The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-21
CfOa Hstoty ~ ~
- " of Dixie Land.

"h hlchmond, va, has recently issued a
very valuable and Interesting historical
work entitled "Civn History OF the GOV.
eminent Of the Confederate states. with
some Personal "Reminiscences" The book
IL by j. L. NJ Curre. Lii H. we'll.
known Southern writer, who incidentally,
Is one OF the two surviving members OF
the FIRST session OF the provisional congress
winch framed the provisional constitution
OF the Confederate states organized the
government and elected the president and
vice president. The other survivor is Judge
Campbell Of Mississippi
The author says in the opening chapter
that, while many volumes have recorded
the glorious deeds az captains" and "the
endurance and gallantry Of those who
amid the weary waiting for help which
never came accomplished marvels Of man.
hood and patriotism" the underlying prin-
clples and motives Of secession "stlll lack
understanding and approval" These mo
tlres and principles Dr Curry has here
set forth in his own strong. convincing,
lnimltable way. Il is not dry record.
TO read II is like listening to a delightful
monologue from the authors own lips
| The personal "reminiscences and character
sketches woven into the volume have n
charm peculiarly their own. while the
author talks Of the origin Of the Confed-
crate government aud It's civil history In
as delightful vein as one would talk Of
art or literature.
II treats Of the causes Of secession; tho
action OF the States; the organization Of
the Confederate government; the provl-
slonal constitution; the election of the
president md dTr president, irdtiatory leg
isiHtiou; the appointment VI the cabinet;
the constitution; the peace congress LIN
coins proclamation, the removal of the
government TO Richmondi revenues OF the
Contederacy; reliance on cotton; foreign
relations: the commission to Washington;
the dupllcity Of seward; EFFORTS in behalf
of hdlllgercnt rights; conduct of Russia,
England ana France; the individuality Of
states as seen I'm North Carolina, Georgia
and Virginia: what Southern women did
pnvation in Southern homes; religion IN
camp. ministers in arms; effect Of proper
appreciation Of Confederate principles nnd
services, and IN an appendix, Dr. Currys
Legal Justification of the South in Sc
cesslon~ reprinted 10y permission from
"Confedcrate Military History" also the
constitution of the United states and the
constitution of the Confederate States
/ printed in parallel columns
~
or Alexander H. stephens tue author
says "One might travel far and see
many thousands without fuding a counter
| part o, parallel Of Alexander II stephens
His life amid difficulties aud dangers ap-
! pears like Il miracle rall spare, not
Weighing over 100 pounds nearly blood
less. with feminine voice and appear.
ance, he seemed incapable Of physical
/ labor or fatigue and during the war Yheu
many 1ed from districts exposed to in
rursons from the enemy. he was often
| iocularlv spoken Of ms n refugee from the
graveyard OF parentage of moderate
means he was educated up TO gtadAali6il
from the university Of Georgia hy some
generous and sympathetic women, who dis
covered in him personal virtues and men.
tai precoclty Afterwards. when hc de-
cidcd on profession different from what
the ladies desired. he returned in full
measure with interest, what had been
advanced in his behalf. His own gener-
Gus nature and grateful sense for what
had been done for him In poverty, made
him through life a bencfactor of young
men md more than . hundred were aided
n,"i =" '',ueu'' uDu '"'ese' Liner y
n''' ""''t N nNVu was an open anu
"oslI'"o'e nome "here lh"usNhaS' rSh
ana poor ulS'ine,hHNru ana obscure were
e"oN entertained Al the 'ar stephens
a''a'heu eNeepuonal success, MS 'E''
knowledge alieehty acquired ms al'''p
'iheo iacul'ieS' ms mar''Ious el'quehee'
were 'ne ele"pn'S 81 nus pI'l'SsioI'' ulS'
hh''ion' IN the legislature ana IN con
efess be tound NJ ana eongen'al arena
ior ms 'aStes' s'uales, ainp''l"n ana pa
'rio.isn' IN AT S,at,ohs' private anu
p"s''', 40 s,.s 49,
fearlessly, conscientiously and ably and
died without stain upon his reputation
the idol Of friends and constituents As q
stump speaker he had few equals Hi.
remarkable physique, his penetrating voice
lucid statcments ingenious fraukness
) humor. satire, repartee. eloquence made
him great fayotlte and In great and
constant demand. In the house Of repec
sentatives in 1859 he achieved gram
triumph when the admission of oregon az
state was under consideration Fol
many reasons It was opposed and til.
.