The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-03
THE WAR
AND SLAVERY
Something in the Way o 81 "a. a
~ Review Of Both.
II INTERESTING PAPER
Thoughts ola virginian Now Residing
iniGeorgia- R Recollection and Rem
iniscences ofthe Confederate
{l}3 War, Etc.
(For The Times DlspatchD

& Ss8 y. (For The Times Dlspatch)
SaEts (By DR.. w. b. Conway, Of Athens, Ga)
:.ySsi aIn view Of the. part taken by Virginia
~ iii the war between the States her
v history would be incomplete did We not
81 Introduce to the reader some Of the main
I; causes leading UP I'd secession.
1t has been said BY some that slavery
Il had but little to do with bringing about
4 the war; but all must admit that out
y side Of States rights" and other consti-
tutional questions, slavery played Its part
Ii and was indeed one OF the leading factors
ia the formation Of the Confederate
States. However, 1t matters not what
y the cause was. itis conceded TINT our
u people based their action upon the Con-
&stitution.
Previous to the adoption of the United
& States Constitutlon,f'".vlr made d de-
clarnton ION tho 18th OF June. 1776) re-
nouncng her colonial dependence on
Great Britain and separating herself for
ever from that kingdom. On the 18th
81 of June, in the same year, she perform
Is ed the highest function Of sovereignty
by adopting and ordalning State Con-
-y~stitution and prescribing an oath Of fealty
and allegiance for all who might hold Of
fee under her authority, and that remain
III ed as the organic law of the Old Do
~ minion5until 1920" 5E$
On the 4tn Of July, l776, Congress de-
clared absolutely that the colonies were
free and independent States"
The Constitution got Its validity and
vitality not from the people OF all the
States, as one people, but from each
Il State. acting separately and for itself
OUR RESERVED RIGHTS.
Il Virginia In ratifying this Constitution,
Z reserved the right to resume her inde-
q p6ndence IL the powers granted were per-
verted to her injury or oppression. New
York said, that tho powers of govern
ment may be reassumed by the people,
whenever It should become necessary to
their happiness, etc." Rhode Island and
North Carolina for sometime declined pos
34iuvcly to enter the compact. Rhode Is
land fingered until 100, and then adopted
the cautious phraseology. OF New York
and Virginia, The government was or
ganized in 1883. IN rs
l8 The tenth amendment to the Constnu-
tlon "reseaTes to tho States respectively
or TO the, peaple tile powers not delegated
StoSthe United States, nor prohibited to
. the State" The South vested her decision
therefore, In seeding upon, the fact that
-. each State had q right to judge OF lnfrac-
Slapns OF the Constitution.
Mr.. Jefferson said rs late as 1925 tlat
Though dissolution Of the Union would
be a\great calamity. submission to q gov
arnmN4I OF unlimited powers would be n
greater ~SWhat would you think OF n
State to resesye powers In her compact
with the Federal government and then to
allow the latter 10 decide for her what
was reese rived 2. This rms been done, but
done by brute force, might can never
make right"
started out to shy something concern
ding slavery In the Old Dominion.
THE SLAVE HOLDERS.
Many OF the best citizens OF Virginia
DID not desire the perpetuntion Of slavery.
The Constitution granted that right.
however, as will DO shown further on.
Some may be curious to know how Vir-
GINA came by slaves In her domain
They wera introduced into the Old Do
mlnlon by merchantmen In 1918, Nearly
all tho European nations were engaged
IN importing negroes from Africa Into
the United States, A ship from Boston,
about 1916, engaged In this busness-and
history tells US that this business wns
carried on nninterruptedly by some Of
tho Northern States Until 1898. In the
year OF 1870, 2,ocD werc IN the bounds OF
the State OF Virginia. Among the six
w teen States ana tcrrltDTles OIL tHe SH'Ol
that were slave-holdng In 1890, Yreinit
held commanding position OF TIN
ss4ss4 slave holders In the United States
X b2,l2s. or about one-snyenth OF the whole
y number lived within her borders Sh
ranked first In the number OF this clas
of people. Georgia was second, Will
Al 0s4; Kentucky third, with 3s,0i5, an'
'Tennessee fourth. with 36s4i These foi
States contained nearly one-half Of tn
whole number OF Shareholders In tn
3 Union, Virginia also owned more slave
enumerated In the census of 1860, he
ritizens held Aoo,si3, or about one-elghtl
v Of the whole number. Georgia was sec
und, with 46o,l9S; Mississippi third, will
.S,s 636, G31, and South Carolina fourth, will
5s iDe ,406, ths four States holding nearl!
pne-ha!f the whole number of slaves ii
s. ,ltbe United states,
slavery was domestic institution
II III Virginia, flor while she had NOR
holders than any other State ye
ss rule tho holdings Of The individual
sssi3s gere smaller, OK her 52lss holders O
II iiaves, II GS5 Of these owned but on
& Zach: $3.50 but two; 4,474 but three; 8 50
mt four; :, 233 but five each, About one
ifth OF her shareholders owned but
Jingle aaye, and OF three-hfths Of then
zach owed five or less, Those ownin
,.x each were esoi; those seven, 100
those eight, 1884; those nine, l,7sSi "
pwners OF from ten 10 fifteen each wGi
b0S8; from lifteen so8twenty We're 3Js
n som twenty ia thirty we're 3.Ql7; Afro