The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-08-06
WAS SECESSION REBELLION?

WAS SECESSION REBELLION?
A writer In the Stanton Daily
News asks was secession rebellion?
and states that DIR. J. VIM. Jones
said In an address that Washington
was a rebel, but that the Confederate
soldier was not. Again he says thas
Mr.. r. NJ. Mckim said also in an ad-
dress 1--WE do not object to being
called rebels" and stated that rebel
lions at times were necessary in or
der to bring about good government
and cited the Revolutionary War.
DIR. Jones has always held that
Gen. Lee was not a rebel and has
taken every occasion to defend him
against such a charge, and it may
be that DR.. McKim does not hold a
contrary view.
He may have said that we did
not object to being called rebels, and
at the same time might have denied
that the term was applicable to the
Southern Soldier.
The Northern historian calls us
rebels and the War Department has
published and Is publishing the Off
cial records OF the "War OF the Rebel
Hon." but that does not prove us
rebels or that the Civil War was a
war OF rebellion. On the contrary,
she Northern historians are no doubt
convinced by this time that the term
rebel Is not popular South, and OF
late Is becoming less popular in the
North, when applied to the Confeder-
ate Soldier or his cause. For this
reason historians are modifying terms
they have heretofore employed and no
doubt II the War Department were to
publish the records again the "War
of the Rebellion" would be eliminated,
and some term more expressive and
less offensive to the Southern people
would be substituted.
Even the intelligent Northern man
these days prefers the term civil
War" to that OF the war OF the re-
bellion." That seems to soften down
the thing a little and yet we do not
think that the Civil War defines our
position as well as "the war OF seces-
sion" would. Civil War is "applied to
a war waged between citizens of the
same country and not with foreign
ers." During the war the Confeder-
acy was one country and the United
States was another, and while we
were OF the same race OF people, we
were citizens OF separate and distinct
governments or Republics. Awar OF
secession would be wsged on the part
OF those who had withdrawn from
government, who had ceased to be a
part OF the old government, before
war commenced. Therefore, the
Southern States, having severed all
relations, ties and obligations to the
United States Government, by legally
called, constituted, organized con-
ventions, and had formed themselves
into a government, separate and
apart from the United States Gov
eminent, we were no longer citizens
OF the same country. Yet, some term
more expressive OF our position than
the war of secession might be selected.
But that the Southern States were
out OF the Union, and not a part OF
the United States Government dur
ing the war Is distinctly declared by
the fact that ate: our failure to
our Confederate govern
mentI the States composing the
Southern Coniederacy were re-admit-
ted into the Union. II they had not
been out OF the Union as some North
ern authorities claim, Why re-admit
them? To re-admit them was an &C
knowledgement by Congress that
they had been out OF the Union.
We have always thought there was
a wide difference between the posi-
lions OF Washington and Lee. Wash
Ington was a rebel and no doubt
gloried In the term. He rebelled
against the mother country, de-
clsred himself free and independent
and at the close OF a successful war
set up an independent government.
II he had failed In his contest he
would no doubt have been hung for
treason. ,
Gen. Lee, on the other hand, with
drew from the government exercising ;
B constitutional right, which the I
States Of Massachusetts, New York I
and Pennsylvania, long years before, i
declared existed and threatened to e
exercise. and which the best lawyers /,
n the country, North and South, ad-
nitted, and organized a Republic Q
and engaged in war only when he '
vas compelled to resist the invading B
armies Of the North. He sought a |
peaceful separation, and never would I
nave ,sed force, il he had not been I
on his own territory, and !
n the shadow OF his own home, aud 3
be would never have invaded the q
country had he rot been
iriven to it for self preservation. 5
He maintained four years war,
more destructive to life and property
'han any modern war that preceded .
4, and, overpowered by numbers !
and resources of his antagonist, sur
rendered to the invading enemy, and
ret be nor the President OF the Con- q
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