Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-20
Illinois, Michigan, and large
part OF Minnesota. These States,

j
scale. and destroying the equipoise OF
which depended, whilst slavery should
exist only in the South, the equilibrium
on which depended the peace and sta
bility Of the nation.
From this time the South was never
permitted 10 extend her power without a
corresponding increment to the North.
The purchase OF the vast territory oI
Louisiana as early as 1903 and the adj
mission of State carved out of IL excited
such jealousy at the North that warnings
came from New England threatening to
dissolve the Union.
Again in 1819-'20 an attempt to admit
to the Union another portion of the
Louisiana territory as the State of Mis-
souri, brought the struggle to a climax,
and the existence Of the Union was I'M
perilled by the menace on the part of
northern States 10 dissolve it. 1t was
temporarily arranged by the Missouri
compromise.
SECESSION.
IT was in these controversies that the
term "secessiOn was first employed rs
the action Of State in with
drawing from the Union. II Is IN the
light of subsequent events interesting to
know that its use in this sense was due
to a northern man VINO threatened the
South with secession on the part of his
people.
Again the threat was employed when
the empire OF Texas was annexed by the
efforts Of the South, and again when
California and New Mexico we're ac-
quired.
Meantime the sentiment against slavery
had been found 10y the politicians useful
to their ends. 1t was first employed in
the Missouri matter, and was found a
useful lever to bring to the aid OF the
North in its struggle for supremacy.
We are informed by the historians
that this was due TO the principle Of
liberty among the northern people. 1t
is not true. Long afterwards abolition
lists We're held in equal contempt and
encountered equal obloquy at the North
and at the South. 1t was the case
even in New England. The fact was
that the Southerner, like Abraham Of old,
when he moved carried his slaves with
him. And where he could not take his
he did not go. Thus free
States meant northern States.
However the sacred name of Liberty
inspires the human heart. The propa-
yandists OF abolition, though at first few
N number, appealed not only to the
lorthern people but TO Humanity, and
he South in a little while stood with the
'orces of the world against her. She as
lerted herself
The section that had been formerly OPP
posed to her invaded her and crushed
Ter.
HUMAN SLAVERY.
Tt is to this section that the South has
eft the history Of her civilization.
give them credit for sincerity The
priests of the Inquisition were sincere,
)ut they were not liberal.
We stand at the bar OF History now
'hargcd with the crime of attempting to
human slavery, and for this
purpose Of conspiring to destroy the best
government the world has ever seen, the
American Union.
If we fail to make our defence the
Judgment of history will be against US
or all time.
Before fifty years shall have passed the
lefence of human slavery will he deemed
he world over TO have been IS great a
rime against nature as the slave trade
tsclf, and the South, which appeared as
Is defender, will be considered TO have
'een rs really barbarous as Congo or
)ahOmey.
How may this be avoided ? BY re-
ording ere it be too late the true history
f the South, by preserving and trans
hitting the real life of that civilization,
o that future ages may know not what
IS enemies thought of it but what it in
ruth was.
LINCOLN.
The country is at present being IA
ored with a history Of the greatest man
he West has produced-a man whose
reatness already looms up above the
hadows of contemporary antagOnism in
eroic proportions, and whose future
lme shall be that he destroyed African
iayery and saved the Union.
The work is by two gentlemen of high
oputation, and who, | doubt not, have
lined to present fair statement of the
me as it has appeared TO them.
In proof of the impossibility OF judi
ial view OF the South on the part of such
istorians, / refer you to their presenta-
on of and discussion of two episodes:
he attitude Of "The Slave Power III
le struggle for the Territories and the
Secession Conspiracy"
1t recalls the profound reflection on
so greater historlans-that Hume 50
wed a king and Gibbon so hated a priest
lat neither was to be believed where I
ley were concerned.
An unbiased judgment on the part of |
lch historians on the subjects of slavery |
ld secession, it not of the South, is be-
1nd not merely hope. but possibility.
Their prejudice is such that they have /
Left not even Launcelot brave. nor Galahad /
clean"
The history OF the South as written is
ke an ancient palimpsest, in which the |
riting that is read is but a monkish
gend, whilst underneath, unnoted and
faced. may lie the record of eternal
nth. The best material for the history
this nation is that contained IN the
ie of the southern people.
SELF RESPECT.
One Of the chief elements OF strength
the old civilization of the South was
lf-respect. Arrogant as it may have
zen, pride lifted it above all meanness.
s standard was so high that contempla-
IN of it made men upright, and aspi-
ton to ii made them noble.
belong to the new order, and can
ell the thrill of new energies till ny
art. / can see and admit the incalcu-
ble waste, the narrow limitations of
c old. give my loyal adherence to
e present with all its fresh and glorious
but | shall never forget
at il is to the Old South that the New
nth owes all that is best and noblest in
being.
Reverence for the greatness of its
st, pride of race, are two cardinal ee-
ents in national strength. They made
c Greek, the Roman, the Saxon. the
,uiherner. Without these two We
ould deserve the contempt of man