Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-20

man that he is born into the world as
creature OF God. with respOhslpii.s "
Him for the proper use or MS dvo-slFth
powers. and that To- WORK out nis ~ -
sonal destiny upon this personal accouh-
liability ne needs 10 be free from the con-
straints with which despOtism would pihd
his body, mind heart, and conscience
RIGHT OF sELF-GOvERNMENr.
When the man has this idea planted in
his soul il becomes moral force Which
breads treason TO the Almighty SoVtIelsh
more than all the threats or human du-
thOritv and makes resistance 10 lyidnls
obedience 10 God. The personal rignt ol
the man 20 his liberty Is asserFd rom
his deepest circumstances against thr
government that would abridge or destroy
IL. The great battle that was Iousn. py
our fathers at The formation or the fedt-
raj Constitution IN 1871 was Tor the pro-
lection of this right of selt-government
and in opposition 10 the centIdlSalloh oi
power in the Federal head They believed
that Capitalization of power In the gene
raj government would show itself in a
too great tendency to control, regulate,
and direct the industry and enterprise ot
the individual man. They believed tnat
such Capitalization OF power would
build up a paternal government. the
patria pOtestas OF ancient despousm, ana
merging the man into the mass ana di-
recting the destiny OF all, would sdcfllce
the interest of the tOiling, home-staying
the few fawnlng parasites VINO
crowd the lobby and swarm the corri-
doris Of legislative bodies. They believed
that paternity in government would beget
class legislation. which instead of leaving
each man to enjoy the fruits OF his own
toll. would pool the earnings OF society
upon which TO fatten It's fayorite children
in palaces Of splendor, Whue IL would
starve It's foundlings In novels OF squalor
and misery.
1t was for local self-government as en-
bodied IN the doctrine of States rights
as we rad learned ii from our fathers,
that the South fought. II had grown win
our growth. strengthened with our
strength. and become the very warp and
woOf Of our natures. TO us II was prln-
clple. not a shadOWy sentiment; but
principle whose foundations were deep
down below the grasp Of political earth-
quakes, and whose spires pierced the stars
beyond the sweep OF storms Of fanaticism.
The bitter feelings and sectional animosi-
ties 10 which / have referred became III
tensihed as the years went by. The Con-
stitution of our fathers, as we understood
it, WAS set ar naught. and it's provisions,
as we construed them. Were disregarded'
and that solemn compact which 10 US was
sacred. was declared by many leading
men Of the North 10 be "a league with
death and a covenant with hell
SECESSION OF THE STATES.
In the fan Of 1880 tho crisis came. The
had come when they should resume the
powers delegated 10 the Federal Govern
ment. called conventions, ana one STATE
after another passed acts or secession, Dy
which they undertook TO secede from the
union OF States resume the delegated
powers and sever their connection with
the Federal Government. Ihey DID not
make war upon any one. They only asked
10 be let alone. They asked for no proper
~ and demanded nothing except the re-
cOgnitiOn Of their rights TO govern their
own affairs These States formed another
union Of States known as The Confederate
States Of America. our northern brethren
did not interpret the Constitution as We
did. They denied our right 20 sever
connection with the Union. They de-
clared that we were rebels in state OF
rebellion, and they resorted 20 arms 10
enforce the laws OF the United states.
and To compel obedience 10 its authority.
We believed we were right. and believing
this. we had the manhood 70 dare r1ain-
tain IL. The gage OF battle was rendered,
and we accepted IL. To arms, 10 arms,
was echoed throughout the land. The
bugle-call was heard from every hilltop
and throughout every valley. Fathers,
husbands, sons. brothers and sweet
hearts. gave the farewell kiss, and press
ed forward 20 repel the foe, that az we
honestly believe. was invading our ter
ritOry without shadow OF authority. From
every state came the sons OF the South
From the plains Of Texas. from the states
washed by the Gulf from across the
Father OF Waters, from Tennessee Ken
lucky. and Maryland from the Caroinas
and Florida. from every State OF the
Southland they came. They came from
the farm. from the store from the Of
fee. and workshop: from every trade and
profession. till Virginia. bristled with
bayoncts from the driftwood OF the Ohio
20 the sands OF the seashorc. There were
those who were not OF our race. bus were
adopted from other cimes who stood with
Us. l would not forget them. Some
months ago. while In this city, l visited
the Jewish Cemetery. and saw the plat
dedicated TO the graves OF those OF that
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