New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-16
UNION MEN AT THE SOUTH.

slave system"
UNION MEN AT THE SOUTH.
FRA RIDGE AND PRAIRIE GROVE, o. scEsEs AID
IpcIpRNrs OF THE war ARKAssAs By WILLIAM
BArTzR. Emo. pp. 262. Cincinnati Poe htsheoek
The deeply interesting narrative presentedin bis
volume is conclusive reply 10 those DISCLAIMERS
who insist on the universal prevalence Of the spirit
of rebellion among the people Of the South. lN
aTtless recitals show devotedloyaly to tia Union,
which no dangers could intimids.e, no sacrifices
shake no allurements corrupt, and which furnishes
an example Of faith, and frmness, and consistency,
worthy alike Of admiration snd envy. The euthor
was President Of Arkantas College, q hounshihg
seminary Of Learning in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and
pastor of congregation vorShipins In The most
beautiful and conmodious church Ia that region
He had resided for fifteen years ct the South, where
his lebors had been identified with the progress OF
education and religion, had accumulated Il hand
some competence and was ore Of The most promi-
nent men in the little mountain city, which he de-
crbes as not inferior N oil the elements Of polished
and agreeable society TO any place that he had ever
visited between Boston and Now Orleans. His
knowledge Of the South vas extsnSive-his love Of
it enthusiastic: oily most successful abors in the
school.room, the pulpit, and the professors chair
have been bestowed there, and it would be arrange
if L could easily forget OF lightly speak OF those
whom have led Though the various paths Of learn
Ing or have been instrumental in bringing INTO the
fold OF Christ. No! the warm welcome received
when first went there stranger, the years Of m
varying kindness which followed, the happy mar
riagos have solemnizcd, the joyful departure OF
saintod ones that have witnessed, the warm
friendships formed the strong attachment Of pupils,
the more sacred ties of religious association, the
birth of my children there and the repose OF two OF
them in its soil, all forbid that should DO the enc
my, the mall gner Of the South. Nor was my go
journ there confined 10 a single locality; l know
something Of the coast and islands Of the Calf have
trsversed Missis sippi from the Louisiana TO the
Tennessee line ard from the Mississippi River 70
the Bay Of ST. Louis; Of my college classmates
and intimate friend was tho nephew Of Jefferson
Davis; resided at one time on the plantation on
which vas fought the battle Of Thompson's Hills
/ knew many who have persisted in the various bat
ties, from privstes TO officers Of high gradej
well remember hearing in the State-Iouse at Baton
Rouge the stirring eloquence OF Louisiana's most
gifted son. Charles DreEI, whs FELL near Richmond
early in the struggle; and these, with thousand
other circumstances crowdng upon mo as / write,
bid me be calm cad kind, while faithful and true.
Nay mist comes over my eyes as the forms Of
some Of the best and most gifted youth have ever
known rise Hp to my view from more than one
bloody field, where they fell fighting under BAN
ner with strange Device while their hearts, o
saddest thought were With the flag and the cause
against which they battled. II man, then, may
know his own heart feel assured that 10 malice
turks in mine; that no personal spleen is tho Be-
cret of this my labor but that am animated by
purpose both pure and good-by desire, not to
write history, but TO gather up some precious
fragments that would else DO lostto DO justice 70
some noble because tried, szes, and by these incl
dents sketch, il aot brilliant panorama, at least
some Of the bright Lights and dark shadows Of tho
war." The manner in which the Southwestern
States especially, were hurried into the vortex f
Secession is well described in the following para
grsphs.
The election Of Abraham Lineds threw the whole
South int torment; everywhere looked into The
faces VI thef bllows and asked what must 20 done for
truth demands At be todd that the fearful alternative
OF secession had not suggested Itself TO the mnde u
thousands The convention Of Border States seemed to
promise INCA ans Arknsas fsly expected TO he repre-
|
everything the fearful remedy Of separation. On
the other hand the advantages Of direct trade the
greater security OF slave property the boandess wealth
Of the South when Released fTUm dependence on tho
North. were insisted Up0n and when Il was inamated
that leaceabe accession impossible. 1t only pro-
duced a laugh of scoss. Tie Eee OF Northern me
cAanics brought up In wSrkshe3s unskiled in horse.
mansaip and the use Of firearms. endeayorng to cope
sncoossully with those accustomed to Tho saddle and
the Of the rife fron childhood not TO be men.
toned heard with gravity. The latter class. how
ever, were at first largely In the minority Men who by
honorable industry had acquired q oo,npotency. and
even vpakh; thriving mechanics, rising public mea.
prosperous merchants, and weita-do fArnefs. were
Fearful n change which, at best weud not bring in
creased prosperity and might bring ruin. But Men
largely Indicted at the North, 10 wisem severance
might bring an easy release planters nominally
wealthy bat really bankrupt; brokendevn politicians
and ssch only had nothing o lose whom nothing
but revolution rebellion could bring ~ the surface
and give q bad rrumneace, in fayos OF following
An the path in which South Carolina had led.
TIE proof Of this is found IN the fact that most OF the
seeding states BARRED out OF the Union without
even the sembsnoe OF tho forms Of law, Missouri by
the famous Pineyile Convention and ARK aasas by q
Convention of which twothirds Of the members
were elected by the votes Of Union men = our
oonuty. washington, with the largest voting popu.
lation in tho state. sending the whole delega-
ton nnr IN number by Union vote Of from nineteen
hundred 10 twenty-One hundred out Of voting popula-
ton Of twenty-five hundred or majority Of from four
or iveto one Indeed. this body at It's first meeting
rejected the ordinance Of Secession by two-thirds
heiuy called together again, under The in