Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-08
PERCY GREG'S BOOK.
FuetANpw REPLIES TO PROFESSOR
pAbNey AND CAPTAIN CuSsoNs.
pssssssisn % The Chief Points ~ Issus-
Gregg Attacks apen Washington. JEFF
fsrsca, and Jefssrssn Davis. So

have appeared in your columns. One,
under the heading "A Defence OF 0rea's
History" Is signed by II. II. Dabusy, who
Il one Of tho professors In the Department
Of History. University OF Virginia. The
other article is from the pen of Captain
gohn Cussons, of Glen Allen, Va. These
articles differ very widely In the spirit and
manner In which they are written. They
are alike only in the purpose 70 detend
9reg's work. And they are both manifest
failures in this object.
The hrst-named article, In form, claims
30 be defence. but In substance u -
confession of judgment. Only few points
in II call for special notice from me. Upon
che question whether Gregs method u 70
cite authority for his statements II VIII
appear that tho one volume of the Amer,
can edition contains about $50 pages. ana
notes appear on only about ESQ pages,
leaving $40 pages entirely without cits-
tions. Furthermore. attentive examina-
ton will show that a very large proportion
Of tho notes are not citations OF authori-
ties for facts. but simply restatements
end combinations OF Greg's own theories.
therefore, a. whole. bis method Is not 10
cite authorities. and the charge 10 true
fhat "a large number OF his stat emenls
will be found TO be unsupported Dy any
RESPECTABLE authority" -
As to the account given by Greg OF the
conduct OF Molendez TO the little band OF
French Huguenots on the st; johns river,
In Florida II remains true that his WORK
eonits eyery fact which gives significance
70 this dark transaction and its sedneL"
rHy puRrrIss AND THE VIRGINIA ooLoSIsTs.
As 10 the Puritans, the extract given IN
Che "defence" has no effect in DegatiyIng
the charge against Greg's book tnat.
though merciless In denunciation OF the
faults OF the Puritans. 1t never admits
their high virtues. their dauntiess ialIn,
their resolution in the face OF horrors
more appalling than death itself" Inc
extract only shows that Greg admits what
was too well known TO be denied-vlz..
that the Puritans had orderly habits,
family discipline. and fondness Tor DOCKS
and literature.
Thns we reach the remarkable fact that
this defence" by its failure TO deny and
20 negative by proof the specific charges
made agaiust Greg's book. confesses tneir
truth. IL has no denial that Greg charges
the Virginia colonists with high-hAaaeo
petulance signslly contrasted with the
PATIENCE and moderation OF King Charles
AZ 10 the matter of Sir John Harvey
no denial as to Greg's unfOunded and IN
excusable charge that the Quakers were
treated in New England" with sangulnsry
cruelty far exceeding what they sunered
In England; no denial OF G1eg's baseless
statement that the colonies of Pennsyl-
aparchy.n nor rs TO his libel that North
Carolina was peopled chiefly by refugees
from law, Justice and order IN the more
eettled provinces" nor as to his statements
concerning the almost universal preva-
lence of Tory opinion and sentiment early
in the Revolution, nor as 10 tha1 ue,i9 Tbo
BILE chapter in Greg's book headed Inc
Mormons." nor as TO the statements made
therein.
ENGLAND AND THE sLAvE-TBADE.
Neither does this defence set forth any
proof or evidence that Greg has inserted
In his book any of the fragrant facts when
connect England with the African slave
trade any of the facts "a TO SlT Jobn law
kips and Queen Elizabeth any statement
es TO the shameful Gssiorto clause IN inc
Treaty of Utrecht any statement OF the
persistent measures by which England
forced African slavery on The southern
colonies: any statement OF the repeated
protests, remonstrances ana resolves Oh
the colonies of Virginia, the Carollnas, and
Georgia against the African slave-trane
md innovations any statement or the
Teneated selfish refusals of England to
Grant these requests for reliof. these
fac,s constitute the true vindicatlon of the
Soutb. And IN view OF them, the Driet
but able address of Leigh Robinson, de-
liyered at the Howitzer unvelllng, ls worm
more as "A vindicatlon of the South than
IN ITS total.
As 10 the charge that this book contains
n series of systematic caumnies and
libels against the statesmen and Leaders IN
Acknowledgements Washington Latayette'
Greene, Morgan. Jefferson Madison,
denial will avail because simple inspection
of the book proves that this charge IS
true. Greg charges that Washington was
q deliberate and malicious murderer OF
the British spy Andre. Yet long before
Greg wrote h.e book all the facts as
10 Andre bad been thoroughly ascer;
tanned and considered, and Colonei
McKinnon, of the British Coldstream
Gnards. had approved the verdict al
the world that Andre was spy
in the worst sense and that his condemna-
ton and execution were right. Greg gives
no narrative as TO the case OF CaPIAln
Nathan Hale and never mentions him out
once. and then with words OF dlsparage-
ment Greg grossly oalumniates BENJAMIN
Franklin. calls him thief, and repeats all
fhe yituperative insolence of the English
Attorney General Wedderburn against
him. Yet all the facts as to the letters OF
Hutchinson and Oliver. on which Greg at
tempts 10 found his charge, had been tho;
ROUGHLY investigated; and history had
nerfectly indicated Franklin many years
before Greg's book was writton.-Ban-
croft vi. 49,,
Greg's calumny against the chival-
rous and freedom-loving Lafayette, VINO
covered h,mself with honor by his cam
paien in Virginia in 1881, is in the follow
ING words, His "eItreme youth as yet
excused or yelled the intellectual and
moral weakness, the inordinate aud un'
scrupuloas vanity, the want alike OF true
principle and steadtast purpose wni 0d
eyentful life useless To his country, dan
rerous TO his party, and fatal to all who
reposed the slightest trust IN MIN. -
J., 2l2
JEFFERSON AND JEFFERSON DAVIS.
As TO Thomas jefferson, the father
of the soundest American democracy
and the founder of the University
of Virginia, Greg's calumnies ana hoel.
arc so humorous and offensive ,h ina
He charges that jefferson was OF the An
archist and Nihilist type rather than kadi
cal. that he approved of the worst atroci
ties of the French Revolution, and wa
delighted by the cruelAnd wanton murder
on the King a., 2s0). Also. that Jefferson
was blinded by his own vanity and opeI
norance and stupidity" (2SD and o.
Sengrained vulgarity" (299). And Ores
not only accuses Jefferson Davis OF pre-
iud,ce against General Johnston" GOO
note). but makes tho unjust and baseles'
charge that this preJuulce cAuseu ms %
moyal of johnston at Atlanta, instead OF
assigning the true reason. which was the
importunity of persons Chiefly civilians
in Georgia. He charges President Davii
with the same form OF prejudice agains
General Beauregard. No name in oul
Isnd-South or North--hss been too high
20 escape the calumnies and hbels OF Percy
Greg's book.
prrIIoRKw AND voBREsr
III
The article of Captain Cussons Is writer
An A spirit and manner which entitle hin
10 full respe,t and recognition AZ a eour
teous and gentiemanly scholar with whom
il Ia pleasure to conduct discussion
Yet his article is unavailing as q defence
OF (ireg's book. As TO Pettigrew's division
az Gettysburg IL is sufficient TO refer Il
the DEFINITE testimony found ia the letters
OF Generals ID. II. Maury and -; ID. fr,
(Southern historical Papers, VII: 9i-9S)
which fully indicate that gallant division
AZ 70 Forests men ut Fort Pillow, Greg
charge Is definite that they wer'
- Il. ~ L.,