Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-03-02

A4AAaAA S4aAAaa4A ALA a4N+ $500
Blair to task on the ground that he
has deserted the Republican party.
But no q knows better than Mr..
Greeley, the merely partisan nature OF
his own attack, and the fact thai
Blair left the Republican party only
when il became too corrupt for hi:
support. Blair stands by the COnsti.
tuition. When the Republican party
!eft that, it left Blair. That is all
about it. Greeley's consistency is tC
party, Blair's to principle. One never
deserts the five lOaves and two fishes.
the other was never mean enough tC
run after them. But, while Mr.,
Greeley is taking others to task
about consistency" which Is
most often a jewel in the snOut o.
fools, how viii he explain his own
record by the light of his own lamps
He is now for Furnishing and taking
away all States rights from the South
on the ground Of attempted secession
and rebellion. And yet there was a
time when he admitted not only the
right Of revolution, but the right OF
secession itself. How is ne to justify
first advising and then furnishing il?
Take for instance, as compared with
his present support Of the UsUrpatiOn,
the following from the Tribune Of the
9Th Of November, 1850, which he has
acknowledged and published in his
American Conflict, 4" vol /, page $50,
az follows:
The telegraph informs US that
most Of the cotton States are medita-
ting a withdrawal from the Union,
because of LiBcOln's election. Very
well: they have a right to mediate,
and meditation is profitable employ
mant of leisure. We have a chronic,
iuvincible disbelief in disuniOn as q
remedy for either Northern or South
ern grievances. We cannot see any
necessary connection between the al
leged disease and this ultra heroic
remedy; still, we say, if any one sees
tit TO mediate disUniOn, let him do so
unmOlested. That was 4 base and by
pOcritic row that was once raised at
Southern dictatiOn, about the ears Of
John Quincy Adams, because he pre-
sented a petition for the dissolution Of
the Union. The petitioner had q right
to make the request; il was the mem
ber's duty 10 present it. And now, if
the cotton States consider the value
of the Union debatable, we maintain
their perfect right TO discuss it. Nay;
we hold, with Jefferson, to the Un-
alienable right Of communists to
alter OF abolish forms Of government
that have become oppressive or iuju-
riOus; and, If the cotton States shall
decide that they can DO better out Of the
Union than m q ace 6}85St OR letting
them 90 ia peace, The right TO 8ec6Ge
may BE- q revolutionary one, blB q eC-
5stg nevertheless and zee do not see
hJU one DIrty can hare q right 10 do
lrhat another party has q right 10 pre-
UeHl-lC6 must eUeF resist the asserted
right of UHg State 20 remain U the
Union, and NUHify Or defy tie lI5CS
thereof 10 Withdraw from the Union
IS quite another matter. And. when
ever a considerable section of our
Union shall deliberately resolve to 20
ont, we shall resist all coercive mea-
sores designed to keep it in. We hope
never TO live ia a Republic, whereof
one section is pinned to the residue by
bsyOnets.
But, while we thus uphold the
practical liberty, If not the abstract
right Of secession, We must insist that
the step be taken, if it ever shall be.
with the delberatiOn and gravity be-
fitting 80 mOmentOus an issue. Let
ample time be given for reflection;
let the subject b5 fully canvassed be-
fore the people; and let q popular
vote be taken in every ease before Sc
cessiOn is decreed. Let the people be
told just why they are asked to break
up the Confederation; let them have
both sides of the question fully pre-
scented; let them reflect, deliberate,
then vote; and let the act Of secession
be the echo Of an Unmistable popular
fat. A Judgment thus rendered, a
demand fOE separation so backed,
would either be acquieseed in without
the efusiOn of blood, or those who
rushed upon carnage to defy and de-
feat it, would place themselves clearly
in the wrong.