The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-08-25
AN "ERRING 81 CABINET MINISTER.

when any allusion is made in his pres
ence to the failure of the rebellion, or
any comment other than that of COM
pliment and hattery of our Southern
brethren reaches his ear or eye Sc
we're as the test is upon his temper,
when a Northern man questions either
the reason or the justification of seces-
sion, or Unionist deprecates, in his
hearing, the folly Of the attempt to de-
stroy the government, yet these trials of
his mental equanimity are as nothing
compared to the tribulation in which
he is thrown by the suspicion of con-
fesson upon the part of Southerner,
that secession was unjustiliable and
the war of the rebellion stupendous
folly. The remembrance of the short
lived existence of the Southern Con-
federacy is a well-cherished sore spot
that he carries constantly about him,
and to say that the rebellion was a
failure, and that those who participated
in it were erring or misguided men,
throws him into a spasm of rage and
disgust.
1t has been the fortune or misfortune
recently of Postmaster General Key to
throw the whole fraternity of Southern
editors into one prolonged paroxysm
of rage by casual and it seems jocu-
lar reference to his Southern constitu-
ents as "erring brethren" in his adj
dress delivered at Bennington, Yer
mont, on the recent occasion of the
Presidents reception by the citizens of
that town. Now if there is a living
man, to whom the title of "rebel" be-
longs as proprietary right, that man
is Judge Key. An original Secession
list, a full-hcdged States Rights Demo-
crat, he has peculiar claims to the right
to be considered a representative South
ern man. Yet, for his unfortunate ex-
preston, he has been tabooed bv his
party newspapers and repudiated gen
orally by talkative Southerners. One
sensitive editor thinks he has been eat
ing too much humble pie. Another
tiatteringly terms him the Uriah Heep
of the South. The "Norfolk Virgin
ian " lovingly terms him the Admin
istration trick mule" that cuts up his
antics to raise laugh at the close of
the Presidents Bennington show"
Still another thinks he is grovelng in
the dust Of humility and necessarily
notifying his brethren at home. Still
another exclaims in passionate wrath:
Erring be hanged! Southerners will
"not be the brethren of any living peo-
"ple on such terms" "They do not
"admit they erred" "If we are to he
brothers, you must ADMIT that we
"were right in the rebellion" Thus these
bellicose gentlemen put the alternative
before us, either to concedc the justice
of the rebellion and be at peace, or, de-
nying the fallacy of secession, accept
the consequences of our stubborn diff
ference of opinion. To people of ordi-
nary intelligence, this condition is re-
freshing, and very forcibly establishes
the FACT Of that complete restoration
of harmony and affection between the
two sections of the country, and which
were so sadly disturbed by the recent
"unpleasantness." 1t is one of those
pleasant evidences of complete pacif-
cation and adjustment of local political
differences Of opinion A little like the
handle Of a jug, it is true, all on one
side; but still the best that you can
expect from a people so long accus-
toned to rule. A Cancellation con-
structed and maintained upon-the
heads win, the tails you lose-prin-
ciple, but still far preferable to a con-
dition of open rupture. A happy con-
dition of enforced national association
If the war be spoken of at all, it must
be referred to apologetically. 1t is, as
leading daily pertinently puts it,
Very much as if modern preacher
should say to his congregation: NY
" hearers, | very much regret to inform
you that there is such place as hell
I" l apologize to you for mentioning it.
" | am not responsible for its existence
But such as it is, am bound to bring
ait to your notice in as pleasant and
gentlemanly way as possible" Pre-
cisely in such manner these conciliated
gentlemen expect us to refer to the re-
bellion, if necessity compels US to refer
to it at all. Evidently they have for
given every one who participated in the
preservation of the nations life. But
it is the forgiveness that the Sunday
school boy confessed that he would be-
stow upon his playmate. If, said his
teacher, a boy should smite you upon
one cheek, would you not turn to him
the other? Yes, miss, / would-if he
were BIGGER boy than l am
If these gentlemen of the Southern
grey-goose quill are to be believed,
Judge Key is no longer representa-
tive Southerner. He has spoken the
truth and paid the penalty of truthful
ness in politics. He has been guilty of
treachery to the South, and being a
member Of the Cabinet of a Repubi-
can, Northcrn-born President, is thrice
treacherous by the act Unhappy man!
This for his unfortunate habit of truth
tellinp He iS Infamous Lac.uca bo