Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-08-18
HON. G. a. HENRY.
He Is Opposed to the Conservative" Move
meat, and for the Unity Of All the
Elements Opposed to Rad.
81 icalism.
He Thinks this Conservative Movement CAL
culated to Secure to the Negroes and
Radicals the CoutrOl Of our State.
GAINESVILLE, August 10, 1870

persuade those who have heretofore beer
associated with the old-Iine Wing party
that IL is their duty to withdraw from
active cooperation with the Democrats
and r~eorganlze a separate party" Yor
further do me the honor to ask my opinion
as to b course the old-line Whigi
should pursue in the present and ap
proaching crises"
The point presented Is of uneommo
interest to me, as it involves the honor
OF the old Wing party, as well as the safe
ty of the country. l sincerely hope al
such efforts Will ~signally fail. They ought
10 fail, for If successful, they will brint
ruin to our cause. It can nave no othel
effect than to diYido and weaken the con.
sentative strength in Tennessee, and
would speedily hand over the State to the
tender mercies of the Radicals and theil
allies, the negroes. If, in an evil hour, the
Wings should be sedaced to adopt any
such policy, what good could be accom-
plished by it2 Would such separate or
ganization be strong enough to elect a
Governor in Tennessee in ls70? or a single
member of Congress, or a President in
1872? Or rather, would It not secure the
triumph of the Radicals in the State and
national elections? If the old-line Wings
don't cooperate with the Democrats, with
what party will they act? and in the Ian
guage of Daniel Webster, "where will
they go?" Surely not to the Radicals.
Undoubtedly, however, the very
agitation of the question about the
separate organization of the old-line
Wings, with a view to withdraw from
cooperation with the Democrats, has
given aid and comfort to the enemy. But
.he other day l saw an article from the
RepubLicGH, a Radical paper in Memphis,
on the subject of nominating a Republic
can candidate for Governor, in which the
following language is employed: sour
enemies believe themselves perfectly safe.
and believing they have a large majority
in the State, will soon be demoraiized.
They hav already commenced to divide.
Old-line Wings do not feel themselves at
home in such a camp, they see around
them still the old signs of disunion, and
over them the old flag of secession, now
called States rights. Though they say
there is nothing in a name, still there is
something in the kind of associates one
has, II we seldom select for our compan-
ions, those with whom we have always
been at war. SO it is with old-line Wings
and Democrats. Sooner or later the for
mer element will find itself in the Repub-
lican ranks,
ALREADY the division shows itself; for,
whenever you find an old-line Wing a
candidate, you will always find a Demo-
crat against him, aud the time is certainly
not far distant when the elements will
etfectually separate"
l commend the serious perusal of his
extract to every old-line Wing in Ten
nessee, and ask him to ponder well the
fact that the Radicals only hope for sue
cess on the idea that the old-line Wings
will not cooperate with the Democrats,
and that they will sooner or later be found
in the Republican ranks. IL is an infa-
nous charge against the homo and fidel-
ity of the old-line Wings, and 1 pro-
nounce it a Islander. 1t ought, however,
to put all who are making efforts to effect
a separate organization, upon their guard
n make them review the ground on
which they stand, and honestly reconsider
what they owe to themselves and to their
country.
In my humble judgment the success of
republican freedom depends npon the
overthrow OF the Radical party. 10 effect
that great object the Wings and Demo-
Gratis are called upon by the highest and
most patriotic considerations, to form a
close and faithful alliance, and invite to
their support all the elements of opposi-
ton to Radicalism-all men of whatever
name, who desire to see the Government
restored to the hands of honest men; who
are sincerely attached to the republican
institutions founded by our fathers, and
on which they erected the fabric OF our
liberty. As you know, l was an old-line
Wing, q was proud to acknowledge
Clay and Webster as tho leaders of the
Wing party. 1t is, however, true that
that party has had no separate political
existence since 1860. If we could reani-
mate 1t now in Tennessee it could accom-
plish no good, because il would be with
out support elsewhere, and would weaken
the Conservative element at home. On
the other hand, the Democratic party has
all the time maintained a strong party
organization at the North, and is now
At raipinn avarxy narua RI n ~naI %ba Paaioal
Cloths and Vandals from the Capital.
The only practical question, then, is, shall
the old-line Wings aid them in effecting
his contamination devOutly to be wished
for, or will they paralyze their patriotic
efforts to redeem the country from Radi-
cal misrule, by withdrawing from the
conflict and folding their arms IN a sepa-
rate organization, which will nOt have
strength enough to carry a single State;
and like Achilles around the walls of
Troy, suffer their swords to rust in their
scabbards, while our friends are fighting
the battle for us, and bleeding at every
pore. l would, therefore, advise the
old-line Wings, if they will permit
me to do so, TO make common cause
with Conservatives-and Democrats, till
we rescue our abused and suffering coun-
try from the plumber and despotism of
the Radical party. ont let us think for
a as to what party the fruits of
such a victory shall accrue. To partici-
pate in such a triumph, however hum
bly,, would be glory enough for me.
The Southern Wings and Democrats
fought shoulder to shoulder throughout
our late gallant, but disastrous struggle
for Southern independence, and there is
not a battle field from the Potomac to the
Gulf that was not baptized in their kim
dred blood. We did not ask them if this
or that soldier who was offering his blood
upon the altar of Southern independence
and invoking the blessings of God upon
banners, was q Wing or Democrat.
Let us mo now inquire b former poll
tics of any man who consecrated his fidel-
ity to our cause by the shedding OF his
blood, and who is now willing and ready
to make brave and heroic resistance to
the usurpations of the Radical party, till
this government is restored to the ward
and custody of competent, honest and
patriotic men.
II have any preference of one man
over another, it will not be because he
was a Wing or Democrat in former days,
but solely pom my estimate OF his quail
iications for high official trust, his capac-
ity to marshal our strength for victori-
Gus conflicts, and bring back peace and
prosperity to our impoverished and dis
State.
1 sincerely hope the future historian of
Tennessee will have no such painful duty
to perform as to write of US we were torn
by discord and d~issentions
amongst ourselves, at a time il re-
.uired the earnest and active co-opera-
ton of Wings and Democrats and all
others who had kindred ~affinities with
them, to wrench the sceptre from the
grasp of a t%yrannical party who were
holding on to 1t with the tenacity of
death. Let him rather lave the crafty
spectacle to present to the world of
Wings and Democrats, though ancient
political revals, drawn together by mu-
ual concessions, q sense of common Ian
ger, and a patriotic determination
10 resist the sggressioDs of despotic
power, contending only with each other
who shall most faithfully serve the
and redeem it from the thraldom
Of a corrupt party who were sapping its /
soiling its honors and plum
iering its revenue !
Let him not have to say of us, so long i
Is they were true to themselves and their I
they were invincible, but when {
and dissention prevailed among {
hem they became an easy prey to the !
Vaccinations of their enemies" Let him 8
lot have to write our epitaph, in these {
and mournful lines
Twas. no foeman's arm that felled 1
them; q
Twas their own that struck the blow" t
With sentiments of sincere personal re- I
ard, / remain your friend and fellow cit +
zen. G. A. HENRY Q
BUY your Hats of G
LEIDY q CO., Hstters. .
HARPER's MONTHLY, improved style, 5
nth leaves neatly cut, for sale at Joe 7
,ocke's, 236K Main street. 2