielded 10 the {
,eztaiaty OF the bastinado OF Of death, i'll .
he steadfasty refused to become a rene
zade aud adopt the Moslem faith but
often he has refused, and borne 7
With patience and heroic fortitude all |.
hat cruelty eonld infict. rather than {,
.postafize- )
WIZ Rot history decide that the GER
aiafy ofGae sueesse Of the Dsurper or the
rany suarchs Of Che mob, could be no /.
a~stfeation or excuse to the patriot for &