The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-19


and diagrams). New York: BlELoCK
4 Co.
II appears from DIR. DABNEY's preface to
this loug-cxpcctcd volume that the first
part of l. was published in England more
than year ago, and that the whole OF 1t
was written before the close of the war.
He makes this statement in explanation OF
the boldncSS and freedom with which the
principles involved in the contest are dis
cusscd. Putting the question, Whether it
were not better to suppress the contro
verified opinions and accusations which,
however true, can now be urged with no
good result he replies In answering
"this question | shall candidly acknow-
ledge myself utterly Skeptical, both by
"tcmIrramcnt and conviction, of that de-
"ccitiml and glozing philosophy by which
it is dictated. There is no true and solid
..basis for public wcll-bcing but rcctitude.
"Thc truth mantully spoken can never he
unwholcSomc. If the complaints OF the
conquered section are just, then they
fought To be stated and discussed until a
"Stablc foundation for peace, good govern
"mcnt good feeling, and prosperity is laid
lin Just and magnanimous treatment.
If those complaints are unjust, still
at is hest that they be candidly
"stated, respectfully listened to, and
"calmy discussed, as long as they are
sincerely entertained in the hearts of the
sufferers; for only in this way can they
he cradcated. 1t is to me simply mere
edible that Il people SO shrcwd and prac-
"tical as those Of the United States should
"cXpcct lis to have discarded, through the
"'logic OF the sword merely, the convic-
"tions OF lifetime; or that they could be
"dcccivcd bv us, should we he base enough
"to assert it of ourselves. They know
.sthat the people of the south were con
"uucrcd, and not convinced; and that the
"authuritv of the United States was ac-
"crptcd by us from necessity, and not
"from preference. Would they hear the
"Southcrn people now diSclaimng and re-
"probating the principles which are I'M
"tnldcd in my book as the animating prin-
"ciplcS of General JACKSON, they must in
"cvitablv remember that this southern
"pcoplc three years ago was unanimously
"applauding and melting him in acting
"thcm ont 50 that it would he Sclf-cvi-
"dcnt to our cOnquor0rS that We were
"eithcr traitorouSly false To our darling,
"hcro then, or are equally false to them
"now. The people of the United States
"hayc too much shrewdncSs ever TO sup
"posc that the sons OF revolutionary SircS,
"who, as their comrades, assisted i'll win
ching liberty from the British lion, and
"who have recently given proofs of their
" mdcgencrate manhood, are spaniclS, to
"bc made aicctionatc by stripes. The
"pcoplc of the south went to war because
"they sincerely believed (what their po-
,, ethical fathers had taught them with one
. "voicc for two gencraton>) that the doc
0 trinc of State sovereignty, for which
. "thcy fought, was absolutely essential as
"thc bulwarli of the liberties of the pco-
. "plc. They have been convinced by main
D force that they are unable to save the
"doctrinc. The only way to make them
"truly loyal again to the Government OF
) "thc United States is to convince them
"by lust treatment that they went to
"war under miSapprehenSion, and that
"thcir liberties may still be securely and
J "mlly enjoyed under consolidated 60
vernment."
After this statement, we imagine all, with
one accord, would invite the Doctor to go
on with the discussion. Whether they
would or not, he goes on nevertheless, and
while portraying the heroiSm and genius
OF JACKSON, he fully vindicatcs his motives
and the cause he sustained.
For the preparation of this history DR..
DABNEY was favored with all the materials
at the disposal of the family OF General
JACKSON. He has devoted himself to the
work with evident ardor and decided abb
lty. The details Of the campaigns oil
JACKSON are elaborate and beyond ques-
ton accurate. Having taken to the field
himself, DR.. DABNEY acquired that know
ledge of tactics and military plans that
has enabled him to describe the battles
and the rapid man9uvrcs OF JACKSON with
singular clcarncsS and energy. Beng Il
minister of the same church to which the
hero belonged, lie of course fails not 10
bring out in relief that strong trait IN MS
character, his piety and Christian devo-
ton.
Near the close of the work we find the fol-
lowing striking passage "How is 1t that ths
"man (JAcKsoN), of all others least accus-
"tomed to exercise his own fancy, or al
"dress that of others, has stimulated the
imagination, not only of his own country
"men, but that of the civilized world,
"above all the sons of genius among us
"How has he, the most unromantic OF
"great men, become the hero OF living
"romance the ideal of an infamed fancy
:" even bel: !, his life has been invested with
"the mystery Of distance? How did tha'
"calm eye kindle the fire OF SO passionate
"a love and admiration in the heart OF ms
"peoplel He was brave, but not the only
"brave. He revealed transcendant MILL
7 g ,ory talant Int the diadem of his coun-