Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-05
THE TRUTH OF HISTORY.

THE TRUTH OF HISTORY.
DIR. j, VIM. Jones to DIR. II. l.. Way
land on Three Important Points.
DIR. II. L. wayland, Of Philadelphia,
wrote to the New York Independent
review OF Joness school History of the
United States" in which he cited three
Illustrations to show that DR.. Jones was
so biased by his southern prejudices as
to be incapable OF taking "a calm ana
judicial view of the facts"
DIR. Jones made the following reply In
the limited space allowed him by the
independent, which contains matters OF
so much historic interest that We give
II la full:
Editor the Independent:
Absence from home has delayed my
reply 10 DR.. Waylands notice OF my
school history. which you courteously
consent that I may make.
j am not surprised that he differs with
me on many points. and should be de-
lighted to go over the whole ground with
him. especially In the courteous spirit
in which he has written. But only ask
enough of your valuable space to make
he raises:
1. AS TO whether the formation OF the
present Union was a SECESSION from
the old Confederation, 1t seems a suffi
Gent reply to DR.. Wayland's quotation
from the act OF Congress approving of
a convention for THE PRESERVA-
TON OF THE UNION" 10 remind him
that the convention OF 1857 was not called
by Congress, but by the states, was
composed of delegates elected by the
States. and would not have held whether
Congress approved or not-tnat the new
Constitution was submitted for approval,
not TO Congress, but to the States, and
was binding on only such States as should
ratify it-and that as each State
ratified the Constitution it was VIR-
TUAL SECESSION from the old Con-
federation whose constitution had been
styled by its trainers. Articles OF Con-
federation and Perpetual Union Between
the States"
STATEMENT FROM RATCHFORD.
2. DR.. Wayland challenges the cor
rectness of my statement that in 1871,
and again on the 22d Of February, lS45,
the Legislature of Massachusetts passed
resolutions avowing the right OF seces-
sion. and threatening to secede II Texas
was admitted into the Union" and tri-
umphantly quotes certain antl-slavery
resolutions passed by the Massachusetts,
Legislature in 1s45, and which. while
they certainly SQUINT toward secession,
do not fully establish my point.
Now, / had no reference whatever TO
THESE resolutions; but II Dr. Waylands
friend. Colonel Olln, the Secretary OF
Massachusetts who ought to be better
posted on the records OF his State), will
turn TO Acts and Resolutions passed by
the Legislature of Massachusetts IN
1884," page 3l9, he will find the follow
ing:
Il. Resolved, That the power to unite
an independent foreign State with the
United States is not among the powers
delegated to the General Government by
the Constitution of the United States.
"2. Resolved That the project
of the annexation of Texas, unless ar
rested on the Threshold MAY DRIVE
THESE STATES INTO A DISSOLUTION
OF THE UNION" Gaps mine)
Then follow two other resolutions pro-
yiding for the transmission OF TINS ac-
ton TO the governors Of the other states,
the Senators and Representatives OF Mas
sachusetts in Congress, and the President
Of the United States.
On the 22d OF February, 1873 tsee pages
59S. $50. same yolume) the Legislature OF
Massachusetts, celebrated the birthday OF
the Father OF his Country by passing the
following which was also transmitted 10
the same parties:
Resolved. and as the powers
never delegated the power TO admit INTO
the Union States or Territories without
or beyond the original territory or the
States and Territories belonging TO the
Union at the adoption OF the Consttu-
ton OF the United States.
Resolved. and as the powers
OF legislation granted in the Constitution
OF the United States TO Congress do not
embrace the case of the admission OF
foreign State, or foreign Territory, py
legislation into the Union. SUCH AN ACT
OF ADMISSION WOULD HAVE No
BINDING FORCE WHATEVER On
THE PEOPLE OF MASSACHUSETTS,
Gaps mine)
II these resolutions do not avow the
right OF secession, or Of notification, ana
threaten that Massachusetts would exer-
else that right in case OF the annexation
OF Texas, l confess that l am unable 10
interpret their meaning.
/ will not ask space here 20 pursue the
subject further, but hold myself prepared
10 maintain that from 1850 10 1880 Massa-
chusetts has an almost unbroken record
in favor of secession and notification.
q. DR.. Wayland quotes the conclusion
Of sentence in my book page Sos), IN
which l say:
F" The official reports OF sne
Federal Secretary OF war. F.. NJ. stanton,
and the Federal Surgeon-Generai, Barnes
show that NEARLY PER CENT.
MORE CONFEDERATES DIED in
NORTHERN PRISONS THAN OF FED
ERALS IN SOUTHERN PRISONS"
Ny distinguished critic parades against
me a letter from the present surgeon
general, In which he says tina. he rs not
aware or any such reports. and refers
to the medical and surgical history OF
the war" published in 1883. and gives
..the death-rate among the Confederate
prisoners In NORTHERN PRISONS"
and that among the Union prisoners AT
ANDERSONvII.LE-"
Now, I Instituted no comparison De-
tween the mortality AT ANDERSON
VILE and that In all Of the northern
prisons--indeed. I went into no details
but simply stated the deduction from off,
cial figures given by Secretary Stanton
ana Surgeon General Barnes.
These figures were first collated by the