The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-06-22
Alexander H. Stephens.
THE SECOND VOLUME OF THE ''wAR
BETWEEN THE STATES '-SOUTu-
ERN SIDE OF THE CONTROVERSY.

L uS dOf dICO SllCSLo VI tHO wv
ond volume Of Mr.. Stephens i'm
portant work have been read by
the editor of the Augusta Constt-
nationalist. The following extracts
from that paper show the scope
of this remarkable contribution TO
the history Of the war:
The initial colloquy is taken up
with distinction as to our form
Of government. The federative
principle is held to be q discovery
in political science. We are a
confederated nation-a nation of
nations, in which the power of
sovereignty is divisible, but not
the sovereignty itself. The mar
rative then proceeds to the causes
of conflict arising from misinter-
probation Of the governmental
principle cnunciated. The pas
sage Of Personal Liberty Bills by
several of the Northern States,
preventive of the rendition Of
fugi:ives from service, is shown to
have been violative Of the Federal
compact; since without ample
pledges on the part Of the North,
there never would have been any
Union. The agitation arising
from this breach Of contract: bad
as it was, became intensified by
the declaration Of Salmon ?. Chase
that the Northern States would
never repeal their acts. Hence
the secession Of the South was
principally brought about by the
perfdy Of the North, and her de-
clared determination to continue
IN pcridy. Mr.. Stephens COM
p!etely cNoneratcs the South from
Inauguration Of the war. The
first gun at Sumter was not the
overt act; since the aggressor in
war is not the first who uses force,
but the first who renders force ne
cessary. 1t is clearly shown, too,
that the South exhausted every
known means of preventing strife,
but was met Al every turn by the
matchless duplicity and dishonesty
of William II. Seward. The his
tory Of the formation of the Con-
federate Government ia elaborate
" drawn. Jefferson Davis was
looked upon by all as an emlnently
conservative man. Toombs was
to have been chosen President,
but failed through singular mis-
apprehension on the part of repre-.
scntatives Of other States who had
understood that he refused to have
his name put forward. There
was some misunderstanding like
wise concerning Howell Cobb be-
ing the choice of Georgia. BY
accidental complications Mississip-
pi had the first choice, and chose
Jefferson Davis, leaving Georgia
the second, which resulted in the
Vicc-Prcsidcncy Of Mr.. Stephens.
The Montgomery Constitution is
a monument Of the wisdom, fore
cast and craftsmanship of its fra
mcrs, and an everlasting refutation
Of the charges brought against
the South of disloyalty to the fed
erative principle. Coercion was
unconstitutional and only defended
on the plea Of necessity-the plea
| Of tho tyrant in all ages of the
world. \ Convention Of the States
called by Congress would have
prevented war and restored the
Union; or, in case the South re-
fused to 90 into such Convention,
the North would have had q better
cause for battle. 1t is q misnomer
| to call the war q ;:rcbcllion" or
:;civil war" 1t was a ''war be-
| tween the States" One Of the
most remarkable and vigorous
portions Of Mr., Stephens book is
his statement Of the treatment Of
prisoners of war BY both belllgc.
! rents. The cruelty and torture
charged upon the South is fixed
upon Stanton and the Washington
| authorities, and upon them and
their policy will forever rest the
blood and the suffering of the brave
on either side.
! The responsibility orthe failure
to advance after the battle Of
Manassas is referred to President
Davis. Mr.. Stephens affirms that
there never was any personal fcud
between him and Mr.. Davis, though
| they differed widely on many
questions of public policy. Mr.
! Davis is alluded to throughout in
the kindest manner, and warmly
defended against the aspcrsions o1
! his enemies at home and abroad
Mr.. Stephens believed that diplo
macy could honorably stop the
war in 1868. He proposed a mis-
sion to Washington for that pur
pose, when the military status
| was most favorable to both par
ties. Mr.. Davis did not concul
until too late, until, in fact, the
military status had rendered suct
3 course impossible. Lees lnva
sion Of the North was q great
blunder politically and in a mill
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