Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-05-26
Rebel Ideas of Education.


A CURIOUS GEOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS.
The New Bedford Mass. STANDARD, of
Tuesday, says. THE managers of the late
Southern Confederacy took all pains to EN-
bue the rising Confederate generations with
due spirit Of nationality and sense OF the
Importance of the position of the Confeder-
acy among the nations of the world, not to
ray in the universe at large. Among other
means Of promoting this feeling they caused
to be prepared a series of school books, one
of which is of Palmetto series, being a
geography for beginners, by the Rev. *. j.
Stuart, with yignette inwhich the Palmet-
to is the most prominent object. ltpurports
obe printedin Richmond, and is very neat
ly printed and Illustrated with maps and en-
cravings After the preliminary definitions,
and some lessons in physical geography, we
come to what interests us most, political
geography, and we learn that
The diVisionof mankind into nations is
as follows: In America: The Confederate
States, the United States, &c, &c.
Turning over a page or two we lind
Richmond, Va. placed next to London and
Paris among the cities of the globe, and as
remarkable for the. elegance and refinement
of its people, who, like the citizens of Nor
folk, are as hospitable as they are intelligent
and noble In reference to the history Of
the Confederate States, we learn that when
Virginia adopted the Federal Constitution
in 1885, the Commissioners of the State were
directed to annex the condition and reserva-
ton Of the right to withdraw from the fed
Grafton at will and that in the exercise Of
this reserved right she withdrew from the
United States in 1861, and also refused to
allow the troops of the Northern States to
pass through her territory to suhjugate the
other States which had already seeded, and
that she became the prineinals seat of war of
Southern independence. Ihe first collision
of this war, we learn, occurred at Charles
ton, and was oceasioned by the President,
elected by citizens of the Northern States,
attempting to seize, provision and occupy
the forts in the harbor, and turn their guns
on the,city they were designed to protect.
We also learn that every effort that human
ingenuity could contrive, by immense re-
sources of money and vast armaments on
sea and land, was made by the Northern
Government to capture the capital and 9TH
er important places, and break up the po-
itical Organization of the Confederacy; but
that by the constant, evident, and acknowl-
edged aid of the God of battles and King of
nations their efforts have all failed; and at
vast expense of suffering and blood the
people of the Southern States have fought
their way to political independence, and the
respect and amity of the great nations of
the world.
Then we have several pages devoted to
the productions, fora, scenery, launa, and
manufactures of the Confederate States In
reference to Great Britain, we learn that its
common law is embodied from the great
principles of the book Of Leyiticus, and that
the crown derives Its authority from the
acknowledged Supreme Ruler eff the universe,
by Divine right, statement which is con-
frmed by quotations from the prayer book
in foet-note The Emperor Of France is
highly eulogized as brave general, humane
and wise Governor, and sagacious statesman,
who, without interfering with the religious
and spiritual jurisdiction of the Papal court,
and the AIohammedan divan, has gradually
emancipated the people who were under
their political thraldom.
In a note in reference to the Dead Sea
we learn that it was explored Dy an Ameri-
can exploring party under the command Of
| Commodore Lynch, of the Confederate
/ States navy, leaving it to be inferred that
| the expedition was inaugurated by the Con
federate States.
Passing over to the United States we
learn that there are but nine of them, be-
sides what remain of the original thirteen,
and that in the year 1861 the Federal Gov
.ernment OF these States, by sectional mi
nority of one million seven hundred thou
sand (out of total vote of five milhons),
attempted to subiugate the Southern States
by military occupation, which occasioned the
final separation ofthose States, and the for
nation of the Confederate States of Amer
! lea as, an independent Government