Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-01-22
Northern View Of Walthall.
N inV DnmOeratfo Iaader-

sippi, is a fact well worth more than
passing notice. Considering all the
circumstances and antecedents this
seems the incident most strongly mark
ing the close of sectional difference and
emphasizing the truth that the Federal
Union once more constitutes a Union
in so large a sense that the particular
part is no longer specially regarded,
either as commentator or objection,
in the distribution Of honors.
The President of the Senate is a
strict partisan and has many followers
who share his extreme views, and
whose convictions have led them to
believe that a large number of the
States are under a form of legalIzed
misrule which wholly fails to meet the
conditions of equal Statehood. There
fore it may be concluded that the Sc
lection Of Senator WalthaIl by a Re
publican Senate for a position com
pletely inconsistent with Gen. Wal
thall's record, and with the campaign
utterances of Republican leaders,
surely indicates that the war-already
prolonged for a generation after the
last battle-is over and done forever,
In the only other great civil strife
waged between parties who folloWe ed
the observance of English law and
recognized traditions which are our
own heritage, as well, it required near
ly the same lapse of time to bring
about final Cancellation. Yet it would
be hard to find one of Cromwell Ma
jor-Generals holding Parliamentary pJ-
sition under the Restoration, by The
choice Of a cavalier majority.
The incident suggesting this article
derives a more important Significance
from the character of the appointee
sven than from the extreme utterances
Of Senator Sherman and his confreres.
This is true both Of General Walthall's
military and of his civil career.
1t is matter of history recognized by
generous tribute ia official report Of
the gallant Gen. Thomas, that Wal
thall's work in covering Hoods retreat
through Tennessee, saved the beaten
and broken remnant Of that army
from determination.
1t is equally matter Of repute in the
recollection of survivors OF both
armies, that, after the heroic death Of
Gen. Pat Cleburne, on the works at
Franklin, Walthali AT once succeeded
to his pr%e-eminence as an intrepid and
steady leader.
1t is also known that Walthall was
the youngest division commander IN
the army with which he served, with
out military training, and qnent-
ly entitled to be regarded as a typical
American volunteer. Certainly moth
ing but conspicuous merit and effect
i've service would so notably have
procured him the post Of honor above
his seniors.
AS soon as the war, ended, the
young general returned to private
life, and became a leading member OF
a small band of extreme conservatives,
who have succeeded almost in domi-
mating the politics OF their State and
in Offering formidable resistance to all
resource to machine methods. Lamar
was probably the first conservative,
at a time when it required the eager
eye of faith to descry hope for the tu-
ture or oblivion for the past. Wal
thall stood with the mar whom he
has since Worthily succeeded IN the
Senate, and this succession was IA
matter of popular demand which the
Governor was forced to recognize.
The new senator has never been an
Office seeker, but has repeatedly de
clIned high place. A supreme Judge
ship aud the %goyernorship have been
within his grasp. lie declined both,
and when he accepted his present pc
sition it was in obedience to so clear a
call as not to admit OF refusal.
The recognition Of the eligibility OF
such Il man to the committee nomina-
ton marks the end of definite animos-
ity, and the beginning Of concord and
/, thorough union; it completes the
{ work begun by Lamar in his funeral
eulogy of Charles Sumner, when
speaking for the defeated South,
and in view of issues as surely I'm
possible to revive as those Of the feudal
system. This GRAFTON voiced the con
servative thought Of the whole South
and revealed its existence 30 the cor
responding North. 1t has been tht
main spring of much Of the p%olitica
action which has, in great measure
restored Northern confidence and lee
to Southern relief from uDprinclple(
adventures.
This appointment further accents
the fact Of a leadership, recognized il
at least one State Of the South, OF mel
ready on great occasions to prefer tn
needs of the present and future L
mouldy doctrines of the past, ye
gaining and keeping the full contidenc
of their State and OF all classes OF thel
W party.
The senator's portrait, published il
the Harper's Weekly, shows a man ye
the sunny side Of fifty years, OF Tin
presence and altogether magnetic; hi
features are clear cut and his Who'll
expression gives outward token Of a.
active and vigorous intellect. Ill
face is clean shaver, except a heav
mustache, which like his hair, seem