Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-06-23

tlOn IN IniS CITY.
| The object proposed to be accom-
plished is the collection, classification
} preservation, and final publication, 1
: some form to be hereafter determined
: of all the documents and facts bearin
, upon the eventful history of the pas
/ few years, illustrating the nature Q
the struggle from which the cOuntr,
has just emerged, defining and vindi
. eating the principles which lay be
, meath it, and marking the stage
through which it was conducted to it
issue. 1t is not understood that thi
association shall me purely sectional
nor that its labor shall be Of q partisan
character.
Everything which relates to thi
critical period Of our national history
pending the conflicts, antecedents OF
subsequent to it, from the point ot
view of either, or of both the contes.
tants; everything, in short, which
shall Vindicate the truth of history /,
TO be industriously collated and fled;
and all parties, in every section of the
continent, who shall desire to COOPER.
ate in the attainment of these ends,
/ Will be welcomed to q share in our
/ councils and our tolls.
1t is dOubtleSSGue, that an accepted
/ history can never be written in the
midst of the stormy events of which
| that history is compromised, nor by
the agents through whose efficiency
| they were wrought. The strong pas
siOns which are evoked in every hu-
man conflict disturb the vision and
warp the Judgment, in the scales of
whose criticism the necessary facts are
to be weighed; even the relative i'm
pOrtanCe Of these facts cannot be
measured by those who are in too
close proximity. Scope must be af-
fOrded for the development OF the re-
mote issues before they can be brought
| under the range Of a philosOphic ap-
prehensiOn ;and the secret thread Be
discovered, running through all his
tory, upon which its single facts crys-
talize in the unity OF some great PROV
idential plan.
The generations Of the disinterested
must succeed the generations of the
prejudiced before history, properly
termed such, can be written. This.
precisely, is the work we now ATTEMPT,
to construct the archives in which
shall be collected these memoirs to
serve for future history.
1t is believed sfnvaluable docu-
ments are scattered over the whole
land, in loose sheets, perhaps, lying in
the portfolios of private gentlemen.
and only preserved as souvenirs of
their own parts in the historic drama,
Existing in forms 50 perishable, re-
garded, it may be, only so much
Yr-Dlfa h. -
hands they must fall, no delay should
be suffered in their collection and
preservation.
There Is, doubtless, too much that
is Yet unwritten floating only in the
memories Of the living, which, If not
speedily rescued, will be swallowed in
the oblivion Of the grave, but which,
If reduced to record, and cOllated,
would afford the key to many cy-
pher, In little while 10 become unin-
telligible for want Of Interpretation.
All this various material, gathered
from every section, will need to be
industriOusly classified and arranged,
and finally deposited in the central
archives of the society, under the care
of appropriate guardians.
To this task of collection, we invite
the immediate attention and cO-opera-
ton of our cOpatriOts throughout the
South, to facilstate which, we propose
the organization of State and district
associations, that our whole people
may be brought into harmony of ac-
ton in this important matter.
The rapid changes through which
the Institutions Of the country are
now passing, and the still more stu
pendOuS revolutions in the opinions
of men, remind us that we stand to-
day upon the outer verge Of a great
historic cycle, within which q COM
pleted past viii shortly he enclosed.
Another cycle may touch its circum-
ference; but the events il shall en-
brace will be gathered around another
historic center, and the future histo-
rian will pronounce that in stepping
from the one to the other he has en-
tered upon another and separate vol
ume OF the nations record.
Let US, who are soon TO be In that
past to which we properly belong, see
that there are no gaps in the record.
Thus shall We discharge 8 duty to
the fathers, whose principles we in
herit, to the children, who viii then
know whether to honor or to dishonor
the sires that begOt them; and above
all, to the dead heroes sleeping on the
vast battle-plains, from Manassas to
whose epitaph history yet
waits to engrave upon their tombs.
The funds raised by initiation fees,
donations and lectures, |
after defraying the current expenses,
Will be appropriated to the rent or |
purchase of a suitable fire-proOf build |
ing for the safe keeping of the ar
chives.
For the accomplishment of these !
ends contributions are respectfully So
licited from all parties interested in |
the establishment and prosperity of |
the Southern Historical Society.
Contributions to the archives and |
library Of the society are respectfully |
and earnestly solicited under the fol- |
lowing specific divisions:
l. The histories and historical col |
lectiOns of the individual States, from |
the earliest periods to the present |
time, including travels, journals and
maps.
?. Complete files of the newspapers,
literary, scientific and |
medical journals Of the Southern
States, from the earliest times to the |
present day, including, especially, the I
period Of the recent American civil |
war.
3. Geological, typographical, agri-
manufacturing and CONNER
ciaf reports, illustrating the statistics,
soil, resources, products and
of the Southern States.
4. Works, speeches, sermons and
1iscOurses relating to the recent con-
iict and .pQlitical chances -CnnOress-,
gHITE SULPHUR is now the Western
-hs of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
ld the cars of that read On connection Our
legraphie faeLities) win be running TO and CO
9ngs BY lsT July. hncel
pins or expense have or viii be spared | Violin
lre the comfortable entertainment, in hand.
: varieties of accommodation, of the | rent.
lumber of visitors that will resort TO | ones.
ings the present season. tende'
he of the best LAWN AND BALL Piano
BANDS will be in attendance; an ex- will /
4 LIVERY has been provided, and suit takes.
arrangements made TO facilitate every furnis
1t and recreatiYe amusement appro-