The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-14

GENTLY strengthen the Union-loving
people there against the red-hot Sc
cessionists, to putthe "brakes" down
on rebellion.
Strange, indeed, must have been the
thoughts that crowded Though the
brain and oppressed the heart OF
Abraham Lincoln that night-his first
at the White Housed
The city Of Washington swarmed
with rebels and rebel sympathizers,
and all the departments OF govern
ment were honeycombed with treason
and shadowed with treachery and es-
pionsge. Every step proposed or con-
templated by the government would
be known ID the Confederate States
almost as soon as thought OF. all
means 10 thwart and delay the carry
ing out OF the governments purposes
that the excuses Of routine aud red
tape admitted OF would be used by
the traitors within the camp to aid
the traitors without.
No one knew all this better than
Mr.. Lincoln. With no army, no navy,
not even revenue cutter left-with
forts and arsenals, ammunition and
arms in possession of the rebels, with
no money in the National Treasury
and the national credit blasted-the
position mutt, even to his hopeful
nature, have seemed at this time des-
peiats. To be sure, despite threats,
neither few nor secret, which had
been made, that he should not live 10
be inaugurated, he had passed the
first critical point - had taken the in
augural oath - and was now duly in
stalled in the White-House. That
was something, of course, to be pro-
foundly thankful for. But the mat .er
regarded by him Of larger moment -
the ssfStV OF the Unisn-how about
thatf
How that great, and Just, and
kindly brain, in the dim shadows OF
that awful firtt night at the White
House, must have searched up aud
down along the labyrinths of history
and corridors Of time" everywhere in
the past, for any analogy or excuse for
the! madness of this secession move
ment-and searched in vain.
With bis grand and Astounding faith
in God, how Abraham Lincoln must
have stormed the very gates of heaven
that night with prayer that he might
be the means OF securing peace and
union TO his beloved but distracted
countryi How his great heart must
have been racked with the alterna-
tionB of hope and foreboding-of
trustfulness and doubt! ADxiously
he must have locked for the light OF
the morrow that he might gather from
the press the manner in which his in
augural had been received. Not that
he feared the Nolth-but the South;
how would the.wayward, williul, pas
sionate South receive the proffered
olive branch2
Surely, surely-thus ran his thoughts
when the brave and gallant and
generous people of that section came
to read his message OF place and good
will they must see the suicidal folly Of
their course. Surely their hearts must
be touched and the mists OF prejudice
dissolved, 80 that reason would resume
her sway and reconciliation follow A
little more time for reflection would
yet make all things right. The young
men OF the South, fired by the South
ern leaders false appeals, must soon
return 10 rtason. The prairie fire is
terrible while il sweeps along, but it
soon burns out. When the young
men face the emblem of their nations
glory--the flag OF the land OF their
bilth--then will come the reaction,
and their false leaders will be hurled
from place and power, and all will
again be right. Yes, when it comes 10
firing ON the old, old flag, they will
not, Caunot do i'll Between the com.
promise within their reach and such
sacrilege as this they cannot waver
long.
So, doubtless, al the long night,
whether waking or sleeping, the mind
of this true-hearted son OF the West
throbbed with the mighty weight Of
the problem intrusted to him for solu.
ton aud the vast responsibilities
which he bad Just assumed toward
his fellsw-men, his nation and his
God. And when, at last, the long lean
frame was thrown upon the couch,
and tired Natures sweet restorer"
held him briefly in her arms, the smile
OF hopefulness on the wan cheek told
that, despite all the terrible Difficult
ties OF the situation, the sleeper was
sustained by strong and cheerful be-
lief in the Providence OF God, the
patriotism of the people and the
efficacy o. his inaugural peace-ofer-
ing 10 the South.
FIRING ON SUMTER,
At 500 o'clock am. Mai. Anderson
received from Messrs. Chestnut and
Lee a notification to this effect "By
authority OF Brig. -Gen. Btauregard,
commanding the provisional forces Of
the Confederate States, we have the
honor 10 notify you that he will open
the fire Of his batteries on Fort sum-
ter in one hour from this time" And
a later dispatch, from Gen. Beauregsrd
to Secretary Walker, April 18th, lacon!
ically stated: eve opened fire at
4 80 o'clock"
At last the hour and the minute had
come for which the slave power Of the
South had 70. thirty years 60 impa-
patiently longed. At last the moment
had Goa when all the long.treasured
vengeance q the South-outgrown
from questions OF tariff, OF slavery and
Of secsssion-was to be poured out in
blood and battle; when the panoplied
powers and forces OF rebellious Con-
iederate States, standing face TO face
with the resolute patriotism OF an out
RACED Union, would belch forth flame
and fury and hurting missiles upon
the Federal fort and the old flag Aoat-
ing DER it.
And whose the saerilegious hand
thst dared to be first raised against his
country and his country's flsg2
Stevens mortar battery at Sullivau's
Island is ready 10 open, when lean,
long-haired old man, with eyes blair (
in their deep fanatical sockets, totters
hastily forward and ravenously Selling
in his bony bands q lanyard, pulls tine
string, and, with a flash and roar, away