The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1870-08-20
LETTER FROM COL. STEPHENS
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.
HEAR AND HEED.

HEOln tAe mSMPhiS APpeaIl
To the Wings Of Vest Tennessee:
A number of our old political associates
have asked me to address you some words
of exhortation. They say that some of you
have become so disheartened and Indifferent
toward the great public issues before the
country as to be disposed to stand aloof from
all elections; while othePs-a few only
show some disposition to yield to the insid-
ious whispering of Radical emissaries who
are pursuading you to re-establish the Wing
party. They say also that my lifelong asso-
citation with you is ample reason for ventur.
ing to address you, and that you will re-
ceive my suggestions in good part, even if
you do not sec proper to act upon them.
Yielding to these considerations, make
this appeal to your patriotism, trusting that
in your charitable judgment you will do
justice to the motives of one to whom you
have ever been so kind.
suppose my fidelity to the Wing party,
while it existed, will not be questioned. My
yeneration for its departed sages is not dim
inished by the lapse of years, and my afTec-
ton for its surviving members is akin to
that which brother bears to brother. l am
happy in the belief that most of US are united
still, and that we are still standing for the
right, still contending for liberty regulated
by IatO Here and there find an old and
respected friend in the opposite ranks
Starting out upon the idea Of perpetuating
the union of States at whatever cost, he has
allowed himself to be carried on in that
wild current of passion which has swept
away the rights of the Southern people, and
he now finds himself in the bosom of party
which ignores all those principles of govern
ment which he has been taught to reverse,
and which seeks to degrade and impoverish
his early friends and neighbors. can Ia
ment the situation of such Whig could
extend to him the right hand of fellowship
if he would but return; but could not con-
sent to. aid in making him feel comfortable
by joining his company, and to make his
party victorious By dividing and weakening
the only organization which can make head
against it
There are now only two parties in the
United States; and for years to come there
can be no other.
One of these is the product in part of the
recent civil war. Setting out upon tbs
hypothesis of the divine right of kings, tina
ell resistance to a government is treason
and that trebellion Is the chief of all crimes
the one objectionable sin-it proposes K
take from the people the power to resist th,
government no matter what may be tht
provocation. Its mission is therefore Il
break down the barriers which surrounC
the State sovereignties; to consolidate al
power in a central government; to reduc,
the people 70 q state of immediate allegiance
{ and subjection to that government; to pre-
vent any union among them for their CON
mon protection by fomenting hatred between
the white and colored races, and to keep tn
superior class under the ban of political dis
abilities, until they can shape the laws ant
institutions of the country according to thi
model, and mould the habits and thought
; of the people to this new and dangerous ex
) pertinent of government
The other party embraces ali those VII
} desire 70 curb the powers Of the government
, to preserve the Constitutional guarantees G
liberty, to give equal rights to all men, {
: remove from the Southern people their pol
\ itical disabilities, to give to those who's
s taxes support the government a fair shar