Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-27
A Thoroughly Patriotic letter from Ii
+. KImbaII, Secretary of She Win
nebeGO Agricultural SO.
cisIy.
The Invitation 10 JsE Davis Test Of
the Loyalty. CkrIstIRUiGy and
ChIVaIry of the High
Minded ROrth.
Patriotism and Loyalty Must p Gne
Love of COIBtry-We n ust EHVe
Free Speech fer All, and
Peace and GGOd VIII.
Editors Memphis Appeal /:


community, has circied out to the fur
thest boundaries OF the republic. Both
the wisdom and eXpediency of the invi-
tation, and the probable advantages
that would acclus to the country, in its
proper acceptance by the distinguished
Ex-President, are now the engrOssing
themes OF controversy in every hamlet
and city from the st. Lawrence to Pu-
gets Sound. The leading and mCst in
fluential journals OF the north, that
shape the political sentiments Of large
msjorities, have emphatically justified
our action, and hailed the occurrence az
the haTbinger of returning unity and
cOrdiality, brotherhood and peace be-
tween the alienated sections. 1t was q
betting opportunity, and in cOnsidera-
ton of our patriotic motives emlnently
proper, that in view OF the political cap
ital and official ACKNOWLEDGEMENT that
party leaders were making out Of what
they denominated "sOuthern prOscrip-
tion," that the loyalty, christianity and
chivalry of the high-minded north
should be put to test. In our invita-
ton to the honorable EX-President, the
representative in an eminent degree of
the genius and the aspirations of the
south, we aimed to remove the last i'm
pediment to the emancipation of
the entire country from the thrall-
dom of sectional prejudices and
Tesentments, and unite our policy
and destiny in perfect amity beneath
the folds of the one banner of a restored
and united nationality. We wished to
demonstrate in diviner amplitude the
sincerity and impartiality of that chiv-
alrous and fraternal feeling that inspired
the soldiers of Fitshugh's Palmetto le-
gion and those of Massachusetts to bury
their enmities in the classic soil of Bun
ker Hill. In the proffer of our courtesy
and hospitality to the venerable Ex-
President We included every man, wO.
man and child OF the south, fellowship
ping them as reinstated members OF the
glorious American nation, possessing
all the rights and privile ges guaranteed
by the constitution Cf the general gov
eminent, and the constitution Of each
sovereign and Independent State. Chris
tian m8gnanimity and christian chiY-
airy are qualities wholly independent Of
syllogistic methOds-they cannot be
conveniently tucked in between msj jor
and minor premise to excuse our eXer-
c:se of manly fOrbearance or justify our
resentment. They are qualities Of cur
elevated manhCO1, ana belong not to
the logic OF the schools. Ten long years
of bitter acceptance of the irreyersible
results OF civil war upon the part Of the
chivalrOus south should be sufficient to
write higher law of general amnesty
than Presidents can grant upon the
heart and sympathies OK every northern
citizen; an amnesty embracing IN its
broad philanthropy the restoration OF all
rights, privileges and immunities that
existed "wben northern and southern
blood mingled in common sacrifice on
Mexican SOIL" The Grand Army of this
section, by no means embracing in its
vindictive remOnstrance, the full eX-
preston Uf the soldierly sentiment and
honor among us, lost its grandest OpDor-
tunity to win imperishable fame when
it belIttled the generosity anu chivslry
Of the cOnqueror, and sunk the MAJESTY
OF true heToism in the pusillanimiJy OF
personal insult Had this otherwise noble
6and united with our city council as an
escort to the venerable Ex-President,
which l labored to bring about, the lau-
rels their valor reaped on Lookout noun
tain, and the ensaDguined battle-grounds
of Shiloh and Chattanooga, would have
paled before this sublimer exhibition OF
their magnanimity and self-herOism.
Such a spectacle of the supremacy of
sOldierIy gallantTy and courtesy over
private resentment would have furnish
ed inspiration to poets, orators and eulO-
gists until the end of time. So glorious
an act would have constituted the cor
ner-stOne in that temple OF national
liberty which the unity and concord of
the two sections will build together
when all present enmities and sectional
bitterness shall. have forever passed
away. Forgiveness is the privilege of
conquerors; revenge is the instinct Of
cowardiCe. When We contrast the
statesman-like dignity and quiet, chris
tian temper of the Ex-President's eX-
planatory letter with the extravagant
rant Of the Grand Army g remonstrance,
signed with so many mental reserva-
tiOns, We tell them, III all earnestness
and candOr, to go back to the discipline
of the camp, and learn their les
son of gsllantTy and chivalry
anew. The present agitation, grow.
ing out of my strong desire
for reconciliation and peace, and the
inevitable development OF your i'm
mense possibilities, will yet be produc-
tive Of the hsppiest results. II it be de-
MED me to grasp, in the hand of the
honored Ex-President, the hand of every
citizen of the south, our association will
nevertheless receive the credit for it's
noble effort in the work OF reconcilia-
ton. Patriotism and loyalty must de-
fine love of country as broad as our
national domain. In that love Of cOun-
try must exist an inviolable guarantee
of free speech and free transit to the
greatest and humblest citizen of the re-
public. The great southwest and extern
sive northwest, both by their geOgraEh-
ical position and their varied produc-
tions, united also by broad and naviga-
BILE rivers, are inseparably connected in
their commercial and industrial inter-
ests. II the fertility of our prairies fills
the granRries Of a continent, the capaGi-
ty of your soil, in its cotton supply, feeds
the manufactures of the world. The
broad prairies and fertile savannas of
the south, embosOming the constituents
of a thousand golden harvests, are wait
ing the advent OF the implements Of our
northern workshops. Let us then urge
Oh the good work of reconciliation. /
express the fullest confidence that, by
The frequent repetition Of the soldiers
reunions, and unrestrained intercourse
between the representatives OF public
sentiment at the south and the north,
without the least danger of prescription
and personal insult, the time ia near
when our entire people will disavOw all
sectional jealOusies, will rally around
one flag, each emulating the other in
his devotion to the immortal principles
underlying our republican institutions.
In this great conflict with prejudice and
animosity, growing out Of the late civil
war, lean on the fundamental teach
ings of our holy christianity. Mar
shaled on the side of reconciliation are
the noblest principles OfCur civilization.
l wage no warfare with forgiveness, for
bearance, magnanimity and christian
courtesy. With these divine qualities
ss my justification, battle SO 4inst sec
tiOnal prejudices and stupidity. Our
great industrial exposition will be inau-
gurated September l4th. l would that
the grounds were broad enough, that
the accommodations were only equal to
the hospitality of our honorable board OF
directors, and / would send comuli.
mentary tickets to the entire south to
| come up and unite in q great jubilee over
| the renewed allegiance of all citizens OF
| our common country. Please accept the
assurances OF my high esteem for the
kindly sentiments you have expressed In
my behalf, though Consciousness of q
| magnanimous purpose and duty faith
fully performed, is ample reward iu it.
self. 1t will give me great pleasure