Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-04

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Notices Of New hooks.
! HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. Brief Text
Book FOR Schools. by Royal Bascom
Smithey, 4. VI, Professor OF Mathe-
mates, Randolph-Macon College New
York. Cincinnati. and Chicago Ameri
can Book Company. u mo. PIP. 276.
We welcome any new contribution to
our school literature, which, like this lit
tie volume, combines with an apprecia-
ton of the obligation to tell the ruth,
setting down naught in malice" a just
estimate Of the scarcely inferior obligation
| TO tell it so as to awaken the interest OF
the pupil and instill into his young mind
an intelligent and loving veneration for
| his country and his forefathers. The
truthful history of Virginia as Colony
| and a State requires a much more i'm
posing volume than a common school
textbook, but the author has outlined it
with conscientious fidelity to its con-
sistency as a whole and with judicious
discrimination in accommodating the mar
rative to the limitations of his restricted
space.
We find much 10 commend and little TO
complain of in this book. Perhaps
fuller detail Of the events OF the RevoIu-
ton and OF the Confederate war might
have been consistent with the dimensions
Of a school textbook While abundantly
enough is stated to vindicate Virgnia's
action in 1851, the author falls into an al
most invariable precedent in the omission
Of some projecting facts in our constitu-
tiOnal history which should be taught to
and known by every American schoolboy.
In the recital of the conquest of the
Northwest by Virginia troops under their
Virginia leader, George Rogers Clark, the
completeness of Virginias~ acquisition
should have been emphasized by the
mention Of the action OF her Legislature
in the establishment Of the county OF
Illinois. Especially should this have been
done as the brief statement that "the
claims which seven Of the thirteen States
made to western lands caused 50 many
disputes that the Articles OF Confederation
adopted by Congress during the Revolu-
ton were not signed by all the States till
l7a,' seems TO give color TO the idea that
Virginias title to the Northwest terri
tory was a matter Of fair legal dispute.
The truth is that thu claims of the other
States to any legal rights to the territory
were limited 10 a very small portion bor-
dCFinp 1 oil
difficulty was in the contention Of Mary
land, which found very extended SYM
pathy that the States owning the western
lands ought 10 cede their exclusive right
and accept joint proprietorship with the !
other Colonies. But until that was volun- !
tarily done by Virginia and followed I'D |
by the adoption of the ordinance OF 1857
by the Continental Congress, and I'M |
doubtedly at the time Of the treaty of |
peace with Great Britain I'm l7S3, Virginia |
held title to the territory not only by |
virtue Of her charter as a Colony. but
by right of conquest by her forces under
Clark and her possession and suzeraintv
over the county OF Illinois.
Every American history. whether for
he advanced student, the masses. or the
primary school, ought TO set out in its ex-
lct language the clause Of the treaty OF
-l5, IN which Great Britain recognizes
Inc several colonies by name as free.
sovereign, and independent States.
Again, the author speaks Of the CONT
rental Congress and of the articles OF
without rendering any in
ormation as to the constitution and
lowers Of the Congress, or as 70 the
history Of the adoption or the provisions
Il the articles of confederation. II ie
ssential TO any intelligent comprehen-
ion OF American history that these mat
eIs should be understood, and as TO them
mere never has been or could have heen
ny COLLISION OF opinion among historians
: puDuciSts The Continental CONGRESS-
ad no powers, except those esDecfoUv |
eleSatcd by the several colonies TO their
wn delegates. All other attempted Iegis- {
awe or executive action was bv the sur- ;
GRANGE Of the States The articles Of |
ohIederation expressly provided that
ach State retain its sovereientv. ana
] congress should cast a vote uuon all
uesuons as a State, putting Virginia the
lrsest and Rhode Island the smallest
tate upon footing of exact equality.
onsIesS hau no power TO raise 81 OF
money by taxation, or TO lew
uueS upon any imported goods. =
'hese articles provided for nsr-
\
icy should be amended in no particular
lthout the concurrence Of all the Statos
ne significance Of stating these facts =
ould clearly appear from a brief sto4o- :,
cent OF me adoption Of the United States =
INSTITUTION. That Constitution could nor ! u
ave been adopted. AS an amendment of n
re articles Of confederation. for the
her historic fact. omitted in this mar fl
1--WE. that North Carolina and Rboda II
land refused TO adopt the Constitut,oo +
lul after the government was in fuu v
'efauon and General Washington bad o
EN- lnaugurated as President The Con- I,
ituuoh ltsen contemplated possibility g
peoo"pilty OF the rejection by some of S
e State. and provides that on the 49, r
on by nine States, il should be effective NJ
government between those States Tba +
amers Of the Constitution Therefore IN II
ted the several States, each bv itseIr |
seeede from the Union, under the ar N
les or confederation, and concur with cl
On sister states as might be OF the
HE mind IN the foundation of another III
lon. rms is no matter Of argument IN
l chain OF undeniable historic facfs NJ
d their omission from any American 81
story is deceptive and delusive in read IN
the sequence OF events. The paraI- al
ism between the action OF Virginia u
l7S9 and in 1861 would apnear etnt u
IRE complete, If one author. in his an ca
ndix' had copied the ordinance of con -
ltion Of 1888, ratifying the United "a
ties Constitution, as well as that of az.
convention of 1861 repeating that or =;
lance. OF
me more criticism we suggest: 1t was 90
y appropriate TO add In the appendix n,
copy Of the Virginia Bill of Rights. ~
We regret that the author should ..
We given countenance to the assump- st