The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-06-19
False in Faet---Iame in Logic.

The Richmond (Va.) Enquirer has
published an elaborate editorial re-
view of the report Of the Recon
struction Committed 1t assumes that
the report is completely demolished
by its so-called facts and logic. We
give our readers couple of specimen
bricks of the Enqairer's article--one
Of fact and one Of argument-that
they may judge of the character Of the
whole structure. a...g.f eIa8 ,f4eaE
In commenting on the statement in
the Report of the Committee, that
Southern people fought z" for four
years to destroy the Government"
the Enquirer uses the following Lam
guage: 9s Nas asi3 4aFiis 'nrreY
Why would not the truth answer Mr..
Fessenden's purpose? AS well say that
the Irishrnan who seeks his fortune in
Arneriea does SO to " destroy ? ireland.
We all know and concede that the South
efn people wished and tried to get aaedy
from the United. States Governments but
they had no wish and made no effort to
destroy it. Their fighting was all on the
defensive. If they had succeeded, the
Federal system wOald still havesremained
in all its parts.-there would have been
curfailment only of Its teititorial applica-
ton; and even thet would have remained
vastly more extensive than it was at the
formation of the government.
Now, WHAT'S the aet.in the case?
Why, that the South fred the first
shot against the Gopernasesgt and its
flag, before the Government had lift
ed its hand against solitary State
which had gone out of the Union, to
compel its return or obedience to the
laws. s.s.F.,-
The echoes Of the guns of Sumter
had not died away in the distance be-
fore it was proclaimed by the rebel
chiefs that not many days would
elapse before the Confederate flag
would float over the Capitol of the ma
ton, in which case the President and
his Cabinet, Congress and the Su-
preme court-the Government would
have been prisoners or in fight. Yet
the Enquirer gravely asserts that the
fighting of the South was all on the
defensive; that all they wanted was to
be let alone. The Enquirer presumes
on the ignorance of its readers.
Now for the specimen of logic. 1t
will be remembered that the Report
of the Reconstruction Committee an
nounces the doctrine that States may
renounce their privileges, but cannot
escape their duties and obligations.
To this the Enquirer responds: i
Nothing could be unfairer in statement
or more sophistical in argument, than |
these positions. In court of justice, If a |
mans testimony is quoted against him,
the law requires that his tchole statement |
shall be taken. It forbids its humiliation.
1t is unfair, it is untrue, to say that the |
Southern people voluntarily renowned |
representation in Congress, or any other
Federal right, except IN connection i0tth, and |
as a consequence OF, q total t0ithdrGical from i
the authority of the Federal Constitution.
The latter was the gist of the proceeding,
The essential and fundamental condition
Of the whole. But that condition was de-
MED, and we have abandoned it. Is it not
Illogical, is it not trif1ing, is it not pitiful.
20 attempt to hold US to the secondary
lct, when the main proceeding is canceled?j
70 insist upon mere praetical<coroIlary
when the proposition on which it depends |,
s overthrowp? 9ir - LIk1tH ..
such reasoning is unworthy an intelli-
'ent man, and is impossible to an honest.
nan. 1t is the fnesse of the partisan. not
he argument of the statesman; an attempt
o establish falsehood for bad purpose.
lot to discover truth for good purpose. /,
Let US examine the Eaquiirer's 20 H.
ition. 1t says that the Southern peo-
lie never i voluntarily renowned re-
in Congress or any other
federal right Except IN connection ,oith. +
md as a consequence Of total ,oith
'raa0oI from the authority of the
federal Constitution" The ENQUIRER
5 not sustained by fact. The truth is.
he South voluntarily renowned re-
resentation in Congress as one otsthe
'eps-ds a medas-of overthrowing
be authority of the Government; just
$ the seizure of all the post offices,
orts, arsenals, and other benefactions i
t the Government, established in
heir midst at great cost to the peo- {
lie, was another step in the same di- I
ection. To argue that, because they
allied in gaining the object of their !
eyolt-to whose success they con- c
ributed the privileges they enjoyed q
nder the Government = therefore, :
hose privileges ought to be restored +
} them Is as thnnrh the thief sh n,nld q