Wilmington journal., 1873-11-07

res 31OltT Sc3'tT TO alu Tile Iuture HIS
torian who shall delineate the brief
but eventful life of the Confederacy.
Our great chieftain, i'll my humble
opinion, wonld have served his coun-
try better in this manner than by pre-
siding over a college, however valuable
his labors as an educator. He would
thus have done more for the "boys IN
gray" he loved so we'll and for "the
lost cause" and its vindication. What
ever General Lee might have written
would have passed unchallenged be-
fore the tribunal of authentic history.
His failure to perform this eminently
patriotic service, growing out OF bis
scrupulous conscientiousness, should
be repaired as far as possible by the
active contributions of his comrades.
An account, historical and military, OF
his campaigns by that greatest living
master of the art of war, General Joe
Johnston, would enable some future
Jomini or Napier to give an Intelligent
and correct criticism of our successes
and failures. Hundreds of persons
have incidents, interesting and illus
trative, that must soon perish If not
committed to unforgetting paper.
Time is as remorseless as Saturn in
devouring its own offspring. Unfor-
tunately for historical accuracy and
impartiality the winning side in civil
war retains or becomes the govern
ment, holds the flag and intercourse
with foreign nations, has the political
supremacy, makes the laws, controls
the immediate public opinion, and
manufactures history.
In writing history it would be alb
surd t. suppose that there are no facts
but such as are material and visible.
That which we are accustomed to hear
called the philosophy of history, which
consists in showing the relations of
events with each other, the chain
which connects them, the causes and
effects of events,-this is history just
as much as description of battles and
all the other exterior events which it
recounts.
In the light of these reflections of
the profound and philosophic Guizot,
who still happily lives in green old
age, bearing testimony for Christi
anity amid French infidelity and Eu-
ropean rationalism, our cirii history is
worthy of appropriate recital. Neces-
sarily the legislation during the war
wore very largely a military aspect
Supply Of troops, food, and munitions
of war was the paramount question:
Adverse criticisms on the Confederate
Congress are generally absurd or
ridiculous. The most sagacious and
comprehensive craftsmanship, the
highest civic ability of Cobb, Stephens,
and Toombs, Withers, Barnwell, and
Chestnut, Clay, Walker, Smith, Yam
cey, Clopton, and Chiffon, Benjamin
and Harris, Hemphill and Wigfall,
and Regan. Rives, Hunton, Preston,
and Tyler had, and could have had, no
proper field for display. The South,
prior to secession, certainly by conces-
! sion of all, contributed her fair quota
of executive. Legislative, and judicial
ability and integrity. Some of this
political wisdom and knowledge found
exhibition in our Constitution, which
is the embodiment of accepted South
ern ideas of government. It is the
! crystalization of States rights, strict
construction, and well-defined limita-
tions. Apart from the iperpetuaiiy-ex-
tinct question of African slavery and
secession, there were provisions in
that instrument which the dominant
section might find worthy of incorpo-
ration into our Federal organic law
/ A noted Northern journalist, Iii a
:
Capsarism, made the slanderous asser-
ton that the South entered into a
revolution in order to enthrone a scion
the Constitution and every principle
that ilndcrlay our movement put the
stamp Of falsehood upon the allega-
ton. The single term, the ineligi-
bility, the increased responsibility of
our Executive, the diminution of Ex-
ecutiye patronage by preventing re-
| movals except on assignment of ade-
quate cause, more exact limitations OF
the powers OF Congress, more careful
guarding of appropriations and cx-
pendltures, were all in the teeth of
such q charge. The Confederate Gov
| ernment had its origin i'll jealousy OF
Federal uSurpatlCn, and was All un-
mlstakable protest against all forms of
centralizatiOn.
I have no sympathy with any whis-
perings favorable to a monarchy. This
continent is dedicated to republican
institutions. Our whole history at the
South, before and during the war, has
been III opposition to concentration Of
power IN a central head. Our object
was to decentralize, to guard the rights
and remedies of the States and the
property of citizens. Credit Mobilers
and colossal frauds grow out of CEN
tralizatiOn. Improper notions of the
powers and duties of a general govern
ment haze generated this fearful de-
moraliZatiOn Ill reference to elections
and Offices which forebodes such peril
to the Republic. A return to first
principles, to a constitutional republic,
to concurrent majoritics, with the
adoption of some of the Confederate
amendments, may prevent anarchy,
and reign OF terror, and Il Napoleon.
Such sentiments as these are i'll the
interest Of right, and justice. and sta
bic and free institutions. Keeping be-
fore oIlr youth the brightest examples
OF purity Of character, and loftiness of
political virtue, and disintercstedness
of patriotism, fosters loyalty. A pee
pie ashamed Of an honorable ancestry
aro ready tools of despotism. Freemen
spring from no such hneare. Scotland
and England had long years of bloody
wars, amt now Scotland is as loyal to
Queen Victoria as England. Writers
Oh each side defend their ancestors
and sing their prowcss and patriotism,
and the Government binds Scotchmen
by exhibitions of Justice, magnanimity,
all the legitimate consequences of our
defeat, in pledging fealty to the Gov
ernment, in desiring earnestly its pros
perity and glory. it surely cannot be
desired or expected that the honest
convictions of years shall be disowned
and that the argument of force shall
persuade us to the expediei.cy of con-
solidation. A true citizen of the North
ought to be willing to do justice to the
motives and principles of the South,
and to the unsurpassed gallantry and
herolsm of our men and women. |
Should another war occur to resist for !
eign invasion or protect constitutional !
guarantees, the Grants and McClellans !
can desire no truer, braver, or more |
patriotic men than those who followed !
the flag and shared the fortunes of our !
Stuarts and Wheelers and Hamptons,
our Hardees and Eariys, our Jachsons,
and Lees.
General Early next introduced.