The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-11

Was the OOnfederacy Rebellion
From the Times.
The Richmond Enquirer, in discussing the
new proposition of some Southern men for an
adjustment of the difficulties of the present
situation, announces itself as willing to yield on
some points, 1t necessary, to quiet distrust and
uneasness at the North. 1t especially speaks
Of the supposition of danger to the public debt
from the votes of Southern men for its repudia-
tiOn, or for the assumption of the Rebel debt,
and admits that If an explicit affirmation would
quiet these fears, it would be wise to make it..
1t adds, however, that "the language employed
should be inoffensive, and such as honorable
men will recognize as applicable, ;" from which
general statement we apprehend no one will
differ.
Now the language of the proposition in ques-
lion on.thc subject is as followi:-
Section 2. The public debt of the United States,
authorized by law, shall ever be held sacred
and invioate: but neither the United States
nor any state shall assume to pay any debt or
obligation incurred in aid of lnsurrectlon or
rebellion against the Government or authority
of the United STATES
What could be thought of any man who
should declare that this language was offensive
or inapphcable? Ought he not TO be stigma
tlzed as one who was unable to look at the
question in fair spirit, or unwilling to accept
The result OF the late struggle, and as one de-
sirous of keeping up the present turmoil, rather
than OF securing peace anu QulCb Wy u ICdoOu-
able Submissions
Yet tins is the ground which the Enquirer
takes 1t does not, indeed, in express words
describe the section az offensive, and yet 1t Is
quite plain that it feels it to be such. "The
terms of the second section above" it says, edo
not embrace the Confederate debt, and would
not bind our faith, as the ConfedeIacy was
neither an lnsurTectlOn nor rebel1on." And
yet, while using such language as that the
Inquirer talks OF the majority Of the Northern
people as wagng a "Cruel and unjust war
upon our society" If any justification were
needed for the adoption OF stringent measures
against the South 1t would be found in the
prevalence of just such spirit as is indicated
by these words The great question of the
war was whether the GOnfederacy was a rebel
lion or not, and the verdict OF arms, to which
tribunal the appeal was taken, was emphati-
Caly that it was a rebellion, and nothing else.
And yet such papers as the Enquirer IN one
breath declare that they have accepted the
results of the conflict, and IN the next declare
that the ConedeTaCy Wasno rebellion and shall
not be spoken of as such by us, who were the
triumphant parties in the struggle.
What II 1t had been question TO be deter
mined before the Courts, and the final judgment
had been given that II was rebellion, and the
defeated party had coolly told the victor that
he was willing to arrange the matters with him,
but it must be on terms that were not "ofen-
slve," and would be binding on an honorable
man." and that anything which spoke of 1t as
rebellion would not be binding on him? Would
not the successful party be rather apt to say
that il the other side insisted in this way still
retaining the subject OF the controversy, he
would try to see what the powers of the Court
would accomplish in carrying out its decree?
These people at the South may as well under
stand that the American nation has decided
that the Confederacy was a rebellion, and ii
they propose to be part of the nation, it must
be accepted as such by them. They must allow
it TO be spoken of as such in the laws and public
documents of the nation. and not consider such
an appellation to be offensive. They must un
derstand that when the nation speaks OF rebel
lion, it refers to the Southern Rebellion just al
much as to Shays rebellion or the Whisky In
surrecton. Their relations with the natlol
will never become normal and healthful unit
they have become educated IN their modes o
thought to accept that as the actual relation o
things.
We do not expect them to feel so all at one,
in their hearts; but the sooner they come tC
feel it to be so, the sooner will the discord be
tween them and us be banished. And to arrive
At that state, they ought to put bride upoI
their language, and recognize the situation as l
is in their words, whatever be the wish OF theil
hearts that 1T were different. We do not, o
course, mean that forms of words alone will
restore harmony between the divided sections
but we do say that they will assist powerfully
and that on the other hand, to persist in
mode of speech which is appropriate only tt
an opposite result from the actual one is t
proong the discord and postpone the harmo
nious reunion of the nation.