Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-19
THE LOST CAUSE.
An Interesting Abstract Of Mr..
Jefferson Davis Forth.
coming HiAtOrY.

Am Interesting Abstract OF Mr.
Jefferson Davis Forth.
coming History.
| The Chicago Times has just printed what
| purports to be an abstract Of the book By JET
| ferson Davis, 1.-THE Rise and Fail Of the Con-
federate Government which is sent to 1t by
| It's New York correspondent, who has reputa-
| far as IT goes The work is to be issued in two
! volumes Of the size of the American Cyclopedia
| by D: Appleton & Co. The illustrations will
| include twenty-four steel portraits OF Confed.
| ase chieftains, two groups or portraits OF men,
! bers OF Mr.. Davis first and second cabinets,
another group showing the niue aides de-camp
| commander chief OF the Confederate forces,
and two engravings OF Mr.. Davis, one repre-
senting him at the age OF 80, soon after he had
ton planter, fresh from the Blackhawk war;
| the other is taken from the portrait by Mar
shall. painted In 1870 when MIR. Davis was 81
In the years OF his retirement, and 1t is said he
| has changed but very little since he sat for
Marshalrs portrait. Me- Davis Introduction is
/ 1t he makes concise statement OF the political
! principles which 1t Is one of the main purposes
| of his history to defend and Justify. He dedi-
the Confederate dead. In opening the work he
treats Of the early legislation On the subject OF
! slavery. He acquits the south OF all RESPONSE
1iy for the In Its midst Of the peeu
4
| treats OF slavery, not as the cause OF the war,
| but only as an incident of the secession move.
ment. The paramount question: he declares,
| was equality 10 the territories, and to
! the inability OF the South to maintain It's equal
| rights in the territories and the new made
| states OF the union he traces the conflict which
| intensified until tC burst into open war. While
| upon this subject he speaks IN condemuatory
| terms of the Missouri compromise, which he re-
| CARDS as surrender OF rights which belonged
| 10 the south, and which IL should have main
a10Otp1
should have been adhered to. and he arraigns
the north and the federal government for the
| failure OF the compromise, which was practi-
cally repealed by the bills organizing The terri
tories OF Kansas and Nebraska in 1859. In his
history Of the slavery struggles he has occasion
TO treat quite fully OF the administration OF
OF War. He Is the sincere friend of Pierce and
the moderate eulogtst OF his administration. He
comedies to that gentleman higher and more adj
mirable qualities as man and publicist than
are enumerated In the references which most
cotemporaneous historians make to him. This
part OF his work VIII probably be regarded as
Mr.. Davis distinctly opposes the favorable
notion of Douglas and many Others Of the lead
Ing democrats of that time. summed up In the
fythat the people of the t territories 'e should
have been free In their political action, and
when they came to form their state consttu-
should exercise their right and adopt or reject
slavery. He regards the repeal OF The Missouri
compromise as reopening the question OF
slavery in the territories, and as precipitating
conflict between the opposing parties, which
| was encouraged by the abollJiOnlStS OF the
| north. and which finally compelled the south
| In self defense TO take decided stand. He
holds the violent abolitlonists largely response
! Die for the final breach OF peace Having de-
voted half OF the first volume to an exposition
OF the causes which led the south to desire a
MI. Davis proceeds in several chapters chapters
| to defend the right of secession. In the
Justification OF this right he quotes largely from
Webster, Calhoun lSN Douglas, Greeley: Seward,
compact between the states was or the nature
OF confederation. he draws largely for the
basis OF his argument upon the debates In the
himself with extracts from Story on the Con-
stltutlon, ''Ell1ott's Debates and "Bancroft's
History" He refers TO the memorable debate
on the purchase OF louisiana, when Josiah
Quincy, OF Massachusetts, asserted in the
House of Representatives that that act virtual
~ dissolved the onion, so that the states were
freed from their obligations and should pre-
pare for peaceable or forcible separation. He
gives the history Of the adoption OF the tenth
amendment to the constitution, by which 1t
was provided that 'the powers not granted to
the United States by the constitution, nor pro-
h!bited by II to the states, are reserved to the
states respectively or to the people" he VIM
dlcates the right OF secession as perfectly COM
patible with the constitution and Claims, be-
sides, that the general government has no
rghtful power to prevent IL. The question, he
aall power Is derived.
Arriving In the latter part Of the first volume
at the period when -hostilities commenced, the
narrative makes rapid progress. How one state
after another followed South Carolina out OF
the Union is briefly sketched. The author refers
TO the northern protests against coercion, in
which connection the name OF Mr.. Greeley
figures prominently. He maintains that the
south did everything In Its power to go out Of
the Union peaceaoiy and quietly He takes a
friendl1er view OF Lincoln al the beginning OF
his administration and that OF his conIrereS In
the federal government. He speaks OF Lincoin's
inaugural address, and says that Mr.. Lincoln
did not so far violate the traditions or his coun-
try as to defend coercion. These extracts froln
MIR. LincOlnS inaugural led the south to hope
that the separation would be brought about in
peaceful manner. He pays q tribute TO the
manly conduct OF Major Ande at Fort
Sumter, but condemns the action OF our gov
eminent In undertaking to supply Forts Sum-
ter and Pickens With provisions and ammu-
milton as gross breach OF faith. He accuses
Seward and others Of bad faith In represent
Ing that no hostile intention was involved In
the SuccOr which was sent 10 the garrl5onS of
the forts, whereas the real design was to enable
The troops to hold out against the demands OF
the south for the restoration Of Its property.
He characterizes the act OF the Lincoln admin
istTation In sending ammunition to Fort Sum-
Tending them, and still iusttfying the right OF
the south TO withdraw from the Union and form
agoVernment OF It's OWL he lays the RESPONSE
speaks at length OF the Journey Of the peace
commissioners who were sent by the confed-
crate government from Montgomery then It's
capital, to Washington. to negotiate for peace
full adjustment OF the question at issue. He
severely criticises the conduct OF Secretary
Seward and his colleagues during these DELHI
erattonS, and asserts that the overture5 OF the
south were not met In frank and candid
spirit. 1t is impossible to give. at this early
day, even general view OF the concluding por-
ton OF this work. He will give, it is sald a very
full discussion OF the peace movements In the
last year OF the war. and will present an elabo.
ra te defense OF the policy OF his administration
as opposed to the Stephens. Brown and Toombs
policy.
SparrOws Oh Toast.
ALBANY Journal
A new dish Is offered for the eptcure TO pass
his opinion upon. that Of English sparrow on
toast. This morning as representative of
he observed string OF small birds hanging