The New York herald., 1878-07-06
LITERATURE.
ALBERT SIDNEY JoHNsToN-A HISTORY OF HIS


audience, not only in the Southern States but at the
North. where he known before the civil war as
brave aud brilliant soldier Although General John.
ston's career IN the Southern army was short
II q striking one, beginning with The
and ending at tho battle OF shiloh,
April 6, 1862. Albert Sidney Johnston was born
tho I'd February. 1903, IN the village OF Wash
inRton, Mason county Va. where his father followed
the practice Of medicine The foundation OF MS edu-
cation laid at Virginia academies, and in 1872 he
entered West Point He hard student, and
graduated in 1926 the eghth mis- class, and Joined
the Second infantry July l OF the same year He
married Miss Preston, OF Kentucky In ISIS. Johnston
dist himself IN the Black Hawk war; CT which
this book aves graphic narrative, based on origi
nal documents. His career in Mcxico and Texas Is
gwen al length with cbes OF tho battle OF Monterey
BY General jon and Jefferson Days The Mormon
OF 1857, conducted by General JOHNSTON, occupies
promlnen rIace in the book, but the portion OF the
volume IN which The of to-day will take the
greatest interest IS that which relates to The late civil
war. Colonel Johnston, the writer, in chapter
titled the ''Soutncrn Conederacy gives The stand
Loint OF the southern people, which Will be and
not uninteresng to many Of our readers. The cause
OF the war he sets down TO The difference in social
organization the North and the Souh certain
real or imaginary collisions OF material interests
different mode OF Interpreting the constitution and
the agitation Tor the abolition Of negro slavery
tho South, he says, the constitution was regarded
as historical document 1t was charter conveying
10 the federal government as the agent OF the
States certain we'll defined powers for specific
purposes, all powers not thus explicitly granted
beng res rved 10 the several States The instrument
vas 10 be strictly construed and breach OF the
euant entitled the aggrieved party to redress the
measure oil winch the State must fx, common
tribunal established for tnat purpose. This
involved the right Of Withdrawal from the Union.
either by peaceabie secession or by revo-
luton. In the extreme South tho former regarded
AZ he legitimate method hen the emergency arose
those States attempted thus 10 exercise their right
In the North those prlm,,ive views oi the constlu
tion we're cuarged BY an immense influx of European
Immigrants, VINO, controlled by speculative republi-
cans, regarded tho constitution as mere Ut Of
ria MS and tho mission OF the Republic 70 DO the
emancipation ana illumination OF the world. A
modvrn national, or rather an IMPERIAL theory
ol the nature OF our government prevailed
thory attacks on slavery. winch were regarded IN
the South as wiiiu, dangerous aud maniest inrac-
nops Of tho CONSTITUTION. The irrtatiops oi the con-
iroveisy were great and growing. Tho loss OF
ST. OO0. 90 worth OF slaves annually; ais to their
escape indictments 10 their insurrection RESIST
anCe 70 thor rendiOn when iugitives by mob or by
puliifying State laws; Appeals 10 the "higher aw Of
conscience as overruDg the constitution and tue n
tenn perate nvectives OF the aoOtonists engenuered
q bitter and unmcasured resentment IN The South.
This evlnccd words and acts It's true ttai,
when Mr. Lincoln elected President III lS60 the
republican party made tue basis Of its creed OK.
by ACT OF Congress- But this Will hardly be regarded
moro than n nero phase of the snti-slavery
s.n was there held TO- be- gross vioa.io~ Of
the constitution. The success Of this party opened
| TO the South vista OF unnumoered Ills. Tue Gull
States resolved imncuiate separation. South
Caroiina began ny seceoing December 20. 1850, tho
Others quickly followed ana the government Of The
he says that Mr. Davis did not believe that the
Southern States would bs allowed 10 secede without
bloodshec. but that great many Of the leaders da
In speaking Ol hts father Ut THIS time the writer
ssys-"GeDeral Johnston had never bten politician
or party man. Hc had but one voLe in his lie,
aLd that been Tor General Taylor who, he thought,
would rise above party. He never forgot, however,
that he citizen OF republic. Deeply Interested
In It's welfare couversant with its history, well
quaintsd with Its practical WORKING, long associated
leader in hrs own particular sphere, he could not
tail to have decided opinions on the greater
stHs is.ie bound by prejudice, his opinions were.
