Year: 1861

Letter from Memphis.


MEMPHIS, TESN, April 9th. 1861.


Col. THOMAS IL read, and regularly, the Clron-
icle have read it since it had existence as paper.
Two causes combine to attach me to the Chronicle
1t halls from the scenes Of my BIRTH boyhood, and
early manhood, scenes somewhat changed of later
years. but still DEAR very dear to mel and is the
Chronicle of the incidents in the lives of many who
were the mentors or companions of the days o
.auld lang Syne."


Again, through all its administrations If my
memory be not at fault, it has been the exponent,
the faithful exponent of the principles to which
have ever been attached; principles taught me by
an honored one whose ashes now repose beneath
the soil of old Montgomery principles have stri-
ven earnestly, anxiousy to inst into the minds of
those who are to succeed me-princples, confessed
ly of enlightened public policy, which all parties
would now willingly adopt nay, which all parties
are adopting.


| believe that, though personally the friend of
each of those who have occupied the editorial chair
of the Chronicle, and always the reader thereof,
have never asked a place in your columns, never
hSUpiSu gOu vi yOui 10 81 now, luaI
may give the need of my humble appreciation to
the course which you have assumed in the present
condition of political affars-that | may bid you
to hold the even tenor of your way and press it
home upon your readers


1t is much to be feared that influences will be
brought to bear induce Tennessee to settle down
into acquiescence in the present condition of things
into unconditional Upionism. Indications lead to
such conclusion-I may be mistaken--I hope ! am,
yet will hazard the prediction that such course
will be openly promulged, and advocated ere the
meeting of the Convention at Nashville.


For one, dearly as / prize the Union, however
much may think we are a nation, indebted to
it. for all of prosperity and greatness we have at
tained, to whatsoever extent may suppose the per-
manency of any future government upon this con-
tinent is dependant upon the severance of the ties
which now link, or have heretofore linked these
States together, hesitate not to say will affiliate
with no party which goes-into the approaching can
vass without demand for the constitutional guar
antees we have heretofore spoken of and the indi-
cation of some well defined plan by which this de-
mand may be made, and made effectual And
venture to add in this regard that speak the sem
timent of large majority of the so-called Union
men of the County of Shelby. If the Union party
of Tennessee calculate upon the aid of Shelby in
the approaching struggle they must put themselves
fairly upon the record.


We prize (and we have shown that we prize as
no other county in the State has shown, because
none other has had one-haf the adverse influences
to contend wth) the Union, we are of the opinion
that the doctrine of secession claimed by those
farther South is a ruinous and dangerous doc
trine. We believe that the dissolution of the Union
will be the death-knell Of slavery. We are satisfied
that this Union once permanently dissoved, we shall
never see permanent government upon this conti-
nent again. and that such governments as may be
established North or South, will be but third or
fourth rate governments among the nations of the
earth Yet, notwithstanding all this, we prefer
and infinitely prefer, all the hazards to be incurred
by revolution, and the new relations incident there
to, to remaining where all equality is denied u.s.


Upon well defined platform, setting forth an
ultimatum, and the method by which such ultima
tum shall be presented, and if refused, enforced
friends Of the Union we will strike hands with you
again. aud battle on hopefully, fearlessly, nay with
an abiding faith of ultimate and entire success not
only of securing rights in the Union, but of
bringing back in process of time those of our breth-
ren who have, as we think, too hastily left u.s.
Shall we have such platform made in good faith
and carried out in good faith2 What say the I'm
ion men of old Montgomery


MORE ANON.