Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-10
IsIT TO BE PEACE Or THE swORD {:

was M6icOUeu Dg Oho Va tAS - " Z
and enthusiastic demonstrations that We
have ever seen. Thousands Of citizens con
gregated, marched in procession through
our streets, and until one o'clock in the
morning listened to the various speakers
who addressed them. During the whole
time there was no disorder, no drunken
ness. no iIl-humor, but everything wa;
conducted with utmost propriety, order
and decorum. Men seemed 70 feel thai
they were engaged in more important
q higher and s graver controversy than
the ordinary strifes of politics are, and
all acted like men engaging in great
cause, and assuming serious RESPONSE
bilities.
Since then, the enthusiasm, far from
diminishing, has continued to increase
The organization of Democratic clubs fol
the county has been followed by the e.
tsblishment Of clubs in every ward, and
of several independent clubs, all Of which
are furnishing, and full of zeal, energy
and fire. Every night some club meets
and often two or three on the same
night. On Wednesday last as fine an
audience filed the New Memphis Thea
ter as we ever saw, and listened with
marked and unwesried attention to the
speakers who addressed them.
And yet, everywhere and on all coca
sions we zee the same grave earnestness
mingling with the enthusiasm snd zeal
of the people, the earnestness and CRAWL
ty of men chastened by the discipline of
calamity and sorrow, and knowing the
immense importance Of the Issues in
volved in the contest, whose ending no
man can foresee.
There have been threats Of violence to
no one; there has not been a single act of
violence committed by any Democrat,
during all this month. When Club ad-
journs, its members go peaceably and quiz
city to their homes. No speaker has
counseled violence, or armed resistance
to the law. The Governor asserts that
we intend to overturn the State Govern
ment; and that, in one sense, is true.
We mean to revolutionize it by votes,
and by votes alone. We hope TO live to
see the day when there will be govern
ment in Tennessee, founded upon, and
the organ of, the will OF the white men
Of the State. But that we contemplate
violence is false.
For it has, on the contrary, been con-
tinually impressed on those whom our
speakers have addressed, that to resort
to violence or resist the execution Of the
Isws of the State would be to lose all.
"There must be no resistance of the
laws, hard IS they are" said one Of the
speakers of Wednesday night. "On the
frontier Of the State hangs the dark
cloud Of the Federal sOldiery, ready to
march against US st the first call from
VIM. G. Brownlow, aud with the bsyo-
net to quell characterization. If we re-
sist the law, We cross the dead-line, TO
step over which, as it was TO cross those
of Northern and Southern prisons du-
ring the war, is death. 1 will advance
TO the very line. viii stand on the ex-
IRENE verge Of my lawful rights: but I
will not cross nor advise Others to cross
the line. 1 will not be instrumental in
leading any young man, by the counsele
Of rashn ess, into dangers from which l
should be powerless to extricate them"
ave must succeed, if at all, ," he said,
"by peaceful means. But it is your
right, and il is equally your duty, to arm
for your self-defenee. No people pro-
cures immunity or peace or safety, by
disarming itself. You have the right TO
keep and bear arms for your common de-
fence; and you will indeed be egregious
simpletons if you do not arm and organ
ize, to be ready to defend yourselves,
your homes and your households against
unprovoked violence and outrage. We ali
desire peace. God grant that may be
laid down to rest in the grave without
again seeing brother armed against
brother, and the land rent with civil war.
We wish and pray for peace; and when
our rights as freemen and citizens are re-
stored TO US, and not until then, there
will be permanent peace"
The Legislature Of Tennessee has been
assured by those authorized to say it,
that such are the sentiments Of the dis
franchised men of the State. Strenuous
efforts have bean made to induce the
Legislature to enfranchise them, and to
refrain from giving the Governor stand
ing army, with which to insugurste civil
wsr.
These efforts have failed. The House
OF Representatives decides thet this is
not q fit time to consider the question OF
franchise, and dismisses the petitioners
for enfranchisement from its bar, with
profound contempt; and it lie now well
understood that the militia OF standing
army bill is TO be passed.
Peace in the South is that which the
Rsdic2l leaders most dread. They want,
they need 3 disturbances, an instruction,
q civil war, as the sure means Of win
ming for Grant the votes of the Northern
States; and those who have the means
of knowing positively, ASSERT that the
Radical Executive Committee has de-
termined to provoke such a conflict in
Tennessee, where an organized force of
negroes is ready to their hand, and for
the most part armed.
1t was threatened, some weeks since,
that q regiment or two OF the militia
should be stationed here in Memphis, 10
subsist on the people. a gentleman liv-
ing ON Elliott street, asserts that to his
certain knowledge,s load Of arms was
delivered some time since, at a negro
church in his vicinity. On Saturday
evening last, there was Imminent dan
ger Of an attack by the negroes congre-
gated on the bluff, upon the Democratic.
assemblsges of that evening, the negroes
if they met any of these, "to
90 through Them" and being only pre-
vented by few of the more moderate of
their white leaders.
Mr.. Barbour Lewis asserted, q few
nights ago, that it was an objectionable
Islander to say that the negroes were
drilled at night in the suburbs Of the
city, and they, responding to him, de.
clared the charge lie, ian expression