The National tribune., 1896-02-13
1.-THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

TO explain words spoken I" in the heat OF
debate" Mr.. Talbert, of South Carolina,
said:
ImpulsiveIy, I said that South Carolina
was net ashamed for the part that she took
in il; that she was proud of it, and that l.,
for one. Endorsed secession then. i thought
we were right; think SO yet, and that,
under TIE circumstances, surrounded by the
same conditions, would do the same thing
again. Now, Mr.. Speaker, repeat it.
1t seems very clear that this deliber-
ate utterance justified Mr.. Barrett's
charge of being seditious and treason
able" and constituting new and aggra-
waited oHense. 1t was especially obnoxi-
Gus, in matter and manner, and admits
of no defense. Let us coolly examine it
in detail. In the first place, he says
that "South Carolina is not ashamed
for the part she took in 1.-THE war
Now, Mr.. Talbert processes to be glad
that the Union was maintained and
slavery abolished. IF he is sincere in
this, he must think that somebody was
terribly to blame for bringing about a
war 10 dismember the country and per-
petuate slavery. If they were to blame
they should be ashamed of it. IF it was
all right to precipitate an unrlghteous
war for an unrighteous end, of course
they have nothing to be ashamed OF.
That is the whole situation. Talbert
SAYS that "he thought he was right
then" We can readily understand
that. Hundreds of thousands in the
South were similarly deluded by the
sophistres of the Secession leaders al
think so yet" he continues. This is
incredible, unless he has the disposition
of fiend to delight in untold misery de-
scending upon peaceful land. THAT,
under the circumstances, surrounded by
the same conditions, / would do the
same thing again" This is the most
monstrous of all. If there is any one
thing clear in the light of to-day it is that
"the circumstances and surround
ings" did not afford the slightest justif-
cation for the atroeious act Of beginning
the rebellion. The more history is
studied the clearer becomes the absolute
| causelessness of secession. The slave
holders had the most complete assur-
ances of the security of their property.
They were offered every guarantee that
ingenuity could suggest. Even when
provoked by their wicked act of begin
ming war, We went on for months giving
! their slaves back to them, and disclaim-
ing the slightest intention of enter
| fering with the peculiar institution"
| We did this, though the conscience OF
every man in the army revolted at the
thought of the uniform Of the United
States being prostituted to the livery of
slave-catchers.
In 1861, South Carolina was Just as
well assured Of every right in the Union
as she is today. She had absolutely no
more reason for firing Oh Fort Sumter
on April u, 1861, than she will have
for firing on it April IL, 1896. Mr..
Talbert's declaration amounts to simply
this-that at any time any. body Of
men, who may wish to, have the most
absolute right, with or without reason,
TO make an assault upon the Govern
ment, upon any pretext that they may
set up, and carry on the struggle until
overpowering force compels them to de-
sist. When he says that he regards the
question of secession settled by the war,
he falsifes himself; for in the next
breath be says he still believes that they
were right in 1861. Therefore, nothing
could have been settled at Appomattox
except that the exercise of fright" at
that particular time was inexpedient.
Only this and nothing more. If he
believes that South Carolina was right
in 1861, all his professions of loyalty
are wretched sham. He is only loyal
because he has to be.