The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-06-11
a PARLIAMENTARY Porcupine.


who claim the paternity of the measures re-
commended, have very little reason to feel
satisfied with their labors. When the minority
report is presented, we shall see this precious
sffusion answered in mastery manner, for
the acute intellect and ample learning of
Mr.. REvERDY JOHNSON, will find in the work
of the State-Slayers abundant provocation for
animadversion. The Committee, with all their
pomp and parade, show very clearly that
they have been more eager to manufacture "a 4
campaign document than to advance the, in |
terests Of the country; and they will stand
convicted of this in the judgment Of all
thoughtful men aosa 20 80 els
We do not hesitate to characterize this re-
port as paltry in reasoning and malevolent in
sentiment. As an evidence of the absolute
disingenuousness Of it, we quote the sixth
section, to which other extracts might be ad-
ded, all Of the same complexion, The section
to which we refer, says the question is
whether conquered rebels may change their
theatre of operations from the battlefield,
where they were defeated and overthrown, to
the halls of Congress, and, through their rep
resentatives, seize the Government which
they fought to destroy. Whether tue national
treasury, the army of the nation, it's navy,
its forts and arsenals, its whole civil admins
tration, its credit its pensions, the widows
and orphans of those who persisted in the
war, the public honor, peace and safety, shall
all be turned over to the keeping of its recent
enemies, without delay, &C." Now. this, is
not the question by any means 1t is absurd
to talk of 'seizing, through our representa-
tives,' the Government" which we "fought
to destroy"
This is absolute stuff, for if the Southern
States were admitted tomorrow to thei seats
they would be in large minority The
North would have clear majority of more
than seventy members in the House, and
more than two to one in the Senate, Il '1ai t7e
This weak minority could not "seize' the
Governmental is absurd to talk of it. Here
we have evidence of our assertion, that the
honorable gentlemen-all honorable men
who adopted this report, were more anxious
to make campaign document, than to draw
up candid plan for the pacifcation of the
country. t,s.e ...-,',,,.a
But in their anxiety, they have given US
sApeo' w avs. --'-17-~ that should hardly
on the hastings .f
The notion Of turning over the army and
navy, and treasury, and forts, and arsenals,
&C., &C., to us, without delay" is equally
ridiculous,
These statements cannot deceive any candid
mind The question is not as put by the
Committee. 1t is very simple one He who
runs may read, and no ingenuity can conceal
it, The bushel which the Commit have
brought forward cannot hide the light which
shines on the path of every man in the land
The question is in nut shell: 1t is Union or
Disunion. The temper of this document is
OF piece with its reasoning 1t insists on
the pound of flesh, 1t regards the States late
~ in arms as conquered enemies, and holds
that the utmost which can be claimed for
them is the humanity required by the laws of
war. 1t is bitter and vindctive, and bristles
with attacks on the President. 1t is a Parlia-
mentary porcupine, with its angry quilts all
pricked up. 1t is as ill-natured, and about
as dignifed assthe animal to which we have
compared it, but unhappily, much more dan
gerous In short, it is "a very bitter docu-
ment. 1t doesn't believe in speedy reunion,
and in proposing an indefinite postponement,
reminds usef story told by one of the most
brilliant and famous of the French writers of
the last century. An Oriental devotce, who
had undergone the severe Standardization
which the Buddhist faith enjoins, presented
himself to venerable Fakir and recited his
various penances. u have" he said, "looked
at the sun till I became blind" "What else,"
asked the priest, "have you done?" 81 have
sat upon the blazing sands until the skin bis
tered on my body; have been devoured by
vermin; have suffered the papgs of hunger
and the tortures of thirst, aud now l trust
that ! am worthy to be admitted into
heaven"
"Have you ever sat upon spikes p" asked
the grim old priest.
mo-" replied the devotee 1851 +
Then begone," roared the Fakir. go sit
upon spikes for year, and then, perhaps,
you may be ready for Heaven"
This is the pleasant idea of the Committee.
We have looked at the situation until we have
grown blind to some of our old theories; we
have suffered from swarm Of hungry off,
Gals; we have felt want-but all this does not
prepare us for the beatitude of reconstruction
No, we must sit upon spikes a-,5t ID
as. DE- 4,