Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-07

iHCfueUL -AOllOWlDS II HO epltlJ Od iI6-
preach, but in entire kindness, and only
to illustrate my point and my motive. ]
have seen the explanation of the Tribune,
and recognize its force viewed from, the
standpoint OF the Tribune, bnt our people
did not then so understand it. On the
passage of the Ksnsas-Nebrssks bill,
nearly all the old Wing leaders Of the
South Joined the Democracy. This left
the Whigs or Americans in decided
minority. It twas then felt il TO be my
duty to change the purpose OF my life
and enter politics. -lll0
It was my lot to engage with ali my
humble powers, from 1855 to 1851, In q
vain effort 20 arrest the tide Of Secession
that was sweeping the South, ss I Thought,
into revolution. Late in the winter Of
1860, more earnest than ever before,
warned Our people that war, on the most
unequal terms, must follow Secession.
On one of these occasions distinguished
Secession gentleman replied to my war
warnings by reading extracts from prom
inent Northern Republicans, and with
special emphasis from the columns OF the
Tribune, to the effect that II the people
OF the South desired 10 secede they had
right to do so, and would be allowed to
do 50 in peace. Ee then alluded to me
as one born and raised ia the South, and
yet was endesvoring to frighten our
people from their rights by threats Of
war, while Northern Free-S0ilers, who
had been esteemed the enemies of the
South, were concediDg cur rights and
assuring its peaceful exercise. Now, my
good sir, what could l have rejoined {?
Here are the very words I did rejoin
" care not what Mr.. Greeley and Mr..
Wade, or any other Republican, or all
Republicans together have said or may
say TO the contrary. More to be relied
on than all these, / plant myself on
the iufiexiDie laws OF human nature
and the-Gnvsrying teachings of human
experience, and warn you this day, that
40 government hslf as great as this
Union, can be dismembered, and In pas
sion, except through blood. You had as
well expect the fierce lightning to rend
the air and make no thunder in its track,
as to expect peace to follow the throes of
dissOlving government. I pass by the
puerile taunts st my devotion TO the best
interests of the people among whom /
was born and reared, and trust my vim
dication 10 the realities OF the future,
which deprecate and would avert, and
again tell you that dissolve this Union,
and war lCtU come. do not say 1t ought
to come. 1 cannot tell when, nor how,
nor between whom it will come. But it
will come, aad it will be to you a most
unequal, fierce, UiRdictiUe, and des0Jdting
war"
Since the passage Of these fatal recon
strUction measures by Congress, l have
done all in my power TO arrest the tide at
the North which is trampling on sll the
guarantees of Liberty in ten States Of the
Union, ard which is destroying the Con-
stitution for sll the States OF the Union.
/ find now bitterness at the North and
s feeling OF distrust toward the South far
more irrational and unprovoked than l
ever witnessed in the days of Secession
struggles at the South. If the North, in
1860, had done half as much to sIlay the
fears Of the South as the Southern whites
are now doing to inspire eonfiaAnce and
goodwill st the North, those of US who
were in the midst OF the unequal struggle
would have been enabled to prevent Sc
cessIon. But find the same fatal delu-
sion prevailing here with the architects
of the Constitutions overthrow that
prevailed with the secessionigts Of the
South in 1860. IL is said, let us maintain
and peTpstuste measures which origi-
mated outside OF the Constitution, and
which have been or may be established
by force, and sre shall haze peace! The
will Of the peopis, your lesdors write, is
the higher law, and institutions tOiB
bend and break before this unstable CJ-
bitter without disturbing the peace OF the
nation
Sir, 30 not charge me, as did the seces-
si0nists, with desire to alarm OF intent
TO threaten. But cannot see the Con-
stituuOB-the gTsndest production of hu-
man effort for the security OF human
freedom-bOpelessly tOppled to its f0un-
dRtiOns by q maniac storm Of passion
and hate, and utter no protest or warn
ing against the ruthless act. I tell you
these reconstruction measures of Con-
gTess cannot be maintained and perpetu-
ated without destroying the Censtitu-
ton. TIE Consultation cannot be de-
stroged IN peace. Wake your people
from this fatal dsiusion before it is too
late. / cannot -ieH tClsea, or h0sO, or be-
tJeeeR lghO11 SU5T JCin come. But it will
come. The ngtiOn's "hlood will flow
when the nations Constitution Is
stabbed. Freedom will die when this
freedoms life is destroyed.n And as the
shadow is greater thsp the substance, so
will the 5gGT Which tOiH joliol0 the at
tempt TO destroy the Constitution be
tempt 10 destroy the Union. ~ 4
But this much / know: A united
North will not again wsge war on 3
divided South. Repeated pledges of
rights, dignity, and equality preserved
uniDpsire6, ,"Eil not again Induce ar
mics to disband, and States to become
helpless. MagDsnimity in loysl de-
streyers o! Constitution will not again
be expected. The holy traditions of
common struggles will not again weaken |
revolution; nor will even the adhering
properties OF common hloed aud ra5a,
under the dominion Of fan atlclsIn, again |
be trusted. .-s -fe
| DEFY you 70 point me to single re- /
spectacle white man OF the Soath who |
has said, or will now say, he approves /
these reconstruction measures Of Con-
gress as either Constitutional, right, or /
just. The very men there who accept /
them, do 80 with the known intention |
Of repudiating them as soon as they get |
back ia the Union, and have their dis 1
abilities removed. / point you to mil /
lions In the North who hate these meas. |
ures. How long can governments I
founded on such measures last ? How I
long ought they to last ? They are out (
side of the Constitution; they libel the |
Declaration CT Independence they mega /
tive every pledge made To induce sur |
render; they outrage blood they sub |
iect the men, women, snd the children |
Of ten States 10 daily scenes OF riot and /
deesying industry, and nightly fore
bodings OF pillsse and rape; they organ
ize semi-sEvages, under protection of 1
Federal b7yonets, Into armed political /
bands, thst strangers, knaves and vsga-
bonds may be chosen to fiji the seats
once occupied by Madison, Lowndes and
Berrien, and be called the representa-
atives of q people whom they thus in I
suit, endanger and enrGge. Can such /
measures work peace? Are these guar
satees agaiDst disturbance ? Come what
may, the people of the South viii never
vitalise these governments with tbsF \
consent. It is not the want of that CON
sent thst bTeaks the peace. The evils |
which break the peace are in the gov 1
srnmeuts themselves-thelr nature, ori- |
gin, and workings These eYils would |
not be removed II this consent were I
given, bot would only be strengthened /
and made permanent and destructive.
defy you TO show me q single con- /
iition OF restoration, or Of reconstruction,
prepared by the army, or by the Presi. I
dent, or by Congress, which the South 1
rejected, and which being rejected |
damaged the North, or which, ifaecepted, /
would not have dlsbOnored the South.