The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-14
s. !. nv ae.ar,at,or b. rvosst, a curse ],

ness Their relations towards tie Peace
Conferences. and the determined purpose
OF the radicals 10 have a fight. and it
sars4ermere foresssaaoas the actual direc-
ton given 10 future events
AFTER = DECLARATION.
But cannot Brotract CHS discussion
further Suffice ii 70 say. that Virginia,
North Carolina. Tennessee and Arkansas
Ss.d not se2ede until Nj. Lincoln had ;ictu-
ally declared war against the seven cotton
and Gulf States. then forming the South
ern Confectionery, and called on those four
States 20 furnish their quota of the sew
seatg-iiVe thousand Ircofs called for by
him TO coerce these States This act on
air- 1-incoll,s part was without any real
authority OF law, and nothing short Of the
most fagrant usprpation. Congress alone
having the power 10 declare war under
the Cons ituiioa- He refused to convene
Congress 10 consider The grave issues then
confronting the country But when il did
assemble on the Attn of July. 1861, he tried
TO have his Illegal usurpatiou validated;
but Congress, although then having a Re-
publican majority, refused TO consider The
resolution introduced for that purpose.
The four States above named, led by Vir-
ssl'lsa. only left the Union then after ex-
~; listing every 2lDgl51Sahle effort 10 remain
in it, and only when tsley had to determine
TO faint with orzaga3nst their sisters OF the
South. This was the dire alternative pre-
sented 10 them. and how could they hest
tate longer what 10 do2
IN the busy. busting, practical times in
which We live II viii doubtless be asked
by many, and with some show of plaus-
oiiity, why We gather up and present to
the world ali this array Of testimony con-
corning cause which is almost univer-
sally known as the Lost Cause" and
conflict which. ended more than thirty
i've years ago2 Does it not, they ask. only
tend 10 rekjndie the embers of sectional
STRIFE, and can thus only DO harm? You,
our comrades, know that such IS not our
purpose or desire. Our reasons have been
Very briefly stated 1t is the truth that
eenstratns. The apologists for the North,
using all he vehicles of falsehood, are in
sfstent In spreading the poison: with ii the
anadote must go If others attribute TO
us wrong motives III this matter, we are
sorry, but We nave no apologies to make
TO any such. We admit that The Confede-
Tate war is ended; that slavery and seces-
sion are forever dead. and we have no de-
sire 10 revive them. We recognize. too,
that this whole country is one country
and our country. We desire that. govern
lnent and people doing that which IS right,
il may become IN truth a glorious land
and may remain a glorious Inheritance TO
our children and children's children. But
we believe the true way to preserve it as
such an Inheritance is 10 perpetuate il. 1t
the principles for which the Confederate
soldier fought-tle principles of consiitu-
tional liberty ana of local self-govern-
mentor, as Mr.. Davis puts it, The rights
of their sires won in the Revolution, the
State sovereignty, freedom and indepen-
dence, which were left 10 US, as an inheri-
lance 10 their posterity forever This
definition. q distinguished Massachusetts,
writer SAYS, is the whole case, and not
only a statement, but a complete justifca-
ton of the Confederate cause TO all who
are acquainted with the origin and char
acter of the American Union.
Yes we repeat ttais is our country, and
OF it we would say, with Virgina's dead
laureate al the Yorktown celebration:
GIVE us back The lies OF Yorktown,
Perish all the modern hates;
Let US stand together, brothers,
in defiance of The fates
For the safety of the Union
is the safety Of the States
At Appemattox the Confederate flag
was furled and We are content TO let it
stay 50 forever.
There is enough glory and sacrifice en-
circlsd IN its folds, not only TO enshrine
ii in our hearts forever: but the very trump
of fame must be silenced, when ii ceases
to proclaim the splendid achievements over
which that flag fioated.
oNI.YA Battlefield.
But Appomattox was not judicial
forum; ii was only 4 battlefield, test OF
physical force, where the siarNlrg rem
nant of the army of Northern Virginia,
..wca1ded WITH victory. surrendered to
Overwhelming numbers and resources"
We make no appeal from that judgment
on the issue OF force. But when we see
the yictors in that contest meeting year
by year and using the superior means al
their command to publish to the world
that they We're right and that we We're
wrong in that contest, saying tlaL we
were. t.rei5els', and TRAITORS in defending
pur homes and firesides against their cruel
INVASION. that we had no legal right TO
withdraw from the Union, when we only
asked to be let alone and that we Drought
on that war, we say when these and oitler
wicked and false otlarses are brought
asainst US from year to year. ana the at
tempt is systematically made TO teach our
children, that these things are true, and,
therefore, that we do not deserve tae!i
sy,npathy and respect, because Of our al
legged wicked and unjustifiable course IN
that war and in bringing it on. then II
becomes our duty. not only TO ourselves
ana our children, but 10 the thousands OF
brave men and women VITO gave their
lives. Il .free-will Offering, n defense OF
the principles for which we fought TO Vln-
dicate the justice of our cause, and to do
this we have to appeal only 10 the par
~ truth and of justice.
we know the muse Of history may be-
and often IS. startled from her proprlety
for a time, but she VIII soon regain her
eauiroise. 0nr lafe enemies have -unWli-
tingly furnished the great reservoir from
shlch The truth can be drawn, not only III
what taiey have said about US and our
cause. boil, before ana since the war but
in The more than one hundred volumes OF
the official records published under the
authority of Congress. We are content to
await with calm confidence the results
of The tlppeal 10 these sources.
NC have as already stated in this re-
port. attempted 10 va,1dirate our cause by
referring 10 testimony furnished almost
entirely fren the speeches ana writings
OF our, adpersaricS. We believe we have
succeeded In doing this. Nay, the .1udg-
9nent, both Of Inc Justice Of cur cause
and the. conduct of the war on cur part.
mas been written for Us, ana that, too, by
HE hands of a Massachusetts man He
says of rs:
..sut.ll .exs.at *: casracterl and achievement
are moi ali in vain. Though the -Confeder-
acy fell as an actual physical power she
lives illustrated ny them, eternaiig in her
Just cause.-the cause of Constitutional
siherty.'
Then in the Language of virginia's Laure-