The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-23
AN UNBIASED HISTORY
rs WHAT THE CONFEDERATE TETE-
RAMS OF VIRGINIA WANT.
A Meeting OF the Committee Appointed by
the Grand Camp Who Are Charged
With This Important Duty.


The historical committee appointed at
the annual meeting Of the Grand Camp,
Confederate Veterans Of Virginia, with 4
view of securing a history OF the South
to be used in the public schools OF the
State, met for the first time yesterday IN
enc of the parlors Of the Exchange Hotel.
The hour of the meeting was noon, but
on account Of the absence Of Senator
| James y. Stubbs, of Gloucester, there
was some delay.
The following representatives. OF various
camps were present: General Thomas \.
BIandcr. grand commander OF the Cram
Camp; Colonel T. A. Byrne, Colonel W. J.:
Smith, Colonel John b. Cary, Captain
John Gus sons, Captain J. Taylor Strattoh.
Of Lee Camp, No. !, Of Richmond; ColoneI
JOhn IL. Hume, OF Stonewall camp or
Portsmouth; Commander 7. J. Stubs and
Adiutant II. +. Jones, Of Magruder-bWeH
Camp. Of Williamsburg; Major jed Hotch-
kiss. of Stonewall Jackson Camp, OF
Stanton.
General Brander called the meeting 10
OF der, and on his suggestion Colonel Hume
took the chair. in the absence OF senator
Stubs.
Captain Thomas Elicit. the adjutant-
general Of the Grand Camp, was elected.
secretary.
The Chair announced that upon The in
vltation at Chairman Stub some Of he
professors Of William and Mary College
in Williamsburg were present to give
their views. 8 SO desired. namely, Presi-
dent Lyon G. Tyler and Leslie Hall, pro-
fessor Of history. Mtssrs. Cussons and
Hume we're the two mcmbers 81 attend
| ancc from the general committee.
or motion Of Major Hotchkiss, Pro-
fessOr Leslie Hail was invited TO present
his views.
He stated that he had been teaching
American history at the college, for hve
years, and he had come TO the conclusion
that up TO the present time The veterans
had not done their fun duty In teaching
their children the actual history OF ,ncir
country. The youths had not been trained
properly, for they aid not know what
their fathers fought for and what prin-
ciDles were the cause OF that war. There
was a general lack Of fundamental knOwl-
edge Of American history, and especially
Of that part which related 10 the war be-
tween the States.
II was the sacred duty of the fathers,
however. to teach their boys history, as
soon as they become old enough TO under
stand il, and to teach it from the founda-
ton Of the Constitution. In his opinion
every institution of learning in the South
should teach American history. There
we're on that very day Que hundred young
men entering upon that study in two
classes in William end Mary College.
The study Of history should be made
obligatory in all schools and institutions.
The philosophy Of the Constitution should
be studied and dissected. In order to show
the students that their fathers did cot
follow a traitor, and that they were not
traitors themselves. This book OF history
should be gotten up not only on scholastic
but also on pedagogical principles. with
good pictures. All the history books I'm
existence t present failed to state the
actual facts with sufficient clearness,
While the whole world was with the South
on the great questions Of principles. The
great trouble was who should write this
history. The task was a very difficult
one. and he thought ii would take Il ST.
PAM or an archargel TO come down from
heaven 10 WTestle successfully with the
problem.
President Tyler, OF William and Mary
College, heartily indDrsed the remarks
made by Professor Hall. There was a
great need for a correct representation Of
the constitutional views. The task to
present this history properly ought to
be given 10 a man who had all the facts
under his eyes which he was TO treat
upon. Ii a chair Of history could be es-
tabiished in every State Of the South.
the srandest thing would be- accomplish
ed. lt was impossible 20 write a. history
book 10 order. for il required "a great deal
OF study ana thought. 4 chair Of Ameri-
can history ought to be- established, but
not OF southern history. in order that the
facts might be stated IN their rue form.
Such chairs were in existence I'm the
North at Cornell. Harvard and Johns
hopkins University. The establishment
OF these chairs would be the only proper
solution of the difficulty.
Whenever the committee vas ready to
give its final decision. some four or five
distinguished men might be selected in
the South, not from the politicians or
statesmen, but from the colleges. who
fully understood the subject. and agreed
amongst themselves 10 take up various
sections Of American history. Aner each
one Of these learned men mad c,nTIeted
his section, they might co,ne ;oC - er 10
consider the whole work as 80 the style
in which it should be published ID, and this
was exactly the manner IN which tEe
constitution had been famed.
IL had been suggested 10 eve > ICES for
the three best manus ripts OF such a book,
but he did not believe that plan to be a
good one, for to carry il out II would
be necessary for some committee TO be
the judges, which would practically make
them the historians. The best thing
would he &c select some compel mt l1ep TO
do the work, who were perfectly familiar
with the various parts Of the history.
COLONEL John =. Cary said that it was
conceded by all that the history should
be written and described by men Who
were thoroughly equipped for In No'S,
and who had sufiici.ut leisure AID me-
ure TO do il. IN his estimation I was
the business Of he Grand Camp 20 >
vide the ways and meals for such work
TO be done by the experts. 1t was GER
tainly 40 ORDINARY undertaking. for 4 ,oo}
many conflicting and local Vie ys would
have to be harmonized. and the proceed
ings would have to be very guarded and
careful in order % -ec'.re the men .
could properly represent tina, principe
upon which the South went into the war.
He was in favor OF illustrating lie book
with good pictures. and he though: that
II would also he wise to 4 some good
maps.
General W. r. T~aliaferro. Of Gloucester.
entered the room AT this j%unctUge. and
explained that he and Senator Stubs
had been delayed on the train. and lad
only Just arrived, He had taken \ Nery
sincere and hearty interest in everything
pertaining 10 the matter. IL had been said
heretofore that -conGuerors wrote history.
While this was true in regard to the past,
the aspect had been changed Of ate. ard
it was a ptous and religious dUty of the
South that they should teach their ofil-
dren through the public schools that their
fathers had not been rebels, hut that