The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-24
TRENT'S LIFE OF SIMMS.
4 oARICATURE or ITS SUBJECT
Prof Garnett, of the University, Discusses
the Contents OF the Book and Exposes
It's Frrors-Iis Spirit Condemned.


Editor OF ne Times.
a few young Southerners. characterized
liz smartness rather than depth, by sciolism
rather than solid scholarship and especially
by egotsm and coneeit rather than sympa-
thy with the strength and weakness. tho
heroism and misiortunes Of their fathers.
have conceived it to be their mission to
sueer at the ante-bellum South and TO
charge her people with lack Of literary cul-
lure, narrownoss Of mind. prejudiced pro-
vnoialism and moral deprayty. due to the
Institution Of slavery"
This sentence from Professor Heath Dab
ney's recent review of Percy Greg's His
tory Of the United States in The TINES of
July 10th. is forcibly recalled to mind by
the readers Of this Life Of William Gil
more Simms.n That young Virginian
should have made biography Of the most
prominent literary man Of his time IN the
South the vehicle for casting scOrn upon the
institutions under which his fathers
we're born and bred and for hippantly
ridicuhng the Interpretation of the Consti-
tuition sanctioned by some OF tho greatest
minds that this country has ever produced,
excites sorrow rather than anger, pity rather
than indignation. IL shows conclusyely
AAhI we nave not QQuh our QulJ Dl our hOlh.
that we have been content 10 let that view
Of the late tremendous struggle for right
and individual freedom which has gained
the ear of the world 90 without contradic-
ton. We have been too much occupied for
twenty five years in repairing the broken
fences aud building up the waste places Of
our beloved Southern land TO stop long
enough 90 teach our boys why their fathers
fought for four long years and have left
them 10 gain their knowledge of the causes
of the war out of books written and lectures
delivered from an exclusively Northern
point If view, 50 that our own young pro-
fessors seem 10 be ignorant OF the fact that
the shield has another side. Il - time that
this should stop that misrepresentation
should cease aud that our professors of
history and Of constitutional law should let
the present generation know that important
principles iOf constitutional Interpretation
we're submitted TO the arbitrament of arms.
that ultima ratio regum. and that as result
Of the war the logical consequence OF
those principles, the practical effect of their
adoption was henceforth excluded from the
constitutional polity of this country. But
heavy battaliOns can never prove the right
or she wrong OF constitutional prlncple.
They can only decide that such principle,
however consoientiously maintained, must
20 longer lead 10 practical results.
The author Of this biography has studied
the works of Mr. Simms. and II seems to
me uhb GUQbhNOItQ 70 give n GDfItEk Wow ol
Slmms as a literary man as he understands
him; but even from the point of view of
literary criticism the work is defective The
author places himself upon the judicial seat
and summons MI. Simms TO the bar for
trial on bis DretensiOns to place among
American Men OF Letters IL is case of
criticism vs. Simms as tried before Professor
Trent, Simms being long since dead and
buried. and therefore. unable 10 demuT TO
the allegations Of his adversary. who Is at
once advocate and Judge This strikes
one as curious attitude for a
biographer -, to assume towards -, his
have pronounced the work "a literary carl
osturen Csee review in the Charleston News
and Courier for March 81. 1892; and the
Hon. W. Poroher Miles, in letter 10 Mr..
Simms' daughter lsee News and Courier for
May 80, 1922, says: The life Of your father
by Professor Trent-for which ] had fur
nished him great many letters filled me
with surprise and no little indignation. Why
a man saturated with New England ideas
and preiudices should undertake to write
the life of typical Southern author and
South Carolina man passes my comprehen-
sion - To make biography OF
hte.Ary man q vehicle for his disparage
writer and o contemptuous criticism of
bis people--their civilization, social habits,
culture and political opinions-is, TO say the
least, a most extraordinary proceeding" II
should resent such glazing and outrageous
misrepresentation"
Dogs NOT BEPRRsEST SOUTHERN CULTURE.
Il is unfortunate that this biography
should go down TO posterity as a presumably
correct representation Of Smms OF
the literary culture of the South, of the
influence Of slavery, OF the political views OF
the Southern people and OF the causes of
the war, seeing that 10 is written by
koufhpru and "a nTOfeagnT i n "a nOUtngTn
University.
Professor Trent does not always support
his allegations with sufficient proof. lie di-
lates at great length upon the exclusion of
Mr.. Simms from Charleston society" but
be does not give us letters OF Slmms or OF
others to prove this. and the News and
Courier reviewer, who knew Simms per-
sOnally says We object 70 this society
twaddle, because IL is calculated TO convey
s false impression. Slmms was typical
South Carolinian, and a great favorite in
Charleston and throughout the Sttee during
nearly half q century. His books we're read
everywhere and greatly admired. The best
people of Charleston that we're worth
knowing had Dir. Simms ut their houses
aud no certainly was as good as the Dest
Of them And again: I'VE dwell longer
upon q IS point because gross injustice Is
done by Professor Trent, IN that he makes
u appear that Charleston cared not Tor nor
llustrious son, and that Simns complained
OF not being appreciated at home Even If
II we're true our poet could ding Burns
Rank is out the guinea's stamp IN the teeth
OF society But as we have before stated. IT
- not true" This disposes pretty efectnRl-
ly Of the society" charge.
AN Kx-oATHEDRA ATTITUDE.
But Il is not Simms as novelist or poet
o. society man that / wish TO consider In
this article. The whole tone of Professor
1rents book in respect to these matters Is
e1-cAthedra, thrustng forward Of the
opinions Of the biographer, not an objective
presentation and a sympathetic apprscia-
ton OF the work of the subject Of the biog-
raphy. AIR. Simms reputation can sur
viye Professor Irent's view OF him, and
the public can read Simms' works for itself.
What has moved me TO write of the book
At All Is the gross injustice done TO the
whole people Of the South, Virginia as well
as South Carolina. 10 which Mr.. Miles has
alluded. 1t is 70 be presumed from several
references 10 the work that Professor
Trent has read the last chapter OF Simms'
History Of South Caroiina" edition OF
1851. If so. he has found q brief history or
the "nullifcatiOnp controversy and OF the
celebrated Hayne- Webster debate. Whlle
the whole account Is too long for quotation
W this article, / cannot refrain from cltlng
We g!st u the controversy as formulaled
Dy hr. Simms himself, for 1t shows the
views held by the people Of South Carolina,
enc ~ part by the whole people or the
bouth, when they were forced into war IN