The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-04-26


by Hon. John II Reagan, only survivin
member OF the Confederate cabinet, whic
was read to the veterans at the Natlona
Confederate reunion:
Comrades. Ladiea and Gentlemen Til
war between the States, 1861 to lStio-inea a.
nrcd by the size OF the armies, by tue mum
Der of battles fought by the number or sol
diers killed, wounded and missing. and b,
the amount and value of the property de
stroyed, was much the greatest war q
modern times. 1t grew ont OF grent causes
and was not, as has been often alleged Ivy
those Interested IN perverting It's history,
causeless war, brought about by .anlb tinu'
political leaders OF the southern states.
In the vindication OF the truth of history
i propose TO stptc the principal causes
which led to that WAY. 4
At the conclusion OF the war which sep
arated the American colonies from the
crown of Great Britain, these colnnl' !
formed a Federal government. 10 which
questions Of fogsigR policy, and over ques
lions Involving Interstate relations rcserN'
Ing to the States exclusive jurisdiction oven
all questions relating to their local rights
and duties.
While this is clearly implied 10 the plan
and constitution OF the new Federal sO,-
eminent, 1t Is distinctly asserted In the
tenth amendment to the constitution. WhlCl
was adopted soon after the ratification OF
the constitution. and reads as follows:
The powers not delegated Ia the United
States by the constitution. nor prohibited
by IT to the States. arc reserved to I 9
States respectively, or to the pCoplc
In the formation of the constitution, and
adoption Of the Federal government, two
very important and conflicting sets NJ opin-
ions existed rs TO what he form and ch
acter of the government should be. d
these conflicting opinions became the more
serious because entertained on each ST O.
by men pf known pntriottsn nnd of Gro At
ability. one party to this conflict OF op.n
IONS doubted the ca<acity Of the people Tor
ernnlent. ia he modoied somewhat IN Tho
nlan ~ .ho Prttisb ,onstittti,n o,,itt "a,
ROYALTY and oristocrnrv Lut ia hn mn q
s+ront, enough 70 contrGi rcfr,ctorv Stat,s
~ nrot ort H. ,,os o w., INA .
~ Tho noonie nrA ia rr,so.,,e to,, ,p ., M
eood oriSr IL socta+, trrb o,hor ,,or,, ''' y,
The conflict Of onlnion claimed tbat tho
h,no,ican po,ri 49, s,' ; ~
and virtuaP :" ono,ic ,nn ", ,rar
70 nd,,trist III ~ W ,'''' ~ 20 H.
fnnv acconnlish ~ I'm, va "H M "a
tbHso IN, IN, ht Sri"' I"iIIisl' N""
~, a. w., ..sh luiiH Wv su'.f.uttN VII Ecu
TO- ~, y, mea"iteu u, ~" tuuN'l u'i"I, p'ur
ors ~ ,ho Edy en- Inc p""
- w. tue tutIal sVNet1urh'' 'nu prs,
sssINlhg 10 me states and me people all
NY power nor So u'leEated.
Mhen the tederal governmrnt was put In
peanti JiluSl we l,Iutlon mos rep
lesehtlng me FOREGOING views claSSed them
SHSiVeS Iesp1,TuNeN as ItderaislS' lcd ~
ArAun s nauluun' ana n" rcpunlcah7
NOV ueinocuhtsl le9 ny ih"maS JEFFERSON
paclty or Inc people for scli-goyerum n. ard
f9yored a strong government ON the ON,
sue ana inc republicans, who hrllc'cd In
the capacliy of the people fo| sell govern
ment ana VINO Songh' to preserve the rights
OF inc states ana the largest liberty ct tho
peaple on the othrl SIDE, continued the con
test FOR inc Shaping and controlling of thu
character and policy oi the government, tht
federalists aiming 10y . latitudiuous con
strnction Of the constitution 10 enlarge the
powers OF the government beyond what
was prescribed by the letter OF the cOustitu
ton aud thereby tn ahridgr tho rights o
the several States, and thus sso to Gu
danger tho liberties OF the pc pc
The contests of opinion on this vita
question continued To divide the pcopl,
continuously from the foundation of tn,
government until 1861 1865, when, as n re
suit OF the war. the constitution wa
changed In important particulars. the doc
trine Of state rights was ovcrthrown an,
the right of property In negro slaves wa
denied, and millions of dollars Of what wa
This was Of grant ,u,gtlon