Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-18
A PUBLIC NEED.
The Truth OF History-Should it Not be
Taught in Fub ic Schools.
An Interesting Later of G mara! fnserss. Upon
the suti set by r. 3. sex:ou OF
Marshall.
Special to the Gazette.

CpeSidi ~ tue oHZetle.
AUSTIN. TEX. Dec. l4.-Superinten.
dent Pritrhe,t has just received from
F. B. Sexton of Marshall, gentleman
we'll known to the legal fraternity,
letter discussing the need for more
accurate and truthful history for use III
the public schools. As the letter is one
of general interest, a copy Of it Is given
herewith:
Hon. II. c. Pritchett. Superintendent Of Pub.
lie instruction for Texas, Austin. Tex:
DEAR Shiny attention has recently
been called TO the histories used as text
books in our public schools. note that
"Barnes' United States history refers
TO the war between the United States OF
America and the Confederate States OF
America us the 'civil war; Other
histories may refer to il i'll the same
/ language, and l hear that som" charac-
! teriZe il as ''the war of the rebellion -
! | happen to have seen none but
'Burnes'.
! propose 10 have no controversy with
those states or the people living III them,
who fought and conquered US. They lid
conquer us by the logic of ''strong bat
talions'' and 'heaTy artillery and
they can call the war what they please.
We have long since learned that the
terms they use are not always truthful.
When they falsely call us "rebels' We
are powerless TO prevent them. But l
think it Is due 10 truth and justice; due
to the memory of our gallant soldiers who
died for their convictions; due
to the thirteen states which were de-
Isolated and Impoverished by the sword
and torch of the invader; due to the
stntesmunship of the public servants of
the Confederate states, most of whom
have "gone over the r!ver,'' that, in
our public schools, our own statement of
our case should be fairly presented.
A :civil war; is a war between peo-
state. A 'rehelliou Is an attempt to
overthrow the sovereign power IN u state
or kingdom. (See Vattel or any stand
ard writer on public law
The American colonies which formed
the United States were eacn sovereign
and independent of the other. Each
held its distlnct corporate existence by
its own separate charter from the crown
of Great Britain.
The Declaration OF Independence de-
clnres that the colonies ''are, ana of
right ought to be. free and INDEPENDENT
suites
The articles OF confederation of I777
provide that Leach state retains its Gov
ereignty, freedom and Independence,
and 'every power, jurisdiction and
right not expressly delegated to the
United States.
The constitution of the United States
wns formed by the states mot 10y the
people ut large or Ell mnsSe) in their sep
nrate and independent capacities. 1t is
undispu.ed history that New York re-
fused to assent to the constitution for
mnnv months, and that North Carolina
and Rhode Island did not ratifv and as
sent to II until long after the other states
had done SO. The constitution itself
provides for its ratification between the
states ratifying. II does not and never
did establish n government over the
states which made It.
The tenth amendment of the coDstitu-
tion of the United States (Which was
tinully adopted in 1889 l79D provides
that "the powers not delegated to the
United States by the constitution nor
pr hibited by it to the states are reserved
to the states respectively or to the peo-
pie. -
Without having recently re-rpnd
Elliot's DEBATES, / venture to state, from
memory, that the word "natioEal'' was
seldom If ever used in referring TO the
government which the states were form
ing. 1t was called IL ''federal' gov RI
ment, aud the word necessarily implies
au agreement OF "Ieague'' among
equals.
No provision wes made in the federal
constitution for the use of force or any
species of coercion against state
This was conceded by Col. Alexander
Hamilton, the acknowledged leader of
those who favored q strong central
government.
1t followed necessarily that each
state had the right To Withdraw from the
Union and was itself the judge OF the
time and occasion of doing so.
In the exercise of this right, thirteen
independent states, each upon Its own
judgment. as determined ami manifested
by conventions Of its citizens, withdrew
from the Federal union. They did not
re- bel against or attempt to overthrow the /
government of the United States; they
simply left II. Subsequently ths same
thirteen states formed u confederation
of their own convenience and, ne they
deemed. to promote their own welfare. /
The government OF ''the Confederate (
States of America was fully organized /
and had IL complete existencs for four
years. War was made on that govern
m.nt by the United States of America |
The Confederate States of America were
and every soldier of that /
not previously killed, and
all the citizens OF the stH.es, members of
the Confederate states. were made pris-
ouers and KEEP; upon parole until relieved
by subsequent action OF the United States
From the foregoing premises-the truth
of which am willing to trust TO the ex-
animation Of any candid and fair minded
reader of history not bigoted partisan
1t results that the war between the
United States of America and the Con-
fsderate states Of America was war
between independent powers, and bad
none OF the attributes or characteristics
Of civil war or war Of rebellion.
II the teachers I'm our public schools do
not understand this. il Is. l respectfully
submit, high time they were learning It.
1t Is lad enough to have been con-
Quered-desolatei-to have had the gov
prnInent of our fathers, in its spirit and
substance, completely overthrow by our