The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-18
A CONFEDERATE HISTORY.


The r. n. Woodward company, OF
Baltimore. have favored US with ad-
vance sheets of school History Of the
United States" which Rev. DIR. j. Will
liam Jones, formerly a chaplain in the
army of northern Virginia and now
chaplain Of the United Confederate
veterans. has prepared for southern
schools. In his preface. DIR. Jones thus
tells what he has tried to do in the book:
I'm travelling over the South. ! have
heard general complaint that histories
by Northern authors were un)ust anu
unfair to our section in their Coloniai
Revolutionary and Civil history, ana
that when they came to treat OF the
causes. conduct and results of the great
War between the States they are Ut
terly unfair and misleading, both In
what they nar-ate and in what they
omit 1t Is also thought that some DOCKS
by Southern authors are either un-
suitable for the schoolroom, or lose their
value by an attempt to be neutral. ana
hence colorless on the great questions
that have divided the sections. and
that, compiling from Northern histor-
fans. they have fallen into many Of their
errors. both Of commission and OF omis-
sion. For some twenty years l have
been collecting material and preparing
myself for the task, studying earnestly
not only the best Of the current histor-
les, but original sources of information
as we'll, and diligently seeking to
reach the exact truth on all disputed
points. Born, reared and educated on
Southern soil. following for four years
with youthful devotion the battle-fiag
Of the Southern Confederacy. for
twelve years secretary of the Southern
Historical Society. and during all these
years devoting time and close attention
to American history. l may modestly
claim that I have had some facilities
for knowing and some qualifications Tor
preparing, history of the United States
which shall be acceptable to the South
and fit to be taught in her schools"
II DR.. Jones history shall fail to prove
acceptable to the south" 1t will be be-
cause the south Is very difficult to
please, for he has enthusiastically CIV
en- 1t the benefit not only of every
doubt but also Of every romance which
his ingenuity could devise to take the
place Of less welcome facts An instance
OF the later disposition on his part may
be cited on page 221 and 22S, whereon 1t
IL said:
General Scott. after holding coun-
Gil Of military men, advised the evacua-
ton Of Fort Sumter as a military nee
essity,' being satisfied that 1t could not
be re-enforced or provisicned without
great expenditure Of treasure and blood.
The confederate government had sent
Messrs. Forsyth, Crawford and Roman
TO Washington, with instructions and
full powers to treat with the federal
government and fairly settle all ques-
tions at issue. Secretary william H.
Seward Of the state department. while
declining to recognize these commission
ers officially, still. In an Informal inter-
view which he granted them. held out
to them hopes Of a peaceable settle
ment. Judge John A. Campbell OF the
supreme court. In the presence OF AS
sociate Justice Nelson, had an inter-
view with Mr.. Seward (at Mr.. Stewards
instance). in which Mr.. Seward assured
him. and authorized him to assure the
commissioners. that Fort Sumter will
be evacuated In the next five lays.
When the time had expired 50 far from
evacuating the fort. Major Anderson
was busily engaged in Strengthening its
defenses. Judge Campbell had another
interview with Mr.. Seward. who as
sured him that the fort would be eva
cuated and that the government would
not undertake to supply Fort Sumter
without giving notice to Governor Pick
ems
Meanwhile II was published in the
papers that large naval and military
preparations were being made by the
government both at New York and Nor
folk with the evident purpose Of re-en-
forcing Fort Sumter, and Judge Camp
bell wrote to Mr. Seward of these facts
and Of the anxleties Of the people of the
south, and reminded him Of his peace
able assurances. Mr.. Seward sent the
laconic answer: Faith as to Sumter
fully kept; wait and see'-although he
knew that the fleet of several ships.
carrying 2S5 guns and 2.4OO troops had
already sailed for Charleston harbor.'
Again, In the sub.chapter headed
1.-THE Cause Of the War" we are treated
to such sentiments as these:
The war had now begun. Who was
responsible? Was it Shareholders
Rebellion" a revolt Of disappointed
Southern leaders against 1.-The best gov
ernment the world ever saw" Had the
Southern states q constitutional right
to secede. and were they justifiable in
doing so? Had the United States Gov
eminent the right to cOerce sovereign
states, and was Mr.. Lincoln. justifiable
in inaugurating q war Of subjugation
against the South?
When the colonies wrested their inde-
pendence from Great Britain she treat
ed with each state as a sovereign re-
public. and not with the combined
states. When. the government Of the
United States Of America" was first
formed under the constitution. 1t was
by the secession Of states from the old
Confederation. and when the new con-
stitutiOn was adopted, the right OF
withdrawal for what they might deem
sufficient cause was distinctly reserved
by both New York and Virginia. and
was thus secured to all the states who
entered. or might thereafter enter, the
Union.
North Carolina and Rhode Island re-
fused at first TO join the new Union.
and remained out as sovereign states.
independent republics, until the rights
OF each state were made clearer by
amendments to the constitution, and
the right Of state to secede put beyond
reasonable question.
This right, which was reaffirmed and
emphasized by the famous Virginia
and Kentucky resolutions Of 1889. was
not seriously questioned in any quarter.
except under the exergencies Of par
tisan politics. Through a period of
many years, New England had an un.
broken record in favor Of the right of
secession. In 1904. the legislature of
Massachusetts passed an act to the ef.
feet that the purchase and annexation
of Louisiana by the general government
was a sufficient cause for the dissolu-
tion Of the Union, and that It absolved
the old states from their allegiance to
the Union, and the public men and the
people Of New England generally in
dorsed that view. But the first active