The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-12


The right Of the Governor 10 pardon criminals
sentenced to death; by the independence OF
is finances. this sovereignty in action; con-
seouently the withdrawal Of any state from
The Union cannot constitute an act OF re-
bellion.
In ceasing to form part Of league
state does not rebel against the SAID league.
Even as il entered it voluntarily, OF It's own
free will. It must retain the same rlght 10
withdraw. But this right the Northern
States have formally refused 10 recognize,
and they have kept possession OF all the COM
mon property of the States, which was con-
tanned in the various arsenals ana navy
yards.
when no sovereignty exists, no rebellion
can be possible. The only real cases Of re-
belliOn which can be cited since Tue scces-
sion of the States are those which have
boen melted by the Northern States.
Tho citizens Of Southern Louisiana, East
Tennessee. North Carolina. and West Viz
gina. whether through intimidation or vol
have opposed the act OF secession
adopted by a majority of the citizens ol
these states. and as consequence are ac-
tuallv in a state Of rebellion towards their
res pectiye states.
In forcing West Virginia to separate
herself from the rest OF the state
for the purpose of forming an i'll
dependent State. the Federal Gov
ernment has committed grave political
error and an outrage upon the state OF IT.
ginia. They repToach the Coniederates be-
cause the latter claim the privilege OF Sc
cession. which is theirs by prescriptiNe
right. and all the while they themselves are
and aiding an illegitmate seces-
sion within the state Of Virginia.
XIX.-THE FRONTIERS OF THE NEW con-
FEDERATION.
In treating of the question of the indepen-
dence of the South. French journalists have
been trying TO fix the frontier line OF two
new considerations, land not indlng upon
the map anything which resembles what
we of this day are apt 10 call national
frontier they have decided a priOri, that no
separation between the North and South
could be Of long duration. In case, however
that the Union is not established by force
OF arms, they think it Will be necessary TO
submit the frontier question to the arbltra-
ton of Europe.
If the history of North America had been
more familiar to these writers the appre-
hended difficulties would never have pre-
scented themselves, for in reality each state
Possesses well established frontiers, about
which no disputes have ever arisen, as IT
would be TO the interest of no one to try to
displace them. Ehcn, as each state secedes
from the "UnioD" formed by the UNITED
States 10 join the Confederate states, II
will still retain its own frontier, and
if il should be BORDER State" its limits
will form the boundary of the COnfederacy,
of which il becomes member. The "bOr-
der States" are Maryland, Kentucky, and
Missouri, to which we may perhaps add
Northwest Virginia, which has been occu-
pied turn and turn about by both armies.
These alternate occupations have produced
a disintegratiOn more apparent than real,
however. in the interior politics OF this
state. Thus. under the pressure of Federal
arms, West Virginia. as we have said, cut
herself OIL from the rest of the State for the
purpose OF forming herself into separate
and sovereign State in the bosom Of the
Federal Union. The popular vote, which,
we are told was unanimous, was obtained
at the point of the bayOnet, all the voters
being informed beforehand that if they
voted against the measure they would
be driven out of the state and
their property coniiscated, and if they
did not vote at all they would be
considered as traitors and shot if
they did not leave the country of their
own accord. What could the people do
UNDER such circumstances! They voted
with bitterness of soul the Federal ticket,
10 themselves the privilege Of
giving n formal contradiction TO their vote
when the opportunity presented itself.
There is but one policy which can settle
the question which has given rise to this
war and that is the policy which followed
Magenta and SOferino. The people, freed
from all pressure from politicians within,
and enemies without, must manifest their
sovereign will by a universal vote. Let the
majority rule and decide what the form of
government must be.
Ii has never occurred 10 the President or
people of the Confederate States TO force
any of the "BOrder States" to enter the
Confederacy against their will. They will
abide by the result of the popular vote, and
il the States aforementioned prefer to re-
main in the Federal Union no cam
paign will be undertaken TO de-
tach them, Notwithstanding the large
number of soldiers and sailors who repre-
sent these States in the army and navy OF;
the Coniederacy, and who, having cast
their fortunes with the Confederates, will
continue TO make their homes under the
shadow Of the "Stars and Bars" OF course
il il different matter in the case of West
Virginia The State OF Virginia must not
be divided even if it costs civil war to re-
tain it; il belongs 10 the Governor Of the
State to preserve the integrity of Virginia
soil, and if he thinks 1t necessary he may
invoke the assistance of the Confederate
Government 10 this end.
We have shswn the line of demarcation
between the Northern and Southern States,
which is plainly marked by their history,
and based upon the mater al and CONNER
.ial interests of these two sections of the
American continent. This line extends
rom Delaware bay 10 the source Of
he Ohio, about latitude 40 degrees.
Ii follows the course of this river
o its junction with the Mississippi: il fol-
Ows the course of the latter until 1t again
ouches latitude 80 degrees, embracing the
state Of Missouri, west OF which it strikes
across towards California, about parallel
u degrees so minutes.
The States OF Maryland, Kentucky, and
Missouri, situated south Of this line, would
rave to choose which government should
ule them when the time came for their
,eople to be free i'm making their own
Election. If the State OF Missouri were TO
pronounce definitely in favor of the South,
I is highly probable that she would
Ibandon 10 the North all Of her territory
ituated above the Missouri liver, if we
nav Judge from the tendency manifested by
he people OF this region 10 emigrate TO
'exas. When once the frontier line be-
weeu these two sections is fixed by the
offending parties themselves. the political
las Of the settlers will soon evidence itself; |
he AnglO-SaxOn element will tend TO the |
forth, while the Latin element will make |
IS way southwark.
FREDERICKSBURG.
On the cath OF July | visited frcdericks- |
urg, a rural town, already celebrated as
be scene OF two battles, in both of which |
ictory perched upon the Confederate ban
er. The more recent battle took place on |
he 18th and 18th OF that December. The |
onfederates were under the command Of |
General Lee, and the federals were under
he command OF General Burnside.
| went there ON the invitation of my
lend. Captain Lewis II. Blackford, who,
/ the head Of a crops Of typographical en-
Ineers, has been making a plan OF the
atsle-helds. The town OF Fredericksburg
situated on the right bank OF the Kappa
innock river. IL was here thae the Fed
al army crossed the river. and recrossed
after one OF the bloodiest battles which the
story Of this war has recorded; but before