Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-06-14

Confederate nation, - as Washing
ton properly styled the present Union.
That Is, a nation of States, or what is
! the same thing, a nation Of nations.
Hence the appropriateness of the
motto adopted by the fathers to ex-
press the idea of their work. II Plss-
5i5Hs USatBl.p
In this sense we are not only a ma
ton, but nation of the highest and
grandest type that theworld eversaw.
It rises above the simple to the COM
plex form.
It is, indeed, in many respects Pc
culiar nation, even in its complex
form, differing from ali other nations
| of its own type in many of its most
/ striking characteristics. These pecu-.
! liar features of its structure place it far
! in advance of all other Confederate
/ Republics in its wise provisions for the
! preservation of free institutions, If it
/ be but rightly administered. The most
! important of these features is the new
| principle which it introduced in the
plan of Federal Union of permitting
the common government, the conven-
tiOnal power or nation, to execute its
delegated powers. within their linn
tied sphere, directly upon the citizens
of the several States, or smaller na-
tionalities composing it. sta
This new idea of so constituting a
Federal Republic as to make of its
separate members - one nation as to
all foreign concerns, and to keep them
distinct as to domestic Ones" with
division of the power delegated into
Legislative, executive and judicial
departments" with a pefeetmachine-
ry of government to operate within
prescribed limits in the execution of
the delegated powers, constitutes the
most striking difference between our
present Federal Union and all former
republics of IFS class. 1t marks the
greatest stride of progress in free in
stitutiOns ever before made. 1t is this
which has so impressed the minds and |
excited the admiration of intelligent |
foreigners in contemplating the Won /
derful workings of the American sys-
tenn.
And now, Messrs. Editors, do you |
ask, Chi bono? Why so much written |
upon the dead issues of the past, when |
questions of so much magnitude of |
practical character press upon the pub
lie mind? Ifso, the reply is twOfold. |
First, to vindicate the truth of his /
tory, which is itself a high duty on the |
part0f any one who has itin his power |
to do it; and in the second place, to |
show the people of these States, in this /
vindication, not only the true canse,
the real " caltSd cGltSC7iS,' of the late /
war, but the real cause of their present |
troubles. The Federal machinery for
the last ten years has been abnormal |
in its action. 1t must be brought back
TO the JeffarsOnian doctrines, and made !
to conform in its workings with the
organic principles of its structure, be-
fore there can possibly be return of
the days of peace, harmony, pros
perity and happiness which for
merly marked our course. There
is no hope for constitutional
liberty on this continent. Judge Mich
0las may "dream dreams" about an
other constitutional amendment, pro-
viding new mode OF electing the
President, but the remedy lies in no
such device as that. 1t lies simply in
bringing back tho Government in its
administration to original first princi-
pies. This is to be done not by seces-
sion, however rightful and efficient a
remedy that might be. That is aban-
dOned. Nor is it 10 be done by force
or violence of any kind, except the
force of reason and the power of truth.
1t is TO be done, if at all, at the ballot
box. Free institutions are more gen
orally lost than established or strength
ened by a resort to physical force.
They are eminently the achievement
of virtue, patriotism and reason.
That our institutions, and even nomi-
nal form of government, is now in
great danger the prudent, sagacious
and wise e%y-whefe admit. An
able editorial in your own paper not
long since put the pertinent and
grave question, "Whither are we
drifting|'
To this question take the occasion
for one to give you direct and posi-
tive answer. We are drifting to con-
sOlidatiOn and empire, and will land
there at no distant period as certainly
as the sun will set this day unless the
people of the several States awake to
a proper appreciation of the danger,
and save themselves from the impend-
ing catastrophe by arresting the pres
ent tendency of public affairs. This
they can properly do only at the ballot |
box. All friends of Constitutional lib
erty, in every section and State, must |
unite in this grand effort. They must |
consider and even RECONSIDER
many questions to which they have
given but slight attention heretofore.
They must acquaint themselves with
the principles of their Government, and
provide security for the future by
and correcting the errors of
the past. 14r
This is the only hope, as / have
stated, for the continuance of our
nominal form of government. De-
pend upon it, there is no difference
between consolidation and empire!
No difference between centraIism and
The end of either, as
well as all of these, is the overthrow
Of liberty and the establishment of
| give you the hth in
great earnestness-words whicR how
ever received or needed now, will be
rendered eternally true by the devel-
opments of the future.
Yours most respectfully,
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.
TIE CRANE MURDER.