Asheville daily citizen., 1894-11-21
THE SOUTHERN STATES
OF THE AMERICAN UNION

A little volume with tie above title, pre-
pared bv the Hon j. l.. NJ. Curry. is be
fore the public. and is the most able and
ample work, having its special mission
in view. that has vet appeared.
The main object is to counteract some
OF those sectional views and preiudices
which have existed before and since the
war between the States, and to relieve
that odium which has rested upon the
South through the perversion or denial
of facts and conditions which were the
justification of the South. and. distorted
or denied, made the justification OF the
conqueror.
Mr.. Curry does not handle his subj ct
with acrimony, or with the purpose to
perpetuate autagonisnis of opinion which
would keep alive sectional enmities But
he presents truths which cannot be de-
ni,d. and series of historical facts
which cannot be controverted; and
with such force aud tearlessness as
en,itle him to the gratitude Of the
South for the bolduess of his champion
ship, aud also to the admiration OF tie
patriot of all sections; for each alike is
enlisted in the aim to present the facts. of
history as they are. not the partial stat'-
mcnts Ut partisans whose constructions
Of the past leave the South without
Justification, and equally leave The North
to condemnation for its narro minded
bigotry and ignorance.
The causes Of quarrel having been now
adjusted aud the whole country now de-
clared an indi.soluble union, whether of
sovereign states or not it may be too
late to decide but at any rate so shaped
into one country Of common aim and in
terest, it is wise TO harmonise upon all
the subjects OF previous controversy and
thus avoid the iruitless recurrence OF for
mer discussions. They are settled now
with the abolition of slavery. and the
conclusive denial Of the right of sscessi
The FIRST Of these had been living fact,
an institution at one time interviewer
into the habits and interests of every
State that combined to form the origi-
nal Union; the other, secession, a right
inherent IN the very nature of independ-
ent sovereign bodies polite that gave
power and vitality to those States; and
Il right very boldly and fearles esslv asserted
IN the history OF several of those States.
Massachusetts. New York and others,
when there was infringement upon their
rights or invasion Of their interests. The
South which eventually, and at long dis
tancc. put the doctrine in practice was
free from sel6shncss in doing SO.
for It never embarrassed the gen
eral government by giving laid and
comfort 10 the enemy" as was proposed
in the Hartford convention in the midst
Of . foreign war.
Az to this right Of secession, as ruinous
40 il might prove in practice, MIR. Curry
proves 1t just in view OF the very
nature VI the compsct entered into b.
tween the colonies iu the formation of
their temporary government for it's con-
duct Of the war, modified subsequently,
in the revision Of the constitution by
which greater national strength was
gained In relation to foreign intercourse,
bat 10 which the relation Of the States 40
Distinct and sovereign was not altered
or their freedom VI action impaired.
The doctrine Of secession, or the decla-
ration Of the rights Of individual sovc-
Z reignty In the States, had early demon
stfasion il Massachusetts. when that
State declarsd that u, under the uego-
tiatiouD Of Mr.. Jay for the closing Of the
Miauieesppi. were mot carried through, lit
Was high time for the New England
StAtso to eecede aud form q government
tor themselvsa." This was in 1856
LieutenantsC Governor Wolcott Of Con.
nectieut u 1706 proposed q separation
Of the North and the South IL Jefferson
VA elected. The spirit Of disatfsction
had - tainted Pennsvlvania In 1894 a.
TO Md to the open. formidable whiskey
insurTsetiou against the governments.
And ~ t1ess cases had their origin In
~ attenpted n meditsted exercise oi
H. ~ r. olnes Sovereignty which had
4 ~ e1gfeadered Ia the
4 4sEal seyyrunest The \
4 W : : < W. III r =