The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-09-24
HE ACKNOWLEDGED SECES-
SION AS ACCOMPLISHED.
HE DECLARED THE WAR A FAILURE
called Tor an Armistice and Settle.
ment or the War by Compromise.
Favored the Sons of Liberty.
Opposed the Draft - Not Another
Man or Dollar.

WE have heretofore referred to the
position which WILLIAM E. NIBLAcK
occupied at the commencement of the
war, and all through that struggle, in
opposition to the Government. We
desire this morning to ask the atten-
ton of every candid reader to the
record which he has made, quoting
altogether from his public speeches
and the official legislative journal, for
the truth of which reference can be
had to that instrument. .''"
In 1860 and 81, Mr.. N1BLAoK was
a member of Congress, during the ex-
citing debates preceding the with
drawal of the Southern Senator's and
Representatives from that body. BY
reference to the Congressional Globe.
we find that he participated in the
discussions on the state of the coun-,
try, and on the 31st day of January.
1861, made a aalengthy speech in the
House of Representatives. Lett be
remembered that this speech was de-
llvered4 after the secession, of six
States and - the establishments
of a rebel Government, with,
j. EFF, DAVIS as its President. 1t was
delivered while FLOYD, THOMPSON
m - .
and ToUcEY were stealing our arms, =
corrupting our army, and scattering
our navy over foreign seas; while the r
imbecile o. BUCHANAN !, was allowing
traitors to.undermine the very founda-
tlons of the Government, and while
treason was openly proclaimed in the
halls of Congress, and secretly plotted
by Senators and Representatives.
We copy from his speech, as pub
lished in the Congressional Globe of .
that year on pages 6777S79 and so: as
1.-The seeding States are already out of
me Union, so far as any action they can q
take can place them out. On their part.
at least, secession and tistnion are accom-
Etfshed facts, The secession movement is
stln onward, and gathers strength as it
progresses. 4e f..
Ht.
"Of war thus inaugurated, the end is
beyond mental vision; but rs one result Of
1t, all hope Of a reunion or a reconstruction of
he Government, a0oulol, IN all human proba-.
3fhty, be entirely destroyed. Shall we not
pause before we strike, when it is our
brother that offends? af "a ssF VI ~
" believe it to be the interest of all Sec
ions that nes0 guarantees be at once offered.
Ind that some fair and honorable adjust
nent should be at once made. feel salts
led that the Northern States can offer to
he south such additional guarantees as will 40
n the end satisfy the great mass of its peo-
DE. st',l7
- sfsro-
" IT. however, by any rash or reckless act
If ours this country shall be involved in q.
lesolating civil war, then the sooner the ea
urtain of oblivion is thrown over the
PRESENT exciting and terrible chapter in
ur history as nation, the better for us in "a
he eyes of posterity.
7" If, after all peaceful measures shall he
Exhausted, we find that a final and inex- ~.
rable separation must take place. Icon
OF, IN any vteto Of the case aO1ich hare been
0'e so Se'f'e' see ton0t good can result from q
ssort 10 arms. War, as bet1Oeen the different
'clso'ts or me dlDerent States, a0o,SId be, tpso
sc'o, oasSoe'tt'on. States at t0ar are necessa-
ty foreign to each other"
Such are the sentiments which Mr..
IIBLAcK entertained at the begin
lg OF the war. When the secession
SIX States only had taken place, he
astened to acknowledge the fact that
ley were ALREADY ont of the Union"
secession and dtsuni0n are accomplish
facts" Now he contends as earn
'tly that they never were out, and
larges Congress with treason in
eeping their rebel representatives
it of seats which they voluntarily
He was earnestly opposed to war;
ii hope of Union or a reconstruc- -
IN of the government would, in all
imam possibility be destroyed. He
IS anxious to give the South ne,o
arrantees when they had broken all
ey ever made; and would sacrifice
lnhood, principle, and the honor of
e nation to coax them back from
eir rebellion. But if peaceful reas-
$ would fail, as fail they did, he
nld see nothing to be gained by war ia
it was itself dissolution. And so
acted all through the four years
body struggle, doing all he could to