The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1866-11-29

Webster's Dictionary, SO-CaIled
Our attention was sometime since called
TO the new definitions of certain word.
foisted into the last edition of Webster,
large Dictionary-e. e., the words slave
compact, state. This tampering with a
great national work deserves severe repro
baton, which it gets in communication
to the Louisville Courier, by the Rev. j
Ditzler-a part of which we transfer to
our columns:
BY this time, at least, every thinking
and Observing man has ceased to be sur.
prised at anything New Englanders do,
unless it should be decent or generous
But the browning act of their infamy in
the way of letters is the manner in which
they have mutilated the new editions of
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. 1t is
enough 70 sly s;.st the editions since 1861
are no longer reliable, and have no author
ity so'far as Webster is authority; for they
are not Webster's definitions, but those of
the double. dyed radicalism of Massachu
setts. call attention to this, as seen in
y few words--the words: slave, compact,
state, and contraband. These words had
most to do-all-between the North and
South, between conservatism and radical
ism; but as to their application, we have
nothing to say. 1t is the iniamy of the
editors and publishers of the dictionary ut
Springfield, Massachusetts,, who prostitute
ed such work to the vile subserviency
OF fsctiOn, that calls for attention. The
word Compact" lies at the root of ii q
whole issue of 1860 to 1866. In the edi.
ton of 1860, and al former editions, Gun
abridged Webster thus defines "Com-
pact, n. l. [compactum an agreement, a
contract between parties; but it is more
generally applied to agreements between
nations and States, as treaties and confed-
eracies. So the Constitution of the United
States is political contract between the
States-a national compact" Now this is
the definition given by every authority,
from Aristotle and Thucydides till the
present time. In 1887 the trainers of the
Constitution constantly SO termed it. Black
stone, Hallam, the great constitutional critic
and historian, Chitty, Macaulay; in the
United States, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madi
son, Taney, Adams (J. o. p. Henry, and
all the textbooks also agree with the above
Indeed, it is well known to the historian
that Madison, "the father of the Constitu.
tion," had Rousseau's "Social Contract"
before him all the time when making the
Constitution. But now Puritanism, to
serve party ends, leaves out all the above,
and gives an entirely new and unheurd
of definition, to chime in with the present
aims Of the fanatics.
Webstcr's Dictionary, up to 1860, Gun.
abridged,) defined State to be Quoting
Blackatone) "a political body governed by
representatives-ac commonwealth-as the
States Of Greece and the States of America
and says in sams place: "Municipal law
is rule of conduct prescribed by the su-
preme power in State" ed of 1860. J
Now see the Puritanical definition of the
mutilaters Of the great American lexicog
rapher "State-No. 8. A political body,
or body polite; the whole body OF a peo
pie united under one Government, what
ever may be the form of that Government.
3. In the United States one of the Com
monwealths or bodies polite, the people
Of which mako up the body of the nation
and which, under the National Constitu-
tion, stand. in certain specified relations
with the National Government, and are
invested, as Commonwealths with full pow
or in the several spheres, over all matters
NOT expressly inhibited" ed. of 1865.
The above is as unlike, and as radical
II opposed to, and subversive of, Noah
Webster's definition, as the fanatical folly
and hate Of tho associates in crime of the
Massachusetts, editors are subversive of
the principles of Washington and the fran.
ers of the Constitution. Every particle
Of the above was added to Webster since
1862-in 1865 So of all important words
that relate to the war or character of the
Federal and State Governments. Contra.
band is defined to be freedman, and the
name Of Butler Jagged in as the authority.
Let the people North and South, who re-
speot honesty, repudiate these editions,
and demand the speedy return to Web
ster, unpolluted by the foul touch Of Puri.
Fan houdo