The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-22
The Right'of Secession is Set Forth
Enthusiastically.
THE SENTIMENT IN THE NORTH.
The south Not Alone in Its intcrpreta-
ton Of the toustitutioH-Nir
cinia's Love for the Union.
1he Institution OF slavery.
Good of the Ne
grOes,

Northampton at Parksley Friday last
Hon. Beverley b. Munford. Of this city,
delivered an address which excited wide
spread interest. and brought out facts un-
known to- the majority Of the present
generation.
Nir. Munford, after an appropriate al
fusion 10 the West-Harmanson Camp of
,Confed, rate Veterans, under whose lea
.dershlp the monument had been er cted,
proceeded 10 portray the heroic conduct
Of the Confederate soldiers nom Acco-
mac and Northampton counties Cut off
from the balance of the State their see
iion early passed under the control of The
Federal power. Unnnuenoed either by the
safety of their situation. or by the fears
of the dominant power. the men Of this
sea-girt land sped to the succor of their
State and TO their brethren ON the other
shore of the BAY MIR. M>nford paid
high tribute TO the valoT Of tho men I'm
whose honor the Vest Harmanson Camp
was named. Of the various officers and
privates from Eaztern Shore who bore
heroic parts Ia the great struggle, and
then proceeded as follows:
But my couSsrymen, while the erection OF
monuments 10 commemorate the hero
ism of the Confederate soldier Is work
worthy o. the highest commentator.
there rer sains for this generation SIN
more cred and important duty--the
duty o.. pOrtraying the high motives
which iUlp-ned him. and Of indicating
his nidOe from the charge of treason.
Ihf, world Acknowledges the splendid
valoG with which he maintained his cause
yet. waits 10 declare whether his course
wss justified by The tests of ethical and
Constitutional right 1t is only by re-
pcatod cNpCsitous That our children. ana
the mind and conscience OF The outside
world viii he informed both with respect
TO his rights and the motives which in
huenced his conduct. This exposition is
due as well 10 the actors in that great
contest, as 10 our countrymen of every
phase OF thought The Union. and love
Tor the Union. the closer sympathy be-
tween the States and sections. viii De
strengthened rather imam hindered 10y
correct understanding Of the rights as
serted bv the parties to that. the might
est conflict of modern times.
TIE RIGHT OF SECESSION.
First and foremost The States which
seeded appealed Go the Constitution in
Justification of their course. The right
fuluess Of this contention must bee de-
tcrmined not by our conceptions of what
would have been the 81 system OF gov
eminent OF the best form OF constitution.
but what. On the light Of the admitted
facts of history. ana the ectual terms of
the Constitution as adopted. were The
relative rights of the states and Of the
Union. with respect 90 this great problem.
/ can not, upon this occasion do more
than epi.omize the facts and reasoning
upon which the advocates of secession
maintained the Justice of their cause 1T
will help TO q clearer ndcrstanding If we
take one Commonwealth and portray her
relations 10 the Union, and as we are to-
day to honor the memory OF Nirguians. ]
shall select Tor that purpose our native
State.
Virginia was one Of the original colo,
MES. having a separate existence fran the
other colonies and yet like the Others
forming an integral part OF the British
Empire. Pending this political relation.
the allegiance OF her citizens was due the
British Crown.
On the 18th Of May. l77C. the people OF
Virginia met in convention and acting
without association with any OF the other
colonies. declared her scuarl Ion from.
and independence az Great Britain.
BILL or RIGHTS.
On the l2lh of June 1D6, She ad0nted
and proclaimed her b.l of rights: ana on
the 29.h Of June adopted her Consti.uti n.
she declared an power Of government
vested I'm her own people. who alone sue
ceeded 10 the rights and territories OF the
Grown. Her Governor and State officers
were elected. taking an oath OF fealty 10
the Commonwealth OF virginia. All This
was accomplished before he An Of July.
1I6-bef0re the Declaration of lndepen1-
ence. which declared the colonies free ana
independent states, had been proposed at
her instigation, and prepared by her
great son.
thus. me people Of Virginia became
citizens OF the state, and she tneir
SOVEREIGN. The Declaration OF Inde0end-
ence. so far from changing the allegiance
OF her citizens. or proc'aiming the indc-
pendence Of The country as a whole. by its
very terms declares that the several colo
mics arc free and Independent States"
The Articles Of Confederation were
formulated by the Contin ntal Congress
IN November, III. end submitted 20 he
legislature OF the respective States a.
snch. and not 20 the people, for ratnca-
fion.
These articles constituted by their very
terms compact between States, nam
Ing them, and not the people OF the whole
country. and declare that each State re-
talns us soy reigniy, and every power
which IS not expressly delegated to the
United states IN Congress assembled.
NhUe numerous powers were vested In
the Fec RAJ Congress. yet 10 had no pow
er. except acting on au5 through the
Sio'es as such even 10 coliect faxes or 10
enlist troops for the prosecution Of the war
Of the Revolution
NOT AS A WHOLE.
When by The treaty OF peace with Great
Britain our Independence was ocknov.l-
edged the Independence of the people OF
the United States as "a whole was not
recognized, but each OF the separate
Co~monNea'ths, naming them. was de-
elarod q free, sovereign and independent
State
Thus stood The government-Federa
and Stato-and the al'egiqnoo OF me oif-
zen. after the treaty OF peace with Great
Britain acknowledging our independence
in 1851 the Constitutional Convention. as
4 was calcd-a BODY authorized bv no
Federal enactuent-assembled az Thna-
delphia. prerared and proposed 10 the
several States Tor adoption. a new con
fiituiion. The old ConfedCracv was aban-
oonod. and by the express terms of The
constitution II was not 20 be effective I'M
I'll nine states should have ratified tho
same.
The adoption OF the Constitution was not
the act OF the people Of the whole coun-
Try but Of each stare. a. only by the
foparate acceptance Of .ts terms by cgcl
.Slale could II become bsadlng upon herr