The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-08-22
For the Register.
Rnlse Logic.

MEssRs. EDITORS Having seen in
the Mte!ligeneer of Monday morning q
notice of what Mr.. Stanton asserted at
the Washington Hall on the evening of
the 18th inst. viz:
"Now, have simply to say this: these
States, not yet restored to their relations
to the general Government, had destroy
ed their governments by this rebellion.
No man questions it. Congress is the
only tribunal known to the Constitu-
tiOn that has power to determine when
and upon what terms those govern
ments shall be restored to the Unien."
l propose to make few comments
upon this gratuitous proposition.
Now suppose Mr.. Stanton recognizes
the Crittenden Resolutions, passed in
Congress July, 1861, by almost unani-
nous vote, (two Republicans voting
against it,) which, referring to the then
status of the States in rebellion reads
thus:
"That in this national emergency
Congress, banishing all feelings of mere
passion or resentment, will recollect
only it's duty to the whole country; that
this war is not tCdged upon our part in any
spirit of oppression, nor for any conquest
or subjugatiOn, nor purpose of orerthroU-
ing or interfering uih the rights or estab-
ished Institutions Of the States, but to de-
fend and maintain the supremacy Of the
Constitution, and to preserre the Union
wiM all the dignity and rights Of the sererat
States unimpaired; that as soon as these OBJ
jects are accomplished the war ought to
cease"
Now this proposition of Mr.. Stanton's
is the direct antipodes of the real spirit
and letter of that portion of those cele-
brated resolutions as quoted above.
Those resolutions were endorsed by ev-
cry Republican press in the Union.
The Wheeling Intelligencer, if I re-
member rightly, Landed them to the
skies and republished them in itdlic, to
give them the highest sanction in the
power of type to convey. If, then, the
war was not waged for the suljugation
of these States, nor to impair their
rights, Aor dignity; but to defend and
maintain the supremacy of the Consti-
tuition, and to preserve the Unien," how
did, how could these States destroy
their government by this rebellion 7"
Will Mr.. S. contend that States are ca
pable of committing political suicide I
Unless he takes issue with the resolu-
tions, he must admit that when General
Lee, and the other Generals, commits
stoned by the Confederacy, consequent
upon that rebellion, laid down their
arms and submitted to the require
ments of the Constitution and the
laws made in pursuance thereof,
the States were then in the
same position that they were
ante belium. Their rights, their insti-
tutions and their dignity remaining un-
impaired. This is the natural and legit-
innate sequence consistent with the
meaning and purport of those Resolu-
tions. And yet Mr. S. declares that no
man questions his naked proposition
ask who would have dared to sanction
it in lS6li No one, or else the battle
of Bull Run would have been the victo-
rious triumph of secession as well as the
victory of arms. The disaster to the
Union army caused by that defeat was
the very instigation OF the Crittenden
1t was to declare the pur-
pose of the war-to disabuSe the minds
of thousand of patriots at the North
who were apprehensive that the war
was for the abolition of slavery-to
facilitate enlistments and recruits to
the disheartened and demoralized army
that had fled from the field as from the
opening Jaws ofa devouring earthquake.
Without such declaration by Congress
at such time, no recruits could have
been obtained. False and hypocrltlcal
who knew the plotted design
of the war, would not enlist. They
were waiting for shoddy contracts and
fat offices.
But, says Mr.. s., Congress is the only
tribunal known to the Constitution that
has power to determine when and upon
,rhat terms these governments shall be
restored" Granted. And does not the
Crittenden Resolution expressly declare
thisi The South submitted to the su-
premacy of the laws-they surrendered
in good faith towards the Government
and have kept that pledge inviolate-
yea, more. They have cheerfully given
up a cherished institution, which the
solemn pledge of Congress declared
should not be .interfered with. Why,
then, are they not restoredi Why are
they stript of their dignity The Critten-
den Resolutions have not been repealed.
Why are their letter and spirit Ignored
1t seems to me that Mr.. Stanton has
made a gratutous assertion which |
might be as gratuitously denied, and be
claimed as logical answer; but legal
facts and Congressional enactments
leave him without shadow of proof to
sustain his simple, untenable assertion.
When radical Republicans thus under
take to swallow themselves, they should
do it so effectually as not to leave their
ears sticking out 80 prominently.
MORE ANON.
Roaf lyirIa