The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-12

| LINCOLN and his subsequent election, regarded
by our people as q note Of challenge. The pro-
ceedings OF the Chicago Convention are admitted
| by the author to have been Equivalent to pro-
| clamstion OF absolutely hostile purposes against
| the South" 1tw not technically declaration
OF war, because it proposed only to use the
pacific force of superior numbers in order to de-
prve tho minority of, it's rights under the Consti-
tuition. Tho right of secession is not discussed by
the author, his.efforts being confined exclusively
tolan illustration OF the positive causes OF the
war. just before the secession movement, the
present President ofthe United States declared in
speech, that "there are two parties in existence,
who wanted dissolution Of the Union. Slavery
and Southern Confederacy is the hobby. Sum
re1' ,Oants to break up The Goue'nment, and so do
Me Abolaionfsfs igereral4y. r They bold that if
slavery survfyest the Union canhdtehdufe.i seces-
sipnists argue that il the Union continues slavery
is lost. Abolitionists want no compromise, but
Abolition is dissolution dissolution is secas,
sion." From this. ..laconic address may
be summed mp the entire ., cause of the
terrible, ssnguinary, and protracted strug-
gle through which y We 'ihave' just Tpass.
ed.o The author dwells st length ons tho pro-
positions OF the Peace CONFERENCE in 1881, which
was evidently sound basis for the settlement OF
the controversy. On the Sd March final dispo-
eition was made Of the question, and a termina-
ton put to those lingering hopes which might
have been entertained of an amicable adjustment
As We have before stated, the author AYERS his
object in writing this volume to be only the pur-
pose oftracng the direct and indirect causes of the
war, without any pains being taken to exhibit the
sentiments Of determined secessioniets before or
after these causes had accumulated and become
the basis Of their action Except for these causes.
he saye, "the promoters Of secession would have
had no ground Of action, and could have made no
such appeal to the people Of the South as to enlist
them in q transaction 30 momentous as rebellion
against the Government )" nor could they lave
persuaded them that thoir rights and, interests
demanded of them the .perils and sacrifces neces
sarily involved in such an attempt. " '"'h$ q 70
But now that the'war is over, fho author makes
two very important inquiries:
What is to be the permanent loss or gain to the
country by feason Of the war; and what obstacles,
II any, are IN the way of it's permanent restora
tien to the state before tho war,3 He says: .srbe
superior power Of tho United States having been
yindicated by the final result of the struggle, the
submission OF tho South is necessarily equivalent
to;sn abandonment Of, all further purpose of re-
distance" "This posture Of affairs among kin
dredr people Of sister States ought surely to be
sufficient, for why should there be tribe lacking
in Israel2pf ;sincel that submission, whether VOL
untaty or Involuntary, lie completes the! sbbeeaest
possible restoration Of the Southern States is for
the interests the whole country for 80 long, he
asaeEtss tAs Tie aonditionspf the states remain
unequal tho stronger neotion occupies the ratti-
tude Of despot, the weaker that Of q uassai, and
it would be o strange commentary upon the war,
il lberating negroes It's effect shoud be to re-
duce white men to bondage"
Coming from an eminent lawyer Of Massachu-
setts we accept it as the most favorable work to-
ward the South we have perused since the termi-
hon ofhostilities It's analysis is singularly in
teresting, while its research Of historical records
exhibits most valuable example of compression
aud precision. It is written in an easy, graceful
flowing style. free from those authoritative cor
rusoations1 which are always repudiated by pure
and true-hearted writer's, the works OF come of
the most profound Of whom are characterized by
the simplcity of language in which they have
borne witness to truth. It fis a work which, We
can cheerfully commend to the people Of the
South, where it deserves, and where, we trust, it,
will receive, immense circulation.
1t can be purchased at the bookstore on Mr.
JOHN RUSSELL. = - S'~'.H| !