The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-06-02
aGIsCEI.EsANY

y ~
aGI8CELLANY
letter from Gen. Forrest.
We find the following letter from
Gen. Forrest, addressed tosfhis late
comrades, in the Memphis Ayalanche:
NASHVILLE, May IS, 1868,
Editors Aualanche. GENTLEMEN: !:
An influence is ut work in this State,
as discovered since my recent de-
parture from Memphis, to preclude
any participation by the late Confe-
derate soldiers in the coming conven-
ton of the Democracy. of Tennessee,
to be held ot Nashville on the 9th Of
June, and in the National Democratic
Convention, to be held ut New York
on tho 4th; of July. uflft
It does not amount to purpose to
arbitrarily do this thing; but is felt
in efforts to- induce every one who
took any part in the recent struggle
of the Confederacy for the inde-
pendence to decline attending to
these assemblies upon pretended
grounds Of expediency, and submit
The representation Of Tennessee at
New York to men who were known
to be for the Union.
Upon consultation with many of
my late associates in the war, have
concluded to advise against any
further political emasculntion of our
selves in the party movements Of the
State.
We are already prescribed in
the Constitution and statutes which
now govern the State, againt our
consent, the prescription of which
have, through the mendacious hos
tility of our Legislative enemies, been
added to timo and again, until now
we barely live under the accumu-
lated weight of Acknowledgement and
oppression. Shall we super.add, by
our own notion, to those proscrip-
tions and exorcisms of ourselves from
all participation in the assemblies
OF the State and National Democracy,
and publish to the world confession
that we are too unworthy to intrude
ourselves into the councils of the
party? The National Democratic
party, through its committee, have
invited US to take part in the Con-
vention which is to assemble at New
York on the 4th of July. It pre-
scribes no test oaths, no qualifications
dependent upon the part we have
taken in the late war, but, like true
Constitutional party, it opens its doors
and invites all who may choose to
come, without reference to the past.
To suggest then an answer to so
catholic an invitation, that we who
are the true representatives of the
greater portion Of the constitutional
men of the State feel ourselves un-
worthy to soil the deliberations Of
that Convention with our presence,
would exhibit US in an attitude of
servile degradation, that I trust we
have not reached as yet. In this
view of the case then it is my advice
(given from sense of duty, and
against reluctance which is averse
to any personal display of myself in
matter of this kind) to all my com
rades to participate in the county
meetings, and to send up full dele
gates to Nashville on the 9th of June,
composed of good and true men,
without reference to the divisions
which were made by the war.
The only hope of restoration of a
good Government in this country is
in the success of the National De-
mocracy in the next Presidential
campaign. I trust my late comrades
will not, from expediency or other
motives, absent themselves from q
participation in the political exer-
cises which are to result in the
choice of standard bearers, made
with a view to so patriotic and de-
sirable IN end. So far rs am per-
sonnlly concerned, have no desire.
to take any part in politics, nor to
occupy any political position what
ever; but 1 do not wish to SEQ my
State represented by men whose only
claim to public favor is the dexterity
with which they took either side Of
the question in the late war, rs inte-
rest dictated, and who bank upon it
as their only capital for popular sup
port. N. B. FORREST.
REVIVAL OF TRADE IN THE SoUrH-
The GRAIN Trad: OF THE VEST