The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-19

below the remarks OF the New York
Sun on the opinions OF Davis's Cabi-
net, and what Gen. Sherman and Gen.
Johnston now have to say about 1t.
Postmaster General Reagan states
the situation.
From a letter - Jefferson Davis,
dated April %, 1855: "Gen. Johnston
is OF opinion that the enemy's forces
now in the field exceed ours in num-
Der by probably ten to one. Our
forces in the South, though still hold
ing the f. tifications at Mobile, have
been unap!e to prevent the fall OF
Selma and Montgomery in Alabama,
and OF Columbus aud Macon in Geor-
gia, with their magazines, workshops
and stores of supplies. The army
west of the Mississippi is unavailable
for the arrest Of the victorious career
OF the enemy east OF that river, and is
inadequate for the defence of the
country west of it. The country is
worn down by brilliant and heroic,
but exhausting and bloody struggle Of
four years. Our ports are closed so as
to exclude the hope OF procuring arms
and supplies from abroad and we are
unable TO arm our people II they were
willing 10 continue the struggle.
The supplies OF qusrtermaster and
commissary stores in the country are
very limited in AMOUNT, and our rail-
roads are go broken and destroyed as
10 prevent, to great extent, the
transportation and accumulation OF
those remaining. Our currency has
lost its purchasing power, aud there is
no o:her means Of supplying the
Treasury; and the people are hostile
TO impressments and endeavor t. con-
ceal such supplies ~ are needed for
the army from the officers charged
with their collection. Our armies,
in case of prolongation OF
the struggle, will continue to
melt away nd they retreat through the
country. There is danger, and | think
j might say certainty, based on the
Information we have, that portion,
and probably all, o! the States will
make separate terms with the enemy
rs they overrun, with the chance that
the terms 80 obtained be less favora-
BILE 10 them than those contained in
the agreement under consideration.
And the despair CT our people will
prevent a much longer continuation
OF serious resistance unless they shall
be hereafter urged TO il bv unenduIa-
hle oppression. IL is also TO
be observed that the agreement con-
tains no direct reference to the ques-
ton OF slavery, requires no concession
from us IN regard 10 II, and ledUes Il sub
.ject 10 The Constitution and ldts Of The
United States, and Of the several States,
gust as Il ipds before The war.
Nothing Is said OF the agreement
about the public debt and the DISPOSE
ton OF our public property beyond
the turning over OF the arms TO the
State arsenals. In the final adjust.
ment We should endeavor to secure
provisions for the auditing OF the debt
OF the Confederacy and for It's pay.
ment in common with the war debt OF
the United States. We may ask this
on the ground that we did not seek
this war, but only sought peaceful
separation TO secure our people aud
States from the effects OF unconstitu-
tional ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS bSher
States, and because on the principles
oil equity, allowing that both parties
had acted In GoOd faith, and gone 10
war on misunderstanding which ad-
mitted OF no other solution, and now
agree to a reconciliation and TO burial
OF the past, II wonld be unjust to COM
pei our people 10 assist in the payment
OF the war debt OF the United States,
and Tor them to refuse to allow such
OF tue revenues as We might contrib.
ute to be applied to the payment Of
our creditors" q
OPINION OF JUDAH P. BENJAMIN.
From letter dated April %, 1865:
''The military convention made be-
tween Gen. Johnston and Gen. Sher-
man is in substance an agreement that
If the Confederacy will cease to wage
war for the purpose of establishing
separate government, the United
States will receive the several States
back into the Union with their State
governments unimpaired, with all
their constitutional rights recognized,
with protection for the persons and
property OF the people, and with a
general amnesty"
8. R. MALLORY FAvoRs THE AGREEMENT.
From a letter by the Confederate
Secretary OF the Navy, dated April "a,
1865; The propositions signed by the
opposing generals are more favorable
TO these great obi ects than could Justly
have been anticipated. Upon YOU,
with q more thorough knowledge OF
the condition OF our county, the char.
acter and sentiments OF our people
and of our means and resources, than
is po ssessed by Others, is devolved the
responsibility Of promptly accepting
or Of promptly rejecting them. :
The paciticstion Of the country should
be "a speedy as practicable, to the end
that the authorities of the States NAV
enter upon the establishment and
maintenance OF law aud order. Nego
tiations for this purpose can more an
propriately follow upon the over
whelming disaster OF Gen. Lee thar
at Afuture time. The wreck OF oul
hVfpo tosuits iuineula,ely from II.
ATToRNKY.GRNERAL GEORGE DAVIS
vIGw.
From letter dated, April 2, 1855
Taken as whole, the convention
amounts 10 this: that the States of Ia,
Coniederacy shall re-enter tie oil,
Union on the same footing upo,
which they stood before secedin,
fiomit."
Comment Of mr.. Dana, Ex-AssISI
ant Secretary Of War,
Suns editorial columns, Februar
IA, 1885: In these confidential con
municstions made TO the fugitive an
despairing head of the collapsed Cor
federacy by Cabinet officers who wer
comrades Of his flight, we have te
timonV of supreme authenticity an