The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-14
GIN. JOHN A. LOGAN
ON "TBEORIGIN AND HISTORY OF
THE CIVIL WAR;"
Davis and Lincoln CORtrasted-TheIr
Speeches-The Latter's Inaugu-
ral-FOrt Sumter.


Meanwhile the seeding States OF the
South were strengthening their atti-
tude by confederation. On February
4, 1861, the convention of the seeding
States, called by the South Carolina
convention, at the time OF her seces-
sion, met, in pursuance OF that call, AZ
Montgomery, Ala, and o1 the 9th
adopted provisional constitution and
organized a provisional government by
the election Of Jefferson Davis OF Mis-
sissippi President, and Alexander II.
STEPHENS OF Georgia Vice-P President,
10 serve until a Presidential election
could be held by the people OF the
Confede:acy. Mr.. DAVIS almost at
once Left JACKSON, Mics, for Montgom-
ery, where he arrived and delivered
his inaugural February 18th, having
received on his road thither success
sion a ovations from the enthusiast tic
rebels, 10 which he lad responded
with no less than twenty-five speeches,
very similar in tone to those made in
the Unit I'd States Senate by Mr.. Wig
fall and others OF that ilk-breathing
at once defiance and hopetulness,
while admitting the difficulties in the
way OF the new Coniederacy."
TT may be-" said he, at Jackson,
that we will be confronted by war;
that the attempt will be made 10
blockade our ports, u starve US out;
but they (the Union men OF the North
know little Of the Southern heart; OF
Southern endurance. No amount OF
privatiOn could force Us 70 remain in
Al Union on unequal terms, England
and France would not allow our great
staple 10 be damned up within our
present limits; the Starving thousands
in their midst would not allow II. We
have nothing TO apprehend from
blockade. But II they attempt inva.
sion by land we must take the war out
of our territory, II war must come, It
must be upon Northern and not upon
Southern soil. In the meantime, II
they were prepared to grant us peace,
% recognize eur equality, all is we'll"
And, in his speech at Stevent on,
Ala said he "Your border States will
gladly come into the Southern Confed-
eracy within sixty days, as we will be
their only friends. England will rec.
ognize ne and n glorious future is be-
fore as. The grass will grow in tbs
Northern cities where the pavements
have been worn of by the tread OF
commerce. We will carry war where
il is easy TO advance-where food for
the sword and torch await our armies
in the densely populated cities; and
though they may come and spoil our
crops, we can raise them as before,
while they cannot rear the cities
which took years Of industry and mill
ions OF money TO build"
Very different in tone to these were
the kindly and sensible uttsrances OF
Mr.. Lincoln on his journey from
Springfield to WashinRt) IN about the
same time, for Inauguration rs Presi.
dent Of the United States. Leaving
Springfield, Ill.,, February 18th, he had
pathetically said:
"My friends: No one, not in my
position, can realize the sadness | feel
at this parting, To thir people owe
all that am. Here l have lived more
than quarter OF century. Here
my children were born, and here one
Of them lies buried. know not how
soon | shall see you again. 20 to rs
sumo O task more difficult than that
which has devolved upon any other
man SINCE the day OF Washington.
He never would have succeeded ex-
cept for the aid Of Divine Providence,
upon which he at all times relied. |
feel that ! cannot succeed without the
same Divine blessing which sustained
him; and on the same Almighty Be-
ing ! place my reliance for support.
And l hope you, my friends, win all
pray that | may receive that Divine
assistance, without which | cannot
succeed, but with which success is
certain. Again | bid you an ailec-
Tomato farewell"
As be progressed on that memora-
BILE journey from his home in Illinois,
through Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Co
lumbus, Pttsburg, Cleveland, Erie,
Buffalo, Albany, New York, Trent on,
Newark, Philadelphia and Harrisburg
amid the prayers and blessings and
acclama'ions Of an enthusiastic and
patriotic people uttered words OF
wise consideration and firm modera-
ton such rs beseemed the high
functions and tremendous responsible
tiles to which the voice OF that liberty
aud Union-loving people had called
him, and this, too, with a full knowl.
edge, when he made the Philadelphia
speech, that the enemies OF the re-
public had already planned to assassi.
maze him before he could reach Wash
iDgton.
LINCOLN INAuGURATED.
But calmness, kindness and court
eSy were alike thrown away in both
houses upon the impracticable South
ern leaders. As the last dav of that
memorable session, which closed in
the failure Of all peaceful measures to
restore the Union, slowly dawned-
within but lew hours Ia skiing Of the
time when Mr.. Lincoln would be in
augursted President OF the United
Slates-Mr. Wigla)l thought proper, in
me United Suites Senate, TO sneer at
MIN ss an ex.rail-splitter, an ex.
grocery'keeper, an ex.tatboat captain
and an ex-abolition lecturer"-snd
proceeded TO scold and rant at the
North with furious volubility.
You have won the Presidency"
said ne TO the Republicans, "and YOU
are now in the situation OF the man
who tai won the elephant at a re- lille.
You do not know what to do with the
oeast now that you have IL; aud one.
ha.t OF you 10 day would give your
right arms il you had been defeated.
B.t you succeeded, and you have to
deal with facts. Our objection 20 liv-
ing IN this Union, and therefore the
difficulty OF reconstructing it, is NO.
your personal liberty bills, not the
Territorial question, but that you ut.
teriy and wholly misapprehend the
form Of government
Such we're the words-the spiteiul,
bitter Words-with which this chosen
spokesman Of the South taluted the
cold and cloudy dawn OF that day
which was TO see the scepter depart
ION the hands Of the slave power Tor.
ever.
a lew hours later, under the shadow
NJ the great eastern poftico Of thu Gan.