Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-04-08
SETTING THIN RIGHT,

L.
The conf1unding of cause and effect in the
popular mind sometimes leads to grave errors:
theological, social. political and scientific
There are but few OF our readers, probably,
who have not read the famous illustration of
this fact IN the English snecdote of the viii
layers who ascribed the formation OF Good win
sands which INSTRUCTED their harbor to the
building of Tenterden steeple, whereas the
stePple used as a lighthouse was erected to
warn mariners ofthe existence Of the bar In the
same way il is asserted that the causeway of
the Long Bridge effects the formation of flats
in the Potomac, when the truth is, the cause
way was made because the flats were already
there, and forced the builders Of the bridge to
adopt that style Of construction. We might
multiply illustrations in all departments of
philosophical and scientific research, but in :
tend to confine ourselves in this article to the
examination of few political fall acies
Thus, the South went to war ostensIbly be-
cause OF the encroachments of the Freesoil
party Of the North. when the fact is, thai
party never would have attsined its
power IN the country if il had not been
for the aggressive character OF the advocates
OF human slavery, who were in satiable in their
demands, and who, although in a large mi
noTity, were determined to rule or rum. After
the war commenced they charged that il was
prosecuted on the part of the North only with
the object of emancipating the slaves when the
fact is that arms were taken up by Northern
men only TO defend the Union against its as
sailants, and the chan &c of policy which m ade
IL virtually war for the abolition Of hu-
man slavery was forced upon the defenders
OF the Union by the fierceness and persis-
tence OF the South. making it evident that
no permanent peace would ever be Sc
cured until the peculiar institution
winch brought about the rebellion should
be wiped out In the same way il is now
argued by the opponents OF reconstruction a,
the South that the policy OF the Union party
has been changed since the suppression of the
rebellion otherwise the excluded States would
long since have been represented. In this
case also, there IL a confoundng of cause and
erect When armed resistance 10 the Govern.
ment ceased, there was wide spread and
growing spirit of Cancellation and compro-
mise throughout the loyal North Butt was
found after a while that the rebellion had no,
terminated 1t had only assumed a new
phase. The military leaders of the South
Were idoiized by their followers. and when
representatives Were TO be chosen none but
the most ultra secessionists stood the ghost of
a cnance on election day. Southern Union
men were ostracized, Northern Union men
prosecuted, and the negroes found themselves
not much better of than when they were
chattels- Hence Union men were forced IN
take more advanced ground, and to demand
previous TO the admission Of the Southern
States such guarantees as would remedy the
evils we have mentioned.
IL Is well that the truth should be told soma.
times ST the South in relation to these ma,ters
and Senator Wilson's speech at PETERSBURG.
virginia, few days since, is a step in the
right direction. Temperate in tone but firm
ana decided there was no concealment OF the
Hutn- unpalateable as it might be to some vbo
neard H. Ii was just such an address as will
DO good In that section. He declared the late
war was unavoidable, and the North ana
South were both respons ible tor IL. both p.,a
alike guilty-the cause being human SI1rsct. hut
the contest was ended, ana he did not wish 70
reproach the men OF the South for the manner
N which they fought: they had met the North
on SIX hundred and twenty-five battle-fields
and had fought with heroic yalor. n. said
also, that in spite OF the desoiations of war
the people OF The North entertained no senti.
ment OF hostility or desire 10 degrade the hmm.
blest man OF the South-that thew neither
wanted the lives, blood, nor lands OF tn.
Southern people-tnat they fought for tn.
liberty OF the lowly. and desired to lift men
up, snd not TO pull them down. He thought
The whites OF the South were too intolerant in
their political views, ana referred to the tolsr.
atior which is extended 10 religious differences
and said it should be the same in regard TO mol,
ines- He went on TO say that the intention Of
congress had been to settle the controversy on
permanent and solid basis, where il would
rest forever; and, advising the adoption OF the
constitutional amendment and explaining its
pIoyisions, he said he trusted that the disabiI
1ies II inflicted upon certain classes would
disappear in few months under the power
of Congress TO repeal by txo- thirds vote. He
did not want TO see any individual, however
ne mad acted, DISTINGUISHED, Inundated or de-
graded. Intelligence was coming up from all
parts that the people will accept the recon.
stIustion bill, and he believed that by the 9TH
OF March next the ten excluded States will be
represented in Congress. The speech was well
received. ana its spirit net objected to. al
though Richmond paper thinks II was .more
candid than considerate"