Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-11
HIS RESIGNATION STANDS.
slr. Royal Refuses TO Reconsider
Resolve 10 Leave History Committee.

Mr. William L. Royal declines 10 with
draw his resignation as chairman OF the
History Committee Of the Grand Camp or
confederate Veterans. though the camp
declined to accept his resignation when
rendered at the recent meeting at Gull
PEPPER
At that meeting the camp refused to
adopt that portion of the report which
said the South recognized that the right
Of secession no longer existed. Mr.. Royal
promptly rendered his resignation when
the body refused 10 adopt his report In
full. He has just returned from New
York. and yesterday gave out for publica-
ton a letter 10 Colonel Williams, COM
mander OF the Grand Camp. in which ne
defends his course and the report OF the
committee.
He says in his letter that the point at
issue between himself and the camp IS 100
radical and vital for him TO permit OIL any
question as TO how he stands. He says
the camp has undertaken to have the
children of Virginia taught correct his
tory Of the war, and IL seemed 10 MIN
proper for the History Committee to out
line that which should be taught. Inc
Camp did not accept his expressed views
therefore his resignation. In conclusion
Mr.. Royal says: ~ =.
.eThe war was fought by the North IN
denial Of the right Of secession ana py
us I'm maintenance Of that right. ii ended
An our complete collapse and surrender,
and in our return 10 place IN the Union
uron the terms offered US by the North,
,i1donment of secession being the first
and chief condition demanded of us. me
understanding and agreement that seces-
sion was abandoned was Implied In our
.rt Of surrender and return to allegiance
IN the Union. and no written expression
Of that understanding and agreement was
necessary TO make ii as binding upon us
as any obligation can be. But each
Southern State adopted a constitution as
"a condition 70 having representation
again in the Union, which expressly re-
nounced the right Of secession Tor al
time The Fourteenth Amendment 10 the
Constitution Of the United States also
NEGATIVES all idea Of the possibility OF Sc
ceesion. and that amendment Is the SUI
preme law of the land, accepted as such
iv every department Of the government,
and bv the whole body of the people, and
FL binds us as the law of the land under
which we live.
abandonment Of secession was, there
fore. the very essence Of the transaction
the surrender and reconstruction 81 the
I-nion-and it is expressly written out as
INr Jaw OF TIE ld4ius IL 10 N'+'NN
French call a fait accompli-just as much
So as the abolition Of slavery. The tri-
umph Of the North meant two things
the ending Of secession as principle
in our government, and the abolition OF
slavery as q fact. IL seems 10 me that
for any one now 10 say a word or do
thing that looks like questioning either
OF these as fixed and established facts is
Ike admitting that he has been indulglhg
~ one Of Rip Van Wrinkles maps. ana
that he knows nothing of what has taken
place In the past forty years. / cannot
consent 10 occupy a position that can
raise even a suggestion that l am such a
person, and l must, therefore, absolutely
ald Internationally resign the place OF
chairman Of the History Committee. i
wish 10 add that do not believe the ma
lorlty of those who attended the Grand
Camp at Culpeper represent the views
ON this subject Of the great body of the
Confederate soldiers. l believe most OF
Them agree with me"