The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-11-21

caused him to stand aghast, Tall swearing
was done for half an hour-then came rehec
| ton, and anger was appeased, and before
| shutdown young couple started on bridal
| tour.
The Richmond Enquirer protests against the
| reckless manner In which the radical press ca.
iumniate the south We extract a portion Of
| its remarks;
"There is something indescribably ungenerous
and mean in this persecution Of the few by the
many, and in the breach of faith and the shame
less falsehoods through which it is carried on
The radical press now telling their people
| that she amendment will not be adopted by the
| south, because of 'stubborness, says Greeley;
because of 'contumacy, says Forney. They
| represent US rs seeking contest with the north
| The south still presents united front to the
| north, and is as ready to fight now as it was in
1881, more ready, perhaps, says Greeley
I The men who begun q war to force slavery in
the territories, may fare better in the contest
! they are now provoking, '-says Forney. Thus
| these bad men echo and reecho their mutual nc
| cusations, which are not only false but absurd,
| and which are noticeable only as showing their
| determination to fasten quarrel upon us. The
fable of the wolf and the lamb is being reenacted
in all its cruelty and false preteuce.
| We testify to the northern people. and we call
| the world to witness, that whoever represents
| the southern people as DESTROYS of issue
| contest with the people of the north, speaks as
| absurdly. Why should we desire it? Was it
for this that we have just abandoned a contest
| with the north? We testify fu, Their, to the
| north and to the world, that whoever represents
| us as declining to rstify the constitutional
| amendment from 'contumacy,' or 'stubbornness,'
| bears the most notorious false witness. Mr.
/ Greeley and Colonel Forney may subssrve some
present purpose, but they blacken their souls
I upfth H. A.
| Gus hbels. The southern people are not the
| contrivers of the constitutional amendment
| how then can they be charged with seeking an
| issue upon it? And when it ia brought to them
for. their consideration, they simply take such
action upon it as the constitution imposes, and
they do this IN accordance with their best judy
ment. They invade in this the prerogative of no
other state, They invade no prerogative of con-
gress. They show their respect for both, and
discharge duty to both. How then with any
show of decency, can it be asserted that we are
seeking q contest, or are 'contumscious,' or are
stubborn" And surely it would be most IN
manly in the people of the north to seek a con
test with US Surely it would be very little to
their credit, after inviting surrender, to push
us for a quarrel And for congress to plan to
drive Us into acknowledgements, select body
of sworn legislators, assembled as statesmen, to
act for the whole country,--would be disgrace
that would stand for an example while history
endures. -
The south does not desire any issue or any
quarrel, and che asks that none be thrust upon
her, and then alleged to be of her making If
fresh violences intended, let them at least be
inflicted without the cover of pretences. If the
wolf designs to devour the lamb, let him do 40
without charging that muddy water runs up hill.
Surely, this is not much to ask The southern
states, il is true, do not concur in the wisdom
or expediency of the proposed constitutional
amendment But if congress has the right to
dictate that measure to the states, it has the
right to ordain it of its own. will, without state
agency at all. If it has 10 such right of dicta-
ton, it has no ground of complaint, and 10 ex-
cuse for re sentiment"