The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-22


The Washington Post of yesterday, in nm
article on Stonewall Jackson and tho honor
paid his memory in Lexington. after speaking
In tho highest terms of the nobility and recti-
tude Of that truly great man and illustrious
Confederate commander. says "Ot course We
all know now. Southerners as well as North
erners. that Jackson's views Of allegiance and
public duty leaned in the wrong direction.
The logic of events has proved that beyond
ell contradiction"
Let us see il this is so. Jackson's views OF
allegiance and public duty were based upon
the fundamental principle upon which TINS
Federal Republic was founded. viz: State
sovereignty as the cornerstone, and
compact between tho States by which
each gave up certain portion
of it's sovereignty for the benefit
Of tho whole. All this, however,
was with the distinct understanding that all
powers not thus delegated should remain in
the States themselves; and the agreement was
understood 10 have force and effect so long as
it worked to the advantage of all. II IS well
known that for long time several OF the
pact lest by so doing they should yield
up q sovereignty which they had always
guarded with most jealous care. Ana
finally when the Union was formed
it was distinctly understood that the
sovereignty and rights of the States were
not TO be impaired, but that there was to be
nm alliance offensive and defensive, between
them: lust as nations Of the world have
always formed such alliances whenever they
have found them TO their mutual advantage
These, in brief, were the principles in which
the South believed, which Jackson shared,
and for which he fought. They were the
principles of the founders Of the Union and
the trainers of the Constitution, who believed
that only upon their respect and observance
depended the integrity and permanence OF
the Republic. SO when the Southern States,
believing that the alliance into which they
had entered was no longer working III their III
terest, resumed the sovereignty they had dele
gated to tho general Government. and, when
theywere invaded by people seeking their
conquest they drew the sword for the defense
of their rights and their sef-pTeservatiOn,J Jack
son was one of those who unhesitatingly took
UP arms in the defense of his State when she
called upon her sons to rally to her pro
lection.
But all this is an old and familiar story
which needs no repetition. Suffice 1t to say
that when the South was conquered and was
compelled by force of vastly superior num-
beers 10 lay down her arms and reenter the
Union. she did so in good faith. Now no sec
ton of the country is more loyal to that Union
than she. and should any Northern State
in future attempt 10 secede, as more
than ,one Of them have in the past dark
ly threatened to do, she would be
among the very first to rush 20 arms tor
the preservation of its integrity Moreover
the South is ready to admit that, perhaps, had
she succeeded in securing her independence,
she might not have been SO well of as she Is
destined to be, since in all likelihood. there
would not have been the same rapid activity
in the development Of her mineral and manu-
featuring resources as has been caused by the
change in her social condition. and the pow
erty in which she was left by tho result OF the
contest
Still can it be said that all this proves
that Jacksons views of allegiance and
public duty leaned in the wrong direction;
BY no means. Since the war we have seen
the power Of the general Government moro
and more centralized, the rights and Sow
eignty Of the States more and more ignored.
the Constitution ruthlessly trampled on,
and the spirit of Capitalization growing day
by day and year by year. The South pro-
ceeded to the extreme of the States
Rights doctrine when she seeded and
fought for that principle; but when
she lost, her opponents started out
in the directly contrary course towards
Capitalization. and they have been travelling
in break-neck speed in that direction ever
since. It will require the logic Of future
events, therefore. TO determine whether or
not Jackson's views leaned in the wrong drec-
ton. and whether this Federal Republic was
any more threatened with destruction by the
course pursued by the South than it is by that
of her victors whose tendency is to do away
with the doctrine of States rights. and build
upon its ruins a unified centralized Govern
ment TO be a republic only in name.