The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-07
FRIDAY. OCTOBER T. 1895.
THE RIGHT OF SECESSION.

We are surprised no less than grieved
at the extraordinary proceedings Of tho
Grand Camp, Confederate Veterans, Of
Virginia at Culpeper
That the State of Virginia had the con-
stitutional right in 1860 to secede. and
that the people of Virginia were justila-
bic in seeding from the Union, we shah
ever hold.
In 1850 the right of secession meant in
the Southern sense the right under the
original guarantees Of the Constitution
OF the United States TO withdraw peace
ably from a federation voluntarily en-
tered into. To-day the word secession
embodies the sentiments and attachments
that come from a past full of glorious
endeavor 10 make real lost ideal. and
as such It will never lose its place in the
hearts of Confederates or their children.
But when the arDitramont of arms de-
cided at AppomattoX that from thence
forth this should be, by force if YOU WILL
but none the less in reality, one country
and one people. Virginia accepted the
inevitable and set about with heroic for
titude 10 accommodate herself to the new
conditions.
In good faith. she re-wrote her Con-
stitution, inserting in her Bill of Rights
the following clauses:
Article l. Section THAT this Stale
shall ever remain member OF the United
States of America, and that the people
thereof are a part OF the American ma
ton, and that all attempts, from what
ever source or upon whatever preteNt, 70
dissolve said union or to sever said ma
tion. are unauthorized and ought 20 De re-
sisted with the whole power Of the state"
Section s.-''That the Constitution Of
the United States and laws Of Congress
passed in pursuance thereof, constitute
the supreme law Of the land. 10 which
paramount allegiance and obedience are
due from every citizen. anything I'm the
Constitution. ordinances. or laws Of any
State. to the contrary Notwithstanding
That Is now the organic law Of Virginia,
the law by which every citizen of Nir-
ginia is bound. and how with that de-
claration before him any citizen Of Nir-
ginia can claim that this State has the
right TO withdraw from the Union IS TO
our mind inconceiyable.
Mr.. William L. Royal occupied before
the Grand Camp the only position that
can be maintained. He was entirely
right In saying that the Confederates
abandoned secession when they surren-
dered at Appomattox. and pledged them
selyes thereto In their several constitu-
tons thereafter adopted
We yield to none in our devotion to
the Lost Cause and we shall never con-
sent 10 the Northern contention that the
South was wrong in Withdrawing from
the Union, and in defending the rights
OF the States by force Of arms. But our
lot is now cast with the indissoluble
Union.
The people OF Virginia went back into
the Union with the solemn pledge that
in the Union tho state should ever re-
main, and the pledge IS irrevoeable. In
the stand that no took. Mr. Royal rep
resented the sentiment Of the great body
of Virginia people.
Nor do we believe that Colonel Porter
ana his associates really had any other
view. They steadfastly hold with us the
righteousness Of the Southern cause.
They Ola not mean. we know 10
put themselves in any attitude Of dis
loyalty to the Union. In the heat Of
debate the Wide distinction beween the
present meaning that the word secession
conveys 10 every Southerner, and the
right OF secession that caused our fear
full war thirty-fvo years ago may readily
be overlooked
The South's cause was and is to those
gentlemen q thing so sacred that they
are unwilling to commit themselves TO
any declaration that might BY chance be
construed into q confession that the South
was wrong or in any sense unjustihable
IN Withdrawing from the Union in 1861.
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LET Us BE LIBERAL.
That was a most welcome announce
III. (1x u