The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-22
THE ART OF CHoPPING LOGIC.

Igeneer 10 take out paten-right for new species
n logic which il has introduced into its political
&i.lectics. We have beautiful specimen of It in
: article of "Shaking in the Wind" in its number
h this morning. It's force consists in drawing con-
Illusions exactly opposite to those which any fea-
enable man would infer in similar circumstances
For examples
| II YOU find The reckless wing prints on your Ia
stating the boldest stories about dscord in the
abinet, you must never contradict them' lest some
ne should suppose ''there is more in these rumors
~ no was a, first inclined to believe" So the
IL If logic is this: the holder the report, the moe
onudent the fabrication, the more does 1t become
on N let il run on without contradiction. You see
said and re-echoed by hundred wing papers, that
A. Buchanan has resigned his seat in the cabinet;
=, h. does il. because he differs with the President
bout grave mat,ers-oregon, for instance; that the
bole cabinet is discordant, and about to break to
eces;-yet YOU must not contradict 1t. hundred
hies may say lboldly, and pass the tale from hand
hand: vet that is no reason why single democrat
ould gainsay il. If the "National lntelligencer''
nj said there is no occasion for any contradiction,
ecause the wing press is known TO be so menda-
ous that no one will believe it, there might be
,me show of reason in the assertion This, however,
a species of compliment which it will scarcely
' TO its brethren But when it says, you must
nj contradict it, because it would prove "there is
.ore in these rumors than (we) would be at first
belined to believe" why, this kind of reasoning
.ould proye that we must never notice the mis-
representations Of the wings, lest the very attempt
contradict them should give them currency and
rec. The ingenious logic of the "Naiional Intel
eencer," then, is this; If you do contradict them,
will only show there is something in them; and IT
ou do no, contradict them, the people will be-
We there is something in them. Therefore, do as
ou will, people will credit them. Let the story
m on, that Mr.. Buchanan resigns because the
kbnet is torn to pieces, and people will believe it,
Ia, if you do contradict it, why you prove yourself
10 sensitive and the people will be persuaded that
here is something in the report.
The wing press says, again, that the republican
lry will be torn to peces-that the Calhoun people
dissatisfied and that Col. Benton will fly off. You
lust according to the ingenious logic Of the new
khool. saw nothing about it, because, if you are
ent, the world will believe it; and if you notice
/, will show an almost tremulous anxiety you
We it currency" and you show "there is more in
ese rurnors than others would be at first inclined
believe" Thus, according to this new species OF
|gument, the wings would have us on either horn Of
dilemma If you notice, you attach importance
The story, and make it current; and if you do not
btice it, the wings would have right to infer,
BIN your silence, that their assertions about the
visions of your party were all real.
So, also, about all the other instances cited by
lis mornings National Integencer You must
bt quote from New Orleans paper the most une-
voca assertions about the perfect unity of our party
YOU must not copy the article, which says we are
lining strength every day, and that "there is no
THU prospect Of our driding because, howevertr true
assertion may be, and however much il may be in
ison with our own opinions, it is not right for us
quote it, Although il shows that the feeling is
same at different sections of the Union--tha il is
New Orleans as it is in Richmond-yet it is inn
oper to quote it, according to the logic of the Ma
bnal Integencer, because we Gravel off too far
I'M home,r when we go to New Orleans for the
dences Of public sentiment
I'VE have other illustrations of the peculiar logic
the Washington wing press.
We must not say that we despise the efforts
the wings to divide US, or that we will keep
wn every little feud that may Turk in our
ry, lest we admit that the contention is too extern
Fe to be put down; although we say, in the
fongest manner, that this little fend will be
pt down, the party united, and the wings will he
sappoined and defeated. We must not point out
rocks which the wings assert are in the way OF
r navigation, lest, according to the logic Of the
hgs we admit that these rocks will shipwreek the
sseI, although we confidently assert her safety.
70 u ust not say that teic Of the friends OF Mr.,
blhoun may murmur, lest, according to the logic
the "Intellgencer," it may be inferred that all
IL murmur althoughwe expressly say that the great
ass of them are con,ented, and that all ofthem will
obably be satisfied, in spite of the insdious eff
IT'S Of the wings to blow the flame. We must not
pose the unfounded and unavailing assertions OF
Baltimore American about Colonel Bentons
ends, or about the "rval interests" which 1t says
i. Polk will have to conciate; because, according
the logic Of the new school, our showing that
ey can do us no serious and ultimate injury, Is
needing tina, they will destroy US.
But il is idle to expose the deceptive logic Of the
National Intelligencer." 1t consists either in
venting new premises for itself, or in drawing
roneous conclusions from them. Let 1t be
sured that all the efforts OF the National In
ligencer and its allies to divide our party,
ID unite its own, by the prospect of our
visions, will decidedly fail. The misrepresenta-
ns which they circulate about our party will be
ly exposed to the contempt of an enliglten-
people. Any seeming little differences OF
hpopry opinion among very small minori-
Of our friends, north or south. will be healed
rough the good sense of the administration,
well as by the suspicious in which we hold
cry insdious attempt Of the wings to m
Ease them. We repeat, that "the vbig press
are showing us, Ivy the game which they
pud have us play, some of the dangers which
should be most anxious to avoid They are not
untng 40 much on their own strength ne on our
visions and our weakness. We were in no very
minent danger before; for, as we said the other
~, we would spare no pains to keep down any