The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-17

rtarp SYNOPSIS OF Irs FORTHCOMING MS
ann.- nv I.rREnanN nAYI9.

ALLEGED SYNOPSIS or IRIS FORTHCOMING HIS
TORY By JEFFERSON DAVIS.
CHICAGO. ILL.,, February rs The Times
makes public the topics discussed by Jefer.
son Davis In his history, THE Rise ana
Fa!i OF the Confederate Government" sonn
TO be ls.ued. He finds in the structure OF
thirteen independent States and their reia.
lions TO elch other primary principles ana
vested rights on which he rests MS VIM
dication Of the COnfederacg. He EVIL
denccs the doctrine OF State sovereignty
on The compact by which the states volun-
tarily gave their consent 10 federation WIN
10 design, expressed or implied, ever TO be-
come fractional parts OF the nation, ana ne
believe, that those who resisted the VIOLA
ton OF the original compact were IN TACT
the true friends Of constitutional Union.
The author, discussing The principles ana
events I'm their natural and logical order,
first gives his attention TO African seiyltude
and he long and bitter sectional strife TO
which il gave rise. He then takes up the
question Of States rights, and gives the
constitutional and historical arguments on
which he rests The principles OF State
sovereignty, quoting copiously from all the
authorities on the subject. These ques-
items and full statement OF The imme-
the first volume. The remainder OF the
work Is given to narrative OF tue Struggle,
including the fullest statement yet written
from a southern standpoint, of fierce dlsSen-
sious in The Confederate councils. and OF his
defence OF a proloDgati0n OF the war Tor
many months after many OF the ableSt men
in the South were convinced that their
struggle was q hopeless one. In opening
the work he treats OF the early legislation
on the subject Of slavery. He 9cquits the
South OF all responsibility for the existence
| in its midst Of the peculiar institution, ana
| calls attention TO The fact that Virginia was
the first State TO prohibit the importation
into its territory OF blacks brought 10
this country and reduced to slavery,
and that Georgia was the first State 10
| INCORPORATE in its Constitution the pro-
hibilion OF the African slave trade. All
through the wOIk he treats OF slavery, not
as The cause OF the war, but only as an Incl
deut Of the secession movement. The para
mount question, he declares, was equality
| in the Territories and the inability O1 the
South TO maintain lis equal rights III Tue
| Territories and nCw-made States. lie traces
| tue conflict which intensified until II burst
Ento open war. While upon this subject he
speaks in cOnGcmnItoIy terms OF Inc MIS-
| souri, compromise, which be regards a,
surrender OF the rights which belonged 10
the South. Bringing his history down
to the election OF Lincoln, ne finds
the Federal Government IN the hands
OF party under which the south
crn States could not live. Lincoln was
elected upon platform Of resistance TO
slavery extension. a party antagonlstie to
the South and believing in the cCntraliza-
ton Of power ia the Federal Government
controlled by the Executive department.
Having devoted half OF the first volume
TO an exposition oil the causes which led Tue
south TO desire a separation from the Fede.
raj Government, Mr.. Davis proceeds IN
several chapters TO defend the right OF Sc
ces>iou. In Justification OF this right he
quotes largely from Webster, CilbouD,
Douglas, Greeley, Seward, Benton, and
Clay. He vindicate> the right OF secession
Is perfectly compatible with ~ C1n>titu.
ton, and claims. besides, that the General
Government has no rightful power TO pre-
| vent it,.