Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-10
Toserntson Of opinion.

From the Memphis commereiall
IL is Jack Falstaf who is the curative au-
thor Of the remark: IL reasons were as
plenty as blackberries / would not
render one upon cOmpulsion." There il
much philosophy contained in the senti-
ment although, in Sir Johns case, the bar
renness of reasons was probably the impel-
ling cause of his direct refusal 20 appeal io'
the tribunal 10 which intellectual persons
are supposed 10 submit their controversies.
The plea is sometimes urged against the
Southern States thar they have submitted 10
the Constitution of the United States, and
adopted the additional exsctions Of the
Government, under d3rcs' In ether
words, they are not able TO give any reason
for IT, except the obvious and true one, that
they have submitted 10 force. The South
might very properly reply; We have acted
under duress, contrary 10 our convictions OF
right and Justice, and our preconceived ideas
Of the Constitution, but we have been over
powered, and submit. We yield our dog
mas to the law Of necessity, and regard the
decree as irreversible. II was force that de
cided the issue, not reason Reason could
not determine il. After thirty years Of de
bate, we appealed to the swori and the
sword decided against U.s. Is not this enough
10 YOU ASK u 10 Icuiitnd tAS Vial X NhN
forum of reason? II 20, we must hon
estIv confess that another political strug-
gle must ensue. Not that we are not
content With the issue a. il is. We
do not believe that the influence and opinion
of the world can recall what is past. Seees-
sion HIS gone against ms. African slavery
Is among the things that were" All the
constitutions and laws Of Christeadom could
not now reniand 10 slavery the scattered ne
proes nffhe South The ideas and aspira~
tios~ they have been taught, would render
slem unfit 20 perform the Offices Of involun-
tary labor. There Is no system Of labor
which could be evolved for the agricultural
fields Of the South, that would not more eas-
lily be organized and carried into practice
than that OF slavery. The South, therefore,
wishes neither TO appeal to force, o. reason,
for new trial Of the questions in which she
has been defeated But she does not feel
impeiled 20 render reasons for her defeat,
farther than the facts themselves 20 suf-
ficiently indicate. She can never 20 far for
get her selErespecs, and impugn her SINGER
ity, az 10 declare that she was from the first
in the wrong. If her opponents are not sat
isficd with the result a. Il il they cannot
compel her 70 vindicate their action, BIZ sud-
denly pretending g. be converts 70 all their
doctrines. Were she TO do tiiiss they might
well doubt her honesty, and suspect her Of
sycophancy and hypocrisy in the extreme.
II would be achieving the result which Pres
idenf johnson wisely foresaw would be
satire and mockeFy upon democratic ins.itu-
tions--if rouid eUiscerufs hsr HlaRkood
But the North appealed TO the sword as
well a. the South, to decide the issue IN dis
pute between them. They we're decided in
favor ofthe .Northby the sword II il down
right dishonesty for any man Of the trinIn-
phant party 10 proclaim that any other trib-
unal than force has decided the question.
and to ask that the South shall yield eonvie-
tons to conpsflsion, n veil a. 20 surrender
the main Issues 6f TIE contest Il i NOT
necessary that the North and South any
longer quarrel abont these issues, because
they are essentially dead and ought TO be
buried. For this very reason there should
be no contest. The facts are settled. DIFF
ference Of opinion j. at least toleraicd By the
if the constitutions IS not dead
letter. This difference can work no evil 10
The GoFernment, when h Is no longer Dir
rected against the existing order Of thiags
Wherefore, We say, lsf the SqHth Aefe he<
opinions, her traditions. her social a'f<k rna
iss the North enjoy uhatcfcf opir.pnz ma
iitions and idess may sseni spsd % her-