The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-13

for pelf, But a war for home; was not a war 'a
81 t1c.clatlon but8a war for self-govcri'11- n.
inert; was not a war Of fanaticism nut
war for stats sovereignty, war FOR
preserving our form Of government as tho
fathers Understood 1t when 1t was
framed y f
PER contra, I have lately seen III the
newspapers a letter by II distinguished
citizen, In which ho says fatty that the
question OF the right Of secession was
not submitted to the nrbltrament OF tho
sword, but offers no argument j, support
Of his anomalous position.
II not for the right Of secession, when
includes all other rights. namely: OF local
self-governmcnt, Of State sovereignty tho
right to manage our internal affairs IN
our own way, Of life, liberty and the nuIr-
suit Of happincss-if not for these, pray
tell me for what we fought? Certainly
hot to perpc to African slavery. we IN
dirnant1y deny, that charge, which has
been 20 often and so persdstently brought
against us BY our friends OH the other
side.
Thnt purpose had no place In our
thoughts Or bearing In the contest, or
Influence on our conduct. Slavery may
in sense be .aid 10 have been tho remote
cause Of the war, innsmuch us IL there
had not been slavery there might not
have been war, which is about Of, n parity
with the reasoning Of the boy who said
that pins had saved tho lives of n great
many people who were wise enough not to
swallow them.
But even this Ia matter OF very grave
doubt. There we're other disturbing ul,os-
tons which had arisen at various times
and which sometimes threatened to be-
come SO serious rs to cause separation
During President Buchnnan's admtnis-
trntion, and only&a few years before the
beginning of tho wnr, a convention was
held IN Massachusetts, which was boldly
and deflnntly called byiits originators
and members the Estate Disunlon Con-
ventlon' and ono of the resolutions
passed by It was thls-namely:a
Resolved. That. the necessity for. DIS
union Is written In the whole existing
character and condition of the two sec
tons OF the country; in their social or
ganiEation education, hnbits and laws;
''Rosolved, A THAT his movement does not
seek merely disunon, but the more per-
feet union OF the FREQ States by tho ex-
pulslon OF the slave States"
About the year 1890 dangerous ana
exciting controversy was occasloned ny
the plan advocated by Mr.. Calhoun, which
no called qualification" BY Individual
States OF obnoxious laws passed by Con-
gress and regarded as unconstitutional
Mr.. Davis never gave his assent to that
plan, but always maintained that 1t was
unwise and impracticable and 1mpolitlo.
so likewise was General Wise''s scheme
to fight within tho Union, which would
be civil war pure and simple
q While n State remains In the Union she
ia bound to obey the laws In force, So
that we come fhce to face Will, the preg
nant and potentous fact that secession
was our only remedy for the Ills under
which we suffered; and that TINS ', vas the !;
most say the only question. submitted
to the Judgment Of the sword. Our dis
tingulshed friend and fellow-oitizen to the
contrary, Notwithstanding, and on that
question we have the satisfaction to know
that our friends on the other side now
admit that the South had tho best OF the
argument. Respectfully
R-stf5I r. M. PARHAM