The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-08


Our recent article on the Southern opinion
OF General Grant has met, so far AZ We know,
with nothing but commentator amongst our
people. This commentator has been 30
spontaneous and so unanimous and outspoken
that we feel the subject should not be con-
sidered disposed of without word concern
ing the attitude and feeling Of the Southern
people towards the Union.
We occasionally hear remarks from south
ern speakers and meet with passages In the
papers Of Southern writers from which North
ern people draw the conclusion that there Is
something here in the nature Of regret at the
course which tho Southern States adopted 10
1861. Ben. Hills I'm in my fathers house
and the glib utterances We meet with con-
corning Southern loyalty now convey
suggestion of this sort 10 the average North
ern mind and arouse in it a notion that there
is some sort of favorable response growing
up here TO the dogma that treason should be
made odious.'
However well meaning, gentlemen who give
utterances 10 sentiments of this sort may be.
they thereby do great injustice to the man
hood of the Southern people, and they
thereby arouse a belief. concerning the condl-
tion Of things here that is totally erroneous.
There is not man, woman or child who had
any sort Of sympathy with the Coniederacy
who will tolerate the suggestions that there
was any sort Of treason connected with the
matter, and they regard the barest hint OF
it as an insult to them. They are just as
firmly Of opinion to-day that they had the
right to secede when they did secede from
the Union as they were II
1851 The Constitution was silent
upon this point. Ia endeavoring
to ascertain what the frsmsrs Of the Coustitu-
ton intended 10 be the law of the case,
minds Of the first order of Intelligence and
cultivation differed. Men Of the highest or
der Of virtue and intelligence believed that
the States had reserved to themselves the
right to secede. and they believe that as ear
nestly to-day as they believed 1t IN 1851. 1t Is
nonsense then TO suggest to these men that,
IN exercising what they believed 10 be their
right there could be anything in the nature
of treason. They believed then that they
possessed the right of secession and they be-
lieye the same thing now.
Not only 50, but under the same crcum-
cumstances and conditions that existed III
1861, they would do exactly the same thing
that they did in 1861 so much then for that
loyalty TO the Union" which involves the
slightest idea that there IS any shame here Tor
what we did. any regret here for what We did,
or any liberation OF the suggestion that there
was any treason in the business at all. Treason
involves the idea of falsehood. Of betrayal of
trust and the Southern people scorn the
imputation that there was any betrayal OF
trust or falsehood in their course.
That idea of the subject being wholly dis
posed Of we want TO say word now concern
ing that real loyalty TO the Union that does
in fact exist here The two sections made an
appeal to the arbitrament of arms, and, IN
that appeal. we lost We fought the fight out
TO the very best Of our ability, and the whole
world agrees that We made the most glorious
fight that a people has ever made. When
beaten and subdued, a brave men honorably
may do. we Acknowledged frankly that we were
vanquished. and agreed to accept the terms
that our conquerors imposed. Those terms
we're that we would abandon ourdoctrine of Sc
cession and agree 10 the doctrine that the Mon
henceforth should stand as an indissoluble
Union. We agreed to these terms, and gave
up the doctrine Of secession forever. We are
an honest, upright, loyal people. Having
started on a new career under a new agree
ment, we propose and intend 10 live up TO
that agreement in perfect faith and in perfect
candor 70 the Union as constituted in this
new agreement we are Us loyal as any man
that lives north of the Potomac river, and
those men whose manhood shone most con-
spicuously at Gettysburg ana in the Wilder
ness will be amongst the foremost
in defending the Union against any
assault. come they from whatever quarter
they may, but their loyalty" now. is 10Y
atty" perfectly consistent with their course
between 1861 and 1868, and one which casts no
shadow OF stain upon their manhood during
those years. They are loyal" TO the Union, but
they are also loyal to themselves, loyal
to their dead comrades and loyal to re-
cord of heroism that Will blaze in glory for all
time TO come.