The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-12
WHAT A FRENCHMAN
SAW In DIXIE
In 1863
copyrighted
xy.-TIIE BAkERIES.

nr;ce thu Government has established al
Richmond bakery which can furnish daily
three hundred and fifty barrels Of biscuit.
Everything except the kneeding is done Dy
means Of steam; workmen watch ana ieed
the machine, which, taking the dough as II
comes from the hands of the kneeder, cuts
n into paralelograms and thence 1t passes
directly into the ovens.
Special puryeyors are appointed VINO
purchase the flour for the Government,
which in this manner manages to obtain
dread In the best possible condition With-
out the Intervention OF private individuals
XVI.
Mydomipant idea in reviewing separately
each branch of the public service Oh ine
Southern Confederacy, has been to give 10
the reader a clear perception OF the OrSahl-
zation Of the government, and more espe-
cially to impress upon him the TACT that !,
IL not a tentative government, but one Wei
established, IN full power, and n reliable
exponent Of the will Of the people.
That which most impresses an impartial
observer is that all the machinery OF govern
ment works as quietly and smoothly as II
the nation had been in the enjoyment OF
peace from time immemorial, and had re-
ceceived from all nations the recognition OF
those prescrptiye rights which the good
God has given TO all nations. Until now
the history OF the world has shown that
when a nation in its decadence has been
regenerated or a new nation has separated
itself from one which gave II birth, there
has been an interregnum, during whlch
the government has always been
revolutionary. The civil and military pow
ers have always been concentrated IN the
hands of one man or small body OF men
who presided for time over the new order
of things; consequently il cannot fail to
strike the attention Of the serious observer.
that In the true acceptation OF the term, the
Confederacy never has had revolutionary
government. Doubtless their separation
from the United States was social reYolu-
ton, but their government from its origin
was constitutional.
The prOyisionary government, which held
sway from January 4, 1861, 10 February u,
1862, was based upon "A Professionally con-
stitution, th0ughtfully elaborated by dele
gates from the various States, who even at
this time had already ratified the "separa-
tom by a solemn act OF secession.
When the actual government succeeded
TO the provisionary government, on the 18th
of February. 1862 war had already been de-
clared against the Coniederacy by the
United states in the preceding month OF
June.
Before and after the inauguration of war
the Confederate Government had kept
closely inside of its Constitution, and
moved with the greatest precision and reg
uarty, in spite Of its constant struggle
with an enemy driven TO desperation by the
fear that his prey was about to escape him.
In presence of so colossal a war military
dictatorship would seem 10 be natural Sc
auence, lut "A dictatorship was not in ac-
.nrla xxrfth ha faa A ar nm Of the
people, and jefferson Davis formally and
strongly opposed the proposition.
The United States have been constantly
cited as model for US Of France. but the
events OF which America has been The thea
ire for the last three years must strike sOr-
rowfully upon the hearts of her admirers.
The grand failure Of their political me-
chanism, which IL shown by the present
state Of affairs among them, does not call
for emulation among those who have at
heart the welfare Of their own country.
While the Government of the United
states remained faithful 10 its original plan
the wheels ran smoothly; but, on the day
IL forgot, II was but the mandatory of pre-
existant States. A struggle began between
the Federal power and State sovereignty
which seems destined TO tear this grand
country TO fragments.
The government at Richmond rests upon
the doctrine of the individual sovereignty
Of each State reunited in the Con;ederacy,
and the power vested in II as mandatory,
and for the general good does not give IT
supremacy. The opponents Of the Govern
ment assert that To grant absolute soye-
eighty 10 each state will undermine
all the plan of government, and that their
only salvation lies in the consolidation OF
these various sovereignties in one; but at
present the result of their plans of action
are satisfactory, and not at all calculated 10
cause them to regret the course they have
pursued. A nation which is brave, and
which knows how to obey, is one which can
easily learn to govern itself.
xvII.-LIBERTY OF THE PRESS.
There is no limit 10 the freedom of the
press in the Southern Coniederacy; no CEN
sorship is established by law, and the jour
nails are free TO voice the opinions OF the
people, and individuals are free TO express
their ideas Of political matters without fear
of punishment; the Confederate authorities
interfere with the personal liberty ofthe cit
zen only wi en- he Is guilty Of crime and d Q
fact well established; he 10 not imprisoned
on simple suspicion, s has happened so fire.
quently oflate in the Northern states. The
Secretary of State at Washington, in dis
patch addressed TO the British Minister,
congratulated himself that he had but 10
touch button at his right hand 10 arrest q
criminal in the state OF Maine, and another
button at his left hand would do the same
service In the state OF lllinois-these two
States representing the eXtremities OF his
dominions. In the cabinet OF the Secretary
Of State In Richmond | searched in vain for
these diminutiye but powerful despots.
No state OF the Confederacy has an Off
ciaI organ; and YOU will find in every coun-
try where liberty OF the press regns SUI
preme many journals that criticise very
freely the acts of the Administration, as
there Is no government under the sun. were
IL the model Of perfection, but has its oppo-
sition PARTY. This party generally consists
Of the disappointed people who have not at.
tanned the objects OF their personal am
bition or carried out their. preconceiyed So
cial theories, and consequently feel priyi-
legged 10 inveigh bitterly against the gov
eminent. which they hold responsible for
their failure.
such was the case with the Standard, a
newspaper published at Raleigh, y. c.,
which INDUCED in such bitter denuncations
Of the Southern leaders and the Southern
cause generally, that the people called for
It's suppression, and II required all the au-
thority Of the President himself, In spite of
the respect accorded 10 the liberty OF the |
press by the government at Richmond, 10
assist the current Of public opinion.
was witness In the beginning OF Au- |
gust 10 the indignation with which the |
numbers OF the journal containing some Of |
these diatribes were seized by the citizens. |
They held public meetings In which they |
Indignantly denied the allegations brought |
against them, and at the same time warmly |
renewing their protestations of allegiance |
10 the Confederacy. / saw, during the few
days I passed In the camp OF the Army OF
Northern Virginia, the North Carolina regi-
ments unite themselves In a civic meeting
ut Orange Courthouse, and as simple citi-
Gems pass series OF resolutions similar 10
those passed by their fellow-citizens at Ra-
leigh, and l was forced to believe that had
X tIeigh been close ut hand they would
have taken upon themselves then and
there 10 avenge the outraged honor of
Iheir native state. Much In the same
manner, ~ II was done later by the inhab-
|splx Of Raleigh, who ip body surrouuded