Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-11-02

ike this had been rejected by many Of
the basest criminals. Men are sunk be-
low The lowest grade OF moral t~urpitude
when they can be got thus TO desert and
betrsy their associates even ia guilt,
Many a fellow has persisted on the gal
lows or served his lifetime in the peni-
Tertiary who would shrink from the
baseness Of turning States evidence
against his companion, or seek to throw
nnon him the whole burden Of q joint
crime.
Yet this was demanded Of the Southern
people by the constitutional amend
meuts, for rejecting which they are now
charged with contumacy, and subjected
TO new cruelties and expressions. They
we're required to place themselves on the
pages Of history in the d~isgraeeful atti-
tude Of a people who sought to relieve
themselves OF the h~ardships Of 3 situs-
ton brought upon themselves by their
own acts, by delivering their chosen
chiefs and leaders 10 the vengeance OF
the victor. Was Il cOntumscy in 3
brave and honest people to reject such 9
proposition? Would it not have been
eternal iufamy 10 have accepted Il
VIII any Of those brave men who led
the Federal armies with so much gal
lantry against s~dversaries Of equal devo-
ton and heroism, deny the justice Of this
proposition, and acquiesce in the denun-
Citations launched for that cause BY
furious partizan demagogues against the
peOple-the followers Of chivalri ana
self sacrificing 4" foemen " truly worthy
OF their steel"
Suppose the war had q different con
clusion, and the two sections had been
called on TO settle the controversy upon
terms Of mutual concession, and the Con-
iederstes had proposed to surrender q
| large portion Of the country claimed by
! them, on the condition that the North
or the United states would forever dis
! franchise Gems. Grant, Sherman and
| Sheridan, and the other gallant and con-
s~picuous chiefs OF their armies How
would such q proposal be regarded by
the Northern people, even when smart
ing under the shame and oppressed by
the disasters Of an overwhelming defeat?
Even the conquered have rights. II
may be SIS is commended by the torch and
t~urpentine fanatics that life, liberty and
property are forfeited by failure in q con-
test Of arms. But the right Of conscience,
the superior obligation Of honor, Of faith
and OF truth, still remain 10 the most alb
iect captive. The hsughtiest conqueroT
cannot demand, orif be does, It cannot
be cOntumacy 10 refuse compliance, that
his conquered foe should renOunce his
religion, his belief, his honor, his atec-
ton, his heart loyalty to relatives and
friends. You may execute him outyou
cannot compel him 70 be the hangman
Of his own relatives.
There can be no stronger proof OF the
violence ofthe passions, which TageRmong
those partiZsns who sway the O~pinionsOf
the Northern masses, than when we see
monument leaders Of the majority work
ing themselves and their followers into
a white heat Of rage yer the cOntuma-
cious obstinacy Of the rebels, in rejecting
the proposed Constitutional amendment,
which forever Ostracised and degraded
their most honored misrepresentation.
Hear the prOfane and ribald ~uttersnces
OF a man Of advanced age, long public
service, and who holds the second, with
many chances Of succeeding to the first
office in the Republic-utterances Of
menace, Of fansticsl fury and extermi-
Mating vengeance against a defenceless
people, who would not consent 10 be the
executioners Of their dearest friends and
blood relatives. There must be another
turn OF the screw" hOwls this Ohio
ToruuemRda on the cool shores OF Lake
Erie.
Ali pride, all honor, all sensibility, Sll
manhood, must be crushed out Of this
people-the people whose hospitality be
hiss enjoyed, whose hands he has grasped
in apparent friendship, whose peaceful
homes and manly and virtuous demeanor
be has witnessed and professed to ad-
mirel Men OF such conduct must be
profound and detestsble hypOcrites,
crazed fanatics, or insensste hends.
They are really not In earnest, and in
that case are only contemplate. II
sincere ia their suggestions, they would,
by their counsel and example, degrade
the honest, enlightened Christian people
OF the United States, 10 the level OF those
barbsrians Of the dark ages, who looked
upon all whose faith vas different from
theirs as pestilent herstics, incurable,
save by the vigorous application OF the
wheel, the rack and the thumb-screw.
The military commanders assigned to
the districts, finding themselves selected
TO execute the scheme Of a powerful and
exscting party, thought 70 curry favor
with this dominant faction by an over
really trsnscending even the harsh
demands and restrictions contained IN
the letter Of their mandate. The very
reverse Of the true doctrine Of civil and
political law snd ethics, which gives a
liberal Interpretation to all statutes re-
lating to liberty and civil right, WAS
adopted and enforced. The scsnt privi-
leges and concessions to our people, given
by the set Of Congress, were crushed out
Of it by the heels OF Our military auto
Gratis.
Il was no longer the reconstruction
originally proposed by Congress and Sc
cepted by the Southern people. There
should then be no surprise, nor any just
ground Of complaint Of their contumacy,
If they began TO doubt, hesitate, protest,
and finally to abandon all belief in or
hope OF 3 reconstruction, conducted IL 3
manner so different from that which was
originally designed by Congress. II that
body, in = moment Of partizsn fury
against the President, or ont Of 3 truck
ling Difference 70 their military viOege-
rents, chose to abandon its wi purpOFt
and design and adopt the hsrsheF one Of
the District Satrsps, il certainly cannot
censure our people for reviewing and
changing their opinions as to the policy
OF their acquiescing in the new scheme
which inhicts upon them the degrade
ton OF their present ~positiOn-a degrade
ton that can only be increased by their
voluntary acceptance Of It.
There II, therefore, no Inconsistency IN
the course OF Gen. Wade Hampton and
other distinguished SOutheTners who
were originally in favor Of scquiescencs
and co operation on the Congressional
plan, but who nov, seeing the result
which the military administration has
brought about, advise the opposition Of
the people to every organization underit. I
They are prompted In these views, by
and pqfriofia nurposss and .
sound craftsmanship. The interest, the
eternal welfare Of both the two races into
which our people are politically aud
socislly divided, justify and demand our
opposition to q scheme which MUST inev-
itsbly produce g serious a-Dtagohism be-
tween the races. Nothing could be better
calculated to produce that deplorable
result and TO accsmulste elements Of fu-
ture discOrd than the course pursued by
the District Commanders ia the prem
ises.