Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-08-10


 Q.
 The time has not come to write Con federate history. Passions control men. Falschood and slander are more accept able than truth to the spirit of revenge. Truth would shame revenge, but false hood gratifies it. Besides the most important Confederate archives, con taining the reason, the philosophy, the explanations of Confederate actions and history and motives, arc not access siblc. It may be proper to add do not know where they are. They have not come to light, and it were well for some who seem to be in high favor with themselves and the deluded peo- pie if they never do come to light. am no Sadducee, and however the wicked may flourish now, l have firm faith in the resurrection of the just.
 But many will write. Confederate histories, biographies, memories. re- collections, &c, &c, &c, are getting to be plenty as blackberries in June, but not half so valuable. 1 have tried to keep up with these premature births. but find it difficult. l have seen enough to know that nearly all of these books arc written either by or under the im- mediate supervision of those who were chiefly intent during the struggle in making war on the Confederate admin istration. They were therefore exclu- ded, or excluded themselves from the Confederate councils, and really know less than most people; and the little they do know, they received through a 1son1 v,oliu,,, xx,l,; ;.l, |, horrid colors. some of them seem. at last, to be discovering, what unseltish patriots always knew, that, iR making war upon, and in breaking down the people confidence in the Confederate administration, so unjustly and so falsely too, they made war upon and broke down the Confederate cause. They fear the world will find this out. Conscience being thus troubled and reputation in danger, they become restless and cannot wait. They rush forward like most criminals to justify before they arc formally accused. 9th CTS write to get pay, and say anything to fill book. Hence these works are generally self-vindieations, or self eulogics, or miserable lbels and per versions, and are not only unworthy of credit, but should be held as insults to an unfortunate but gallant people. Gen. Early's book is an exception. He writes of " hat he saw and did. and writes like a patriot. His work will be valuable to the historian hereafter. There may be few other exceptions. but 1 do not now think of them. Some others of like character arc said to be preparing, which hope will appear. But the fiercest storms exhaust themselves, and so will even this storm of the American passions. Re yenge cannot always rule. The full truth will appear and impartial history will be written. In that day, | ven ture now to say, no factwill be brought 1 out more clearly than this: The Con | fedelntes were net conquered by ci- tber tiLe skill, or the power. or the numbefs of their armed enemies. The | CUnfederacy was crushed by ideas. and not by bayonets. And the ideas was very iew--indeed may all be em braeed in two; and neither had the slightest foundation in truth. They were born of treachery and disappointment, and nurtured by those worse than Gorgon whelps--ambition, seltishness and re- yenge.
 Here are the ideas;
 l. That the Confederate government had become or would become a perma nent military despotism.
 ,. That our people had but to lay down their arms, and they would be restored, at once, 10 all their rights ill the Union. M
 There Were several considerations Y hich made our people peculiarly lia- ble to be entrapped into believing these ideas. In the first place, the masses of the Southern people really loved the Union according to the Con- Istitution. In truth, they were the most faithful or devoted friends that Union ever hads or, l fear, ever will have again. It required many wears Of islander, and intermcddling and threatened aggressions and bad faith on the part of Northern extremists, and of importantly and fiery exhorta- ton by the Southern extremists to make the masses of our people enter tain the idea that their rights were not safe in the Union. And, when finally they did consent to leave the Union, the great aetaating native i'll going was to save the gparanties and prinei- lpies of the Consultation, which they were persuaded could not be preserved by remaining in the Union. And they were assured by the extremists, North and South, they conld go peaceably.
 Again: While many of our intelli- gentlmen and counselors were actuated with sincere convictions, and did hon. estly believe . division must come sooner or later, and that the sooner it came the better for all sides; yet there were others who had far other motives. These last did not act from conviction, but from desire. Therefore, they were very noisy and clamorous. They abus- ed everything and denounced as traitors and submissionists and cow ards those of our own people who did not believe the Union ought to be dis solved for existing causes, or could be dissolved at all peaceably. As light things rise when the air is stirred, so in the excitement of passions these men became the favorites. They ex-