Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-08-23
is THE SPIRIT OF REBELLION DEAD ,

OuT OpllllOn ln0J Win u mtJOTlty OF lne
Southern people it was We meant n ma
jority of the masses, for we candidly be-
lieve that, if such men as Davis, Stephens,
To )mLs, Breckenridge, Wade Hampton,
Forrest, Isham c. Harris, and host of
others, could have matters their own way,
| they would not hesitate one moment to
| organize a Southern confederacy. We
stated in that editorial that we had no
doubt very large majority of the South
ern people were willing to acquiesce in the
present state of affairs, but if they could
have things just as they wish, they would
much prefer seeing the leaders of the late
rebellion ruling and controlling this coun-
try. 1t is this feeling, which is somewhat
natural for ex-rebels, that such men as we
! have above named would take advantage
of and educate up to a point that would
sustain them in any revolutionary attempt.
We mention this as a reasonable possibility
at least, and not in the spirit of an alarm
ist. We believe that there are thousands
| of good men in the South, who were rebels,
who, if they had any idea they were being
| unconsciously led in this direction, would
| retract their course and denounce those
| who would plunge the country into an
other civil war.
Those who are willing to precipitate an
other rebellion upon the country know
this; but they are men of ability, men
who have had much experience in shaping
public opinion, and. they have too much
discretion to attempt it until their friends
are ready for it-until the Southern heart
is fired They know at the same time, if
they can get anything like n majority OF
the Southern people committed to such a
thing-if they can once get them to pass
the Rubicon-they will then stand up to
the bitter end, rs they did before. If by
any possibility, circumstances should pre-
sent themselves under which there would
be the least show of success their discon-
tented leaders would no doubt avail them
selves of the opportunity thus presented,
and would, without doubt, have plenty OF
adherents.
We may be asked why we believe such
things possible, for remember we arespeak
ing of possibilities. We trust such a state
of affairs may never again be reached, but
they seem to us just as probable as in 1856,
and avowed opposition to the people of the
North now, just because they are Northern
people? Why is it that such an effort is
being made in the South to introduce, and
provide for the exclusive use of Southern
literature, just because certain literary
works are the production of Southern men,
without reference to merit? We would re-
joice at the success of literature in the South
"a heartily as any one could, but we would
put it on different ground than that of
geographical location. And is there any
one on earth who can give reason that
would satisfy a thinking man, why some
| of the leading churches, composed of chris =
tians, should be divided by geographical
lines Churches, identical in doctrine,
and almost if not entirely identical lin their
form of church government, are divided
on questions of geographical location, ard
either maintain separate organizations or
or refuse to affiliate with their brethren in
the North. And how many men are
there who carry such a feeling into their
business? We know that there are large
number who do not, but there are some
who do. A gentleman for whom we have
the very highest regard, personally, and
who is a man of character and influence
made the remark that he regarded the
proprietors of the CHRONICLE as gentle
men and that personally he liked them
, but that he could not think of patronizing
them, and would rather pay money tC
/ break them down. We have no quarre
with him for this, but cite it to show how
little liberation some men of character anC
, influence have, for anything that Opposes
e their views Of things.
4 Now all these things may be straws
= They point to what is possible, viz: tina
: i,-"e number OF Southern people are dis
: satisfied with the siis.nation that they vii
7 accept nothingt that does not cOmport will
5 their fixed opinions, and that having
failed to establish a Southern confederacy
they are determined to have what come
nearest to it. With the csuntry judicious
Iy governed, we have no fears of this feel
ing ripening into open rebellion, but it i
very probable, that should the opportunit.
present itself the discontinued leader
, would attempt to.kindle fire in the mind
of the people, that could only be extinguish
ed by another civil war. The people do no
desre anything of the kind, :and we al
lude to it merely as possibility tina