The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-06-24
STEPHENS ON THE WAR,


"The Matchless Duplicity and Dishon-
esty of seward"-The Hampton Roads
Conference Lees Invasion, Etc.
The advance sheets Of the second
volume Of Alexander IL. Stephens
important work have been read by
the editor Of the Augusta Constitu
tionaiist. The following extracts from
that paper show the scope of this re-
mark ablo contribution to the history
of tho war:
The initial colloquy is taken up
with distinction as to our form Of
government. The fedcrativc princi-
pic is held to be u discovery in politi-
cal science. We arc confcderatcd
nation-a nation Of nations, in which
tho power of sovereignty is divisible,
but not the sovereignty itself The
narrative then proceeds to- tho causes
of conflict arising from misintcrprcta-
ton of the governmental principle
cnunciatcd. The passage of personal
liberty bills by several of the North
ern States, preventative Of the rcnui-
ton of fugitives from service, is
shown to have been violate of the
Federal compact, since, without am
pie pledges on the part Of the North,
there never would have been my
Union. The agitation arising from
this breach OF contract, bad as it was
became intensified by the declaration
of Salmon p. Chase, that tho North.
ern States would never repeal. their
acts. IIepce, tho secession of the
South was principally brought about
by the pertidy Of the North, and hcr
declared determination to continue in
perfdy. Mr. Stephens completely
exoncrates the South from Inaugural
ton of tho war. The first gun at
Snmter was not the overt act, since
the agrcssor in war is not the first
who renders force necessary. 1t is
clearly shown, too, that tho South OK
hausted every known means of pre-
venting strife, but was met at every
turn by the matchlcss duplicity and
dishonesty Of William II. Seward.
The history of the formation of the
Confederate government is elaborate
ly drawn. Jefferson Davis was look.
cd upon by all as an emincntly con-
scrvative man. Toombs was to have
been chosen President, but failed
through a singular misapprehension
on tho part Of representatives of
other States, who had understood
that he refused to have his name put
forward. There was some misunder-
standing like wise concerning Howell
Cobb being tho choice of Georgia.
BY accidental complications Mississip-
pi had the first choice, and chose JEFF.
ferson Davis, leaving Georgia tho Sc
cond, which resulted in the Vicc-Pres
idency of Mr.. Stephens. Tho Mont
gomery constitution is monument of
the wisdom, forecast, and statesman
ship of its framcrs and an everlast-
ing refutation Of the charges brought
aguinst the South of. disloyaIty to the
federative principle. Coercion was
unconstitutional and. only defended
on the plea Of necessity-tho plea of
the tyrant in all ages Of the world.
A convention of tho State called by
Congress would have prevented +. war
and restored the Union; or, in case
the South refused to 20 into such o.
convention, tho North would have
had better cause for battle. It is q
misnomer to call the war "rebellion"
or "civif war" 1t was "war be-
tween tho States" One of tho most
remarkable and vigorous portions Of
Mr.. Stephens book is his statement
of the treatment of prisoners of war
by both belligerents. The cruelty
and torture charged upon the South
is fixed upon Stanton and the Wash
ington authorities, and upon them
and their policy will forever rest the
blood and tho suffering Of the brave
on either side. The responsibility for
the failure to advance after the bat
tie of Manassas is referred to Presi-
dent Davis. Mr.. Stephens afirms
that there never was any personal
feud between him and Mr.. Davis,
though they differed widely on many
questions of public policy. Mr.. Da.
Wis is alluded to throughout in the
kindest manner, and warmly defend
ed against the aspersions Of his ene-
mics at home and abroad. Mr.. Ste
phens believed that diplomacy could
honorably stop the war in 1853. He
proposed o mission to Washington for
that purpose, when tho military status
was most favorable toboth parties.
Mr.. Davis did not concur until TOO
late, until, ia fact, the. military status
had rendered such q course impossi-
BILE. Lees invasion of'the North was
g great blunder politically and in a
military sense, but chargeeble in the
main, to the Richmond cabinet. Set
tyburg and Vicksburg turped the tide
IN favor Of the North. But the vital
blow struck ut Soushsrn success was