New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-13
A PROPHETIC NOVEL.

-Four years ago, IN the hOtly contested election
of 1856, when the Slave Power was for the first
time confronted by party making the prOhi-
bition Of the extension Oi Slavery cardinal
principle of faith, it was whispered when the
election was over and the Republicans we're de-
feated, that had the result been otherwise certain
men at the South would have dissolved, or
ATTEMPTED to dissolve, the Union. Their plans, 1t
was said, were thoroughly maturcd, and they
were az fixed in their determination as they were
confident in the expectation of accomplishing
their object. 1t seemed an absurd story, aud
almost all who heard it received it with entire
incredulity, here aud there only some one, who
had made Southern politics a study, lending it
an attentive ear. We do not remember that
even the most sensational Of the Z" sensa-
/" ton press" had the temerity to repeat it.
A statement seemingly so wild, reckless, and
INSCRIPTIONS, would have sadly damaged the repu-
tation of any journal that yentured TO repeat it.
If there were those who could believe that
few minds could be found mad enough for any
thing, there were not many who could compre-
hend that a whole nation could run into lunacy.
We all know better now and the statement that the
South meant to do in 1856, in case of the cleo
ton of Fremont, precisely as she has done in
1860 because Lincoln was elected is neither in.
credible nor absurd. For thirty years. she has
been educating herself up to the idea of Disun-
iou, and the present generation has been so care
fully aud successfully trained, that it only waited
the signal of the success of party which showed
itself independent of her control to commence
a struggle for the destruction of the Govern
ment and the subjugatiOn Of the North.
A remarkable proof of this fact is given in
novel, written in 1886 by Beverly Tucker of
Virginia, under the nom de plume of Edward
William Sidney. Mr.. Beverly Tucker was
professor at William and Mary College in yir-
gina, and was the friend and political pupil of
Mr.. Calhoun. Mr.. Calhouns political philosophy
We had occasion to speak of day or two since.
AS early as 1912, he ayowed its central principle
to Commodore Stewart, and his whole course
from that time to the day Of bis death was en-
tirely in accordance with the announcement he
then made. When, through division Of the
political party at the North on which the South
depended. or when from any other circumstance,
she lost control Of the Government, her only re-
source was dissolution of the Union. To in
doctrinate the minds Of bis followers with this
idea was the great purpose Of his life, aud the
ladder of his ambition whereby he hoped to
climb to eminence. Professor Tucker was among
tho most jealous of his disciples, Jealous that
he condescended to use fiction as a sort Of laceal
vehicle of the virus of treason to the tender minds
of Virginia babes. The babes are grown to men
now, and We see the result
This novel is called /" The Partisan Leader" and
was printed in 1885, but soon after suppressed.
There seems to have been timidty il the good
professor not at all in accordance with the bold.
mesa one expects to find in those who advo-
cate treason; for not only was the book soon
suppressed but its title-page bore fictitious
imprint, apparently to evade some sppre-
hended penalty of the law. As novel, this
is not the place to speak Of it, nor is it fair 10
pronounce from hasty glance ut single voiuine'
upon its merits or demerits rs work OF hction'
But the plan of the work is prophecy oi DIS
union, and is meant to foreshadow the future OF
the United States. This and this alone was the
purpose of its creation. A Southern Coniederacy
has already been formed and at the very outset OF
the story the reader s introduced into rebel
lious camp of Virginia insurgents, and finds the
hero of the book in young officer who had re.
spned his commission in the United States army,
that he might take up arms in behalf Of his