Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-31
An VIZ A NATION


been revived by some ancient Democrat
Of the States rights school in Congress,
to the great delight Of Northern Radi.
Gals, who expect the South to take the
negative side of the discussion. Without
waiting for an answer they assume that
the South does not believein the doctrine
Of national unity, We beg leave to as
sure the loyal North that the loyal
South has the best reasons in the world
for believing that this is a nation, and q
considerable one at that. We fought
four years for a separate Federal gov
eminent, and made an impression abroad
and at home that we possessed some OF
the attributes Of nationality on the Con-
federate side. For good aud sufficient
reasons, however, We concluded that two
nations could not exist in a peaceful and
neighborly manner, and we came back
into the Union. As Ben Hill said, we
are here to stay, and cannot be driven
out. We have no place to 90, and are
not medi.ating any future secession. II
this is not a nation, as far as the outside
world is concerned, what is it2 The Re-
public has war.making and treaty-msk-
ing power, is represented abroad by
something Of a navy with a flag, has
ministers at the principal courts Of the
world; also, copsuls, vice consuls and
consular agents. No State is represented
or has such powers. If t~hirty-eight or
thirty.nine States, with several depend
ent territories, do not constitute a nation
for all practical purposes, offensive and
defensive, what is a single State like
Tennessee, for instance? This seems to
us q hair-spltting business that is not
profitable for the Centennial period.
The late unfortunate C~onfederacy
even in its brief existence attempted to
be admitted into the great family Of
nations. If one-fourth Of the Union
was in its own estimation q nation for
the time being, what is %four-fourths
welded together stronger than evpv De
fore by CONNER interest and by the log
ical arbitrament Of bayeuets, to which
we all agreed? The South accepted the
situation, aud is now, and has been for
ten years, ready to do its part in build
ing up the waste places and binding up
the wounds Of the nation, All we ask
is that as citizens and States we shall be
accorded honesty Of purpose and the
same rights in the Union as those who
lovingly wooed US back. They prom
ised as as much through their highest
recognized authority, and we still believe
in the sincerity Of the great body Of the
Northern Union people. 1t is only
the BlaiDes and MOrtons who would
thwart the purposes Of this Union and
make it a compact of force without the
cohesive power Of mutual interest and
pride. The people o. beth sides are
right at heart and intend to understand
each other in spite Of the ambitious
uArplots who stir up strife for base ant
ssi6sh purposes. The Republican party
has q foothold left in but two Southern
States, South Carolina and Louisiana
and its power may be SWEEP
away in these. The Union and
the true national cause is thereby
sttengthed and will be in the same ratio.
The disunionists and factionists are
thereby weakened and driven to more
disreputable practices to retain power
South Carolina has as much interest IN
our national perpetuity as Maine o. Mas
s~achusetts. The irrepressible conflict {,
over. We have a common Gag, a com
mon constitution and n country, il
which ell are equal before the law ant
inspired equally with national senti
meuts. Each State has its reserved
rights under the Constitution, but no on,
claims the right to separate existence a
q State or privileges one above the other
-