The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-29
Political Rights.

AdtiOuo do d I1Ouo vi uGClSlOl Wll6Q all Otn-
ers have failed; but it is not an equitable tr-
bunal before which to try questions of right
Its decisions are accepted, because they are
decisions of force, and leave the weaker par
ty, which has failed to establish the right,
without another resort by which it may or
might be successful. We are now assuming
the right to be with the weaker. The sword
from the very nature of the instrument, is in
capable of deciding right, which we use as
another name for truth 1t can only decide
whether or not such right or truth shall
prevail. But a triumph of force cannot
make right what was wrong before, nor can
it render that wrong which was right before
1t simply decides which principle shall pre-
vail for the time being, the ethics of the
principle remaining unchanged by the ultima
ratio. Logic, and not the sword, is the ls-
gitimate weapon to be employed in the decis-
ion of all truths or rights affecting mankind
or nations. And, as has been surmised by
great minds which have given this subject
their mature reflection, when civilization
reaches to certain point in the progress and
elevation of man and nations, the resort to
force, by which the prevalence of rights or
truths is now decided. will be abandoned;
and the decision of logic or reason, will be-
come the ultima ratio, the sole and peaceful
arbiter. The period, however, when such a
mode of arbitration will be recognised when
the political lions and lambs shall lie down
together---is apparently SO distant that the
condition is regarded more as an imaginary
than real one which is to arrive
This theory does not meet with gen.
eral recognition, SO that mankind and
nations have left to them only the last re-
sort to force, by which to establish, not the
truth, but the prevalence or supremacy of
political principle. The soundness of our re-
Elections are evident from many considera-
tons which we have not space to elaborate
but which will be admitted as truthful by re-
fiecting that, if the contrary of our PROPOSE
ton be admitted. all the tyranny and OPP
preston which have filled and deluged the
world with misery and b,oodshed, by the
instrument of force, would be upon the side
of right and Justice
Such view of the tribunal of force would
likewise justify-besides the political tyran-
mics and oppression which have disgraced
mankind and made monsters of men in the
possession of power which they have wielaed
in wrestling from them the political rights of
the people-all the religious prosecutions and
fortunes which have been perpetrated in the
interests of "our common christianity" and
which were and are SO utterly unjustiGable
and abhorred in the estimation of an enlight-
ened christian civilization. To speak OF write,
therefore, of the element of force as the proper
tribunal by which to decide the truth Of politi-
cal, CIVIL or religious rights, is clearly absurd.
Such decisions do not touch the ethics in
volved IN such questions, and only, for the
time, settle their supremacy or subjugation-
their triumph or defeat-their prevalence or
allegiance t4t
To continue to hold, as a truth, doctrine
for which we may have commended, but in
which contest we have been defeated in es-
tablishing for the tme its supremacy, is per-
fectly consistent with subsequent acknowl-
edgment Of defeat, and pledge not to insist
upon or attempt by force, a further prosecu-
ton of our right; but to submit by reason of
our defeat and inability, to the situation re-
sulting out of the successful issue of the con-
test in which we may have been engaged
In other words, we yield necessarily and hon
estly to the supremacy of force, while we
may continue to hold the truth Of our doc
trine. Force is incapable of convincing-it
can only command and compel obedience
Logic, on the contrary. is incapable of COM
handing or enforcing obedience-it can only
convince.
The war has resultedin the abolition OF slave
ry. Weaccept the result, and entertain neither
wish nor intention to re-estabsh it, 1t has
also decided the ''absolnte supremacy of the
National Government, as defined and limited
by the Constitution of the United States"
which the South always held
The war has also resulted in the defeat by
force of "the claim for any State 10 secede
from the Union;" and the South has No idea
OF putting forth this claim. 1t has been dis
allowed by the appeal to the sword, to which
she resorted, after having failed by logic to
produce conviction in the minds of her oppo-
nents. She, therefore, accepts the situation,
and Is ready to cooperate with the conserva-
tism of the country in establishing, against
radicalism, the prevalence OF the essential
dogma upon which our common Government
is based; and that dogma is representation in
legislative councils-t is the Republican
osma of IT consent Of the governed"