With unchanged faith in the constitutionality of their secession, they were ready to abandon or ignore it, at the requirement of the victors.
Whitelaw Reid: “With unchanged faith in the constitutionality of their secession, they were ready to abandon or ignore it, at the…”
Editor's note · Context
Reid comments on the contradictions of Southern leaders who maintained their belief in secession while yielding to the victors.
Share
More from Whitelaw Reid
They should persist in this claim respectfully, but firmly, taking care to bring no discredit upon it by their own action.
In this way they will surely overcome unjust hostility, and convince even the most prejudiced that the denial to them of any right which citizens may properly exercise is equally unwise and wrong.
Ordinarily the simple performance of duty is so blessed of God, that men who live in the doing of it, are the best off, in all respects, even in this world.
It is my firm conviction, that suffrage is not only the best security for freedom, but the most potent agent of amelioration and civilization.