Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-11

stitution." This purpose 70 vindicate the
Southern States and to demonstrate their
patriotism ID very ably maintained by an
appeal to undeniable history-a, history too
often ignored or perverted.
The author gives condensed history OF
the acts Of the Southern States which
aided In gaining Independence and FORM
ing the Union. These wero OF the utmost
Importance. and without them neither
would have been effected. Had not vir-
ginia denounced the Stamp Act. It would
not have been resisted Had she not de-
termined to make common cause with
Massachusetts, when she became the
object of British vengeance. there would
have been no united action In resisting
British oppression. She called the Conti-
mental Congress, and gave to the CONT
mental army Its great leader. She caused
the adoption Of the articles OF confedera-
ton by making II a condition OF her ces-
sion OF her magnificent northwestern ter
ritory, and she called the convention that
framed the United States Constitution. In
all these acts che had the cooperation OF
her sister Southern States, and their devo-
ton to the Union OF the States. SO firmly
established by that Constitution, cannot
be gainsaid. After the inauguration OF
the Federal Government under the Con-
stitution, the Southern States controlled
II for many years. and during that time
its administration was the purest and
most glorious in Its history. The principle
on which they conducted 1t was that OF
restriction TO the powers granted by the
Constitution. and a recognition OF the
powers retained by the States. Having
thus become potent In forming the Union.
In framing its form OF government, and
in making that government a marvellous
success. the question arises, Why did the
Southern States attempt to leave the
Union?
DR.. Curry has ably answered this ques-
tlon. He shows that the protection guar
anteed to the South by the Constitution
was deliberately and persistently denied
them by the Northern States after they
obtained control Of the government; that
the openly proclaimed doctrine Of an ir-
repressible conflict between northern and
southern institutions was enforced by
direct acts, and when the protection
of the Constitution was claimed by the
South, that paper was denounced and
derided. 1t was when a president was
elected by this anti-southern party that
the Southern States attempted to with
draw peacably and with the most perfect
order. But their northern enemies re-
sisted their effort, and after a terrible
war overcame them, destroyed their pro-
perty. treated them as conquered
provinces, and with a cruelty worthy Of
a barbaric age made rulers of their half
civilized slaves. The great sin OF the
South in the eyes Of the Northern States
was that It retained slavery after 1t
had been abolished In the North, where
1t was Improbable. In treating OF Sc
cession Dr. Curry states the grounds
of the Calhoun doctrine with great clear
ness and force. That the several States
were sovereign before and when they
adopted the Constitution cannot be sue
cessfully denied in the face of the facts
Of history, but the great question Is,
What was the effect upon their sovereignty
of that instrument? That question was
discussed for years by the ablest men
this country has produced, ana no
agreement was arrived at until II was
settled by an appeal to the sword. Dr.
Curry admits that 1t was thus settled for
all time against the southern view, but
he draws a Just distinction between
States rights and secession. The latter
doctrine, he shows, originated at the
North, and was adopted by the South
as a remedy for violations or the Con-
stltution 1t has been set at rest by tho
civil war. But the rights or the states
under the Federal Constitution still re-
main, and upon their observance de-
pends the continued existence OF our
complicated system OF government. De-
stroy the rights of the States. and we
have left only a huge consolidated gov
eminent, under which Individual rights
and local self-government VIII De de-
stroved The safe course Is 10 keep the
centrifugal and centripetal forces in our
system balanced and entrust local In
terests entirely to State governments,
and general interests entirely TO the
Federal Government. DR.. Curry shows
the real greatness OF the South In Its
conduct after the war, when from It's
poverty and under CALLING indignities, II
rose Ike a phoenix from us ashes, anu
assumed It's wonted place In the Union,
recognizing that it was to remain an
integral part of the United states, ana
showing all the loyalty and patriotism
that distinguished 1t in the early Gays
of the republic.
As a compendium of the history or the
South. this volume is invaluable. II
will teach our children TO honor the
South both In war and in peace, and TO
admire its true nobility.
POLLY. A Christmas Recollection. BY
Thomas Nelson Page. illustrated by A
Castaigne Charles Scrbners Soh3'
New York. 1874.
Mr.. Pages gift for charming story
telling has never been more properly iIlu-
minated than by the pictures which Mr.
C,stoigne has drawn for a holiday edl-
ton of one of the most delicately grace
full of his tales-the history of a great
event in the life of Polly" that amiabie
child who was suddenly discovered Dy
her uncle to have grown up TO be beau
tIful young woman with well-developed
will of her own. 1t Is no small part or
the charm Of this story that Mr.. Page
makes II sound as IL 1t were verify II
Recollection" of a past event. We some
how think better of Ourselves for having
been brought more or less into the lives
Of the agreeable people In the story by
the fact of hearing n narration of their
personal affairs from a mutual acquain-
lance. Probably one OF the purest joys In
life is born OF an intimate knowledge
OF other peoples business. and II to this
pleasure be added the charm of happy
love story, the listener gets a thoroughly
satisfying sensation.
WILD BEASTS. a Study OF the Cha
racters and Habits OF the Elephant.
Lion, Leopard. Panther. Jaguar. Tiger,
Puma, and Grizzly Bear. BY j.
Hamden Porter. Illustrated. New
York: Charles Scribners Sons. $50
pages. Price, -.
This volume strikes n medium between
a strictly geological work and a book
Of hunting adventures. 1t does not go
deeply into the more technical field OF
zoology. and its anecdotal feature is for
the purpose OF illustrating the cha
racter habits cunning. tFeachery. etc.
Of the wild beasts selected for study
The author leaves the impression that
he has CLEANED n great deal both from
observation of wild animals and from
the study of other authorities. He an
tagonizes many popular ideas regarding
the intelligence and amiab.iity Of the
elephant especially. and credits the wolf
is generally supposed 1t has. though he
does not differ on this latter point with
many other writers who have made the
wolf a subject of close investigation.
The book is easy. pleasant. and instruc-
tive and here and there thrilling reading,
and the Illustrations eight in number)
are very handsome.
For sale by j. w. Randolph e. Co.
THE ROAD TO WEALTH LEADS
THROUGH THE SOUTH: SOLID
FACTS FROM SETTLERS ALONG
THE LINE. BY T.. c. Robertson. Pun
lished by L. C. Robertson & Co.. Neaye
building, Cincinnati. o. 20 pages
Price, % cents.
In the preface the author says: AS the
tide of emigration and the drift of capt.
tai are bearing toward the South as never
II