of course, much iniiusncsa by MS asso
! citation aad circumstances. II IS true that
he thought that tue rights of The states could be
| better secured by many concessions even than by
arms; he had no doubts as to winch party was tho
aggressor, aud his CONVICTIONS as well us hts sympa
| thirs, were Win his own State section More.
| over, be had learned IRON the patriots OF
seiec. tncir own .orm OF govtrnm, mt ana
10 MAINTAIN ther independence ny revolution
those generally held in the South, wnsre no born
and brought up, and with whose social structure he
| had been identiled. Right or wrong they were the
beliefs Of 900 Of people who have shown as nigh
traitA pure moray, as lofty courage aud as H.
| teigent etutesmaDship any VINO ever Hved.
Hence he shared the resentment, though not the cx
preston OF IT, universal IN the South against the domi-
neering philanthropy that assaiied lis institutions
HIS views regard 10 the nature and poity OF The
Unitea States govebnment on the wnoie. larry repre-
sened tho ideas OF the army officers as class but en-
| lurged modified by wider experience III they
| could be summed up In single word u would be
| conservative"
| OF the resignation OF his COMMISSION as q United
| States ofhcer he writes thus 10 MS sister,
| Los AScKLgs CaL. juno !. 1861.
MY DEAR SISTER, received your KIND nns nset'erats
| lattsF pl Aurlll D
the ior wardcd from san francisco,
S as p Ss S
S h S sp Ss se Ssy sr s c
the command OF the Pacific department was directed
Pesuming that resi- nation haa been accepted by the
had 'sep reaa ted BY me- hsv awaited here
nouncement It It's acceptance may be tna. snynE
a..ra.. "rersd me q, ,S be siieysd The oes de-
report IN wnich case cannot recivc an answer before
Having faithfully administered the affairs of the depart
until relieved there be no reason to refuse
er nent done eSceptirnsbie act refusal
made any w spark
81 honor in position 10 onse would also be
Ion ger any cumstsces but do say that would
VITA The ,ras, rsposed ~ me- ana that trust would
under all creum,tance have been restored was,
After General sumner. promotion expected,
when wa. relieved that hi, nen1 was
panied by ei,ca%'In,ss s.n 81 ,h at; "a,
Frnncise Hntn f.he 9Th Aprll. apd mus. alo
dis asted III the War u pstmen which should guard
and protect III, tame Of The oicer Of TIE allowed
itscII % the vehicle ~ lou san1crou> impuaiivns
against me derry Il from if
not Justice required iavcstixatiou, whh would have
fixed guilt cr acquitted Instead of this letter
writers were suffered TO the chnrg. o dso,alty
the wide OF the states, though
| there was not u sin gle tact to Sust ain 1t
since received tho OF the secretary,
dated April 49, through excellent friend OF full conh
dence In aud that my appointed caiet Ibis
better tnan nothing. but Is small compensation Tor
the dam have time thought that General
scott had anything 10 do with This siiii ieei Tor him all
|
40 desire again to hod 0fce. No one could
feel scnsby the caltmtous coEdon OF our country
than my sr: auG whatever part may take hcrcatcr.i
will subj ct OF GRADUATION With me that act
o mine contributed TO bring IT about suppose the
difficulties viii only be adjusted the sword In
| hnmolr judpinent tn tie remedy.
hope, sister, you In good health ana that
live to cnoy the sood tnines Frvi nee has
rsceu IN your hands such the prayer OF your ndes
| tiOuate brother. A. :. JOHNSTON
! The Hon. montgomery Blair, Mr.. Lincoin's Post
master General IN letter to he writer. Colonel Ohm
ston that. at later dat. when opportunity Tor