The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-29
BOOKS BY TWO WOMEN.
Mrs. Gen. Grant and Mrs. Jefferson
Davis Writing Volumes About
Their Husbands.
Advance Sheets of Mr.. Davis
Posthumous History of the
Confederacy.
His Defense of the Doctrine ofState Rights
Opposed to Blindly Rushing
Into War.

Opposed to Bl1nuly HuSh1nS
Into War
Especial Correspondence Of TIE INDEPENDENT
New YORK, June 25-Byron was right.
Time makes all things even. History may
occasionally seem tardy. but it may be
depended upon in the end to make known
the truth. Whatever may be their defects.
the American people have developed an
element heretofore unknown in the history
of nations, profound sense of justice and
willingness to examine great public ques-
tions i'm partially. The civil war broke up
the lines of sectional demarkation, and in
the quarter of century which has elapsed
since tho close of the struggle the tendency
to unifcation has progressed to the point
bordering on homogeneity. On both sides
the old faiths have become traditional; and
while it would be folly to assert that the
principles which came into collision in 1861
have entirely passed out of the minds of
tie people of either section, it is certain
that the anmus that then inspired them is
dead.
have lust finished perusing the advance
sheets of efferson Davis posthumous work.
It ia called "A Short History Of the Confed-
crate States,' and 1 indebted to the
publishers Bedford d Co., for the courtesy.
It is BOOK worth reading. 1t throws new
! light upon the confederate cause, and while
the author held grimy to his old beliefs,
age somewhat melowed his writings, and
the story is told with a frank and easy
grace, that shows rather the character of an
elder brother who)was i'll the wrong, and
while not willingsto admit it, was courteous
enough to discuss the affair in an atfable
manner In this work all the papers that
the ex-president of the confederacy pos
sesaed were utilized. It,may be taken as
his last word. In reality it is a voice from
the grave. ,,
It lis not a little curious that while the
presses are printing this book two women
one in the south, the other in the north
sitting alone with their consciences in the
twilight of their lives should each be writ
ing a memoir of her husband. The widow
of Gen. Grant is now occupied i'll writing
little volume about hec husband. in which
will be incorporated some of the letters she
received from him when the great war hero
was wooing. and later when he was in the
field, and still later unrelated incidents of
his life while president. The widow of JEFF
Davis is doing the same thing, and two
mighty interesting volumes are bound to be
the result. Both books are almost
be depended upon to look at their idols
through eyes believed with the tears of
grateful love and memory.
And while these women are performing
this labor the only child of Jefferson Davis,
the daughter of the Confederacy, is prepar-
ing her trousseau, for in few weeks she is
to wed the man of her choice, a staunch
northerner. a resident of New York state,
and she will ma Ike her home in the future
not in the land of her childhood in sunny
mississippi, but il New York state, that
sent SO many thousands of men to crush
the rebellion and her father.
But to the book. The writer shrinke
from no issue. He evades no conclusion
In his introduction he sets forth rs to the
right of the south to secede as based upon
the constitution.
1.-The British colonies of North America
subsequently the United States-had a
common allegiance to the British crown.
Otherwise they were as distinct from one
Scotia and the American islands owned by
Great Britain. When by the violation of
both charter and inalienable rights, fol-
which neither redress nor security against
repetition could be obtained, some of the
colonies decided to sever their connection
with the British crown, they formed an al
lance, declared themselves free and indie,
pendent states, and with their united
strength made such vigorous resistance to
the efforts of the mother country to reduce
hem to subsection, that finally treaty
peace was made in September, 1888, il
le following words"
He then cites articles I, v, VII, XII O.
the treaty with Great Britain; and Articles
i, IL, n ana ALL OF inc AfUlCleS Oh OOu
federation" He continues:
eff it be asked how could nine states con
sistently secede from the confederation
and perpetual union of which they were
component part, and the terms of which
union could not be altered unless such al
iteration should be confirmed by the legls
lature of every state it is submitted, as al
answer to the question: that the states, tina
is the people Of each state, had never sur
rendered their sovereignty, and by yirtu
of it if the government failed to fulfil tn
end for which it was established, they ha
the unalienable right to alter or to abolis
it, and to institute new government. lay
ing its foundation on such principles an
organizing its powers i'll such form as t
them should seem most likely to effect thel
safety and happiness
He then quotes Article of the constitu
ton, adding:
''If nowhere is to be ound the delegatio
by the states of sovereignty to the Unite
States, that remained with the states
severally, to be exercised the reafter as
had been in 17S7.''
Proceeding to give the causes of the wa
between the states, he says
Ignorance and credulity have enable
INSCRIPTIONS partisans SO to mislead publ
opinion, both at home and abroad, as
create the belief that the institution {
African slavery was the chief cause, il
stead of being mere incident in the grou
of causes, which led to war;
vasionHby the north of the states which ha
exercised their right to secession whic
brought about the struggle.
"If the state We're still in the union,
was crime against the constitution, whic
did not grant power to ccerce state Cir
deed the convention which formed tina
constitution refused to give that power:
q atate had withdrawn from the union.
was crime against humanity and justic
to make war against neighbours late asse
ciate for the exercise of sovereign right.
Referring to the right of the states t
maintain slavery within their borders, b
observes
1.-The question of the maintenance or ez
tinction of the system of negro slavery i
any state was one exclusively belonging
such state. It follows that no subsequel
question. 4iegititimately arising in feeders
legislation, could properly have any refel
ence to the merits or the policy of the il
stitution itself. A few zealots In the mort
afterWard created much agitation by de
mands for the abolition of slavery With
the states BY federal Intervention, and b
their activity and perseverance finally b,
came a recognized party, which, holdin
the balance OF power between the two grei
political organizations in the north. grady
ally obtained control of one, and to I
small degree corrupted the other.
1.-The raid into Virginia under job
oil 10