The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-02-24
federation OfOniniOn.

1t is Jack Falstatf who is the pura-
tive author of the remark ''if reasons
were as plenty as blackberries l would
not render one upon compulsion."
There is much philosophy contained
in the sentiment, although, in Sir John S
case, the barrenness Of reasons was
probably the lmpelling cause OF
his direct refusal to appeal to the
tribunal to which intellectual per
sons are supposed to submit their
controversies. The plea is sometimes
urged against the Southern States that
they have submitted to the Constitu-
ton Of the United States, and adopted
the additional eXactions of the Gov
ernment, "under duress." In other
words, they are not able to give any
reason for it, except the obvious and
true one, that they have submitted to
force. The South might very proper
ly reply: We have acted under duress,
contrary to our convictions Of right
and justice, and our preconceivcd ideas
Of the Constitution, but we have been
overpowered, and submit We yield
our dogmas to the law of necessity,
and regard the decree irreversible. 1t
was force that decided the issue, not
reason. Reason could not determine
it. After thirty years of debate, We
appealed to the sword, and the sword
decided against us. Is not this
enough !? DO you ask us to remand
the trial to the forum of reason? Il
so, we must honestly confess that
another political struggle must cnsue
Not that we are not content with the
issue as it is. We do not believe that
the influence and opinion Of the world
can recall what is past. Secession has
gone against us. African slavery is
among "the things that wcre' All
the constitutions and laws of Christcn-
dom could not now remand to slavery
the scattered negroes Of the South.
The ideas and aspirations they have
been taught, would render them unfit
to perform the offices Of involuntary
labor. There is no system of labor
which could be evolved for the agri-
cultural fields of the South, that would
not more easily be organized and car
ried into practice than that of slavery.
The South, therefore, wishes neither
to appeal to force, or reason, for Il new
trial of the questions in which she has
been defeated. But she does not feel
impelled to render reasons for her de-
feat, farther than the facts themselves
SO sufficiently indicate. She can never
so far forget her selr-respsct, and i'm
pugn her sincerity, as to declare that
she was from the first in the wrong
If her opponents are not satisfied with
the result us it is, they cannot compel
her to vindicate their action, by sud
denly pretending to be converts to all
their doctrines. Were she to do this
they might well doubt her honesty,
and suspect her of sycophancy and
hypocrisy in the extreme. 1t would
be achieving the result which Presi
dent johnson wisely foresaw would bt
a satire and mockcry upon democrati,
institutions-it would eviscerate he
manhood.
But the North appealed to the swor,
as well as the South, to decide the is
sue in dispute between them. The
were in favor Of the North by tn
sword. 1t is downright dishonest
for any man of the triumphant part
to proclaim that any other tribuna
than force has decided the question
and to ask that the South shall yiel
convictions to compulsion, as well Il
to surrender the main issues of th
contest. 1t is not necessary that tn
North and South any longer quarrt
about these issues, because they ar
essentially dead and ought to be bur
led. For this very reason there shouid
be no contest. The facts are sestefr .ef
, Difference of opinion is at ieas' .on-
! Grated by the constitution it.r - ~ This
stitution is not . deaa 'e ev;J IN tho
difference can work no ioncou W. M y;
U'nele T.a,,'aut enuv when it is no longer ol-
Governne;ast le;"st tho existing order of
recfed wherefore, we say, let the
thing'h hsyo her opinions, her tradi- |
ns som. her social ideas, and let the
North enjoy whatever opinions, ira
iifions and ideas may seem good to
Commercial.