The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-31
NOTHING TO RETRAcT.

la# NOTHING TO RETRACT.
! Z Several days ago we received COM
Anuncation from Mr.. G. A. Heermans,
shlember of the House of Delegates from
Ehristiansburg, in which he took The
Times Dispatch, DR.. ]. William Jones and
Others to task for saying that they We're
mot glad that the Confederate cause
failed AT our request pr. Jones has writ
tel the reply.
The communication of Mr. Heermans
md the reply OF Mr.. Jones follow:
editor OF The Times Dispatch:
lSSir-1 write as Confederate soldier,
one who served from April 10, 1851 to the
9th of April, 1865, and one who has no
apologies to make, having acted from
patriotic sense of duty, with the lights
then before mo. I yield to no man
greater admiration for Lee, Jackson, Stu
art and the grand host that followed
them when we fought for what we be-
aieycd to be right
But desire to enter my solemn pro,
test against tho doctrine Of ]. William
Jones. George L Christian and n few
Others that we were right and that 1t
would have been better had the Confed-
piracy succeeded and the Union divided,
TIC me the sentiment is horrible and bodies
no good to the nation and to our people
Is certain two nations would have been
The result, and probably twenty. Inc
miserable spectacle of the South and
Central American States, with their peri
pdical revolutions and wars, would have
been re.enucted IN North America. We
would BE the prey of Europe and even
Asia. South America to-day would be
Chopped into princpalitics for efIetc roy
atty, as was attempted In Mexico by
N,nXmillian but for the firm establish
nent of the American nation and our
ability to enforce the Monroe doctrine.
When Ex-Governor Cameron. General
Eppa Hunton and General Fitz. Lee
aided by the press, can publicly coun-
tenance such sentiments, 1t is time some
of the old soldiers protest, and to ask
why this agitation? Was secession
wrong? was n question. The sections dif~
fered on that subject ! do not question
the honesty or patriotism of either side
The question was submitted to the high
est earthly tribunal, one from which
there IS no appeal-the arbitrament OF
war. 1t was fought to finish, and
fought as men never fought before. and
fought us men only fight who fight be-
3ieving they are right, Secession lost. and
the Union lived. We accepted the result
ps final and so declared and returned
20 our fathers house. Now, forty years
Nfter, gentlemen would resnrrect tho
Head. Again ] ask for what good?
DO these people want to fight the war
pver again?, Nay, verify! They would re-
pudiate that. for tint would DO treason.
WHY preach discomfort when there is no
discomfort?
Is there any other nation on this earth
that would permit It's citizens to rally
around camp fires of q lost cause and al
lnw.its leaders to instil in tho body poll
tictdoctrnes considered reasonable? Sup
pose the Spaniards In Cuba and the OIL
GERS unl men who fought In the royal
service We're to organize and with their
old Spanish battle tiags parade the street,
and at bnnauets their orators rchcnrse
their supposed wrongs, and instill into
the hearts OF the people the great wrong
to them OF the United States siding with
rebellion and driving them from n power
held for four hundred years? Sir. the
thunders of Dewey's guns would rattle
across that island amid the plaudits OF
every American,
OF the Fcderals In the war and to Weep
over the imaginary horrors of recon
struction. yet the world never witnessed
such spectacle az the historical fact
that In 1878. about seven years after the
close of the war the United States House
of Representa- ives, the purse string Of
the nation, was In the hands of Confed-
crate brigadiers. with the Nice-Preslden'
of the Confederacy, Alexander II. Ste.
phens. floor leader, II the doctrines
taught by these people continue, where
the reconciliation so much preached and
PRAYED for by all liberty-loving Ameri
cans? Tell me that. Mr.. Editor
| buried the stars and bars In the toni
OF the Confederacy and watcrcd Its grave
with my Tears. ] have turned from ,
dead past to a living future and nm keep
ing stop to the music Of the Union; ant
moi only ], but thousands of as true Con
federates as ever drew blade or levelet
musket for what we deemed a just cause
Yours for the Star Spangled Banner
G. A. HEERMANS,
Chrstansburg, Va. May %, 1908.
Judge George j.. Christian. eX-GoVerno
Cameron. General lGppa Iunton, Genera
F!ts Les, the Iscss of the State, and -.
few others" against whom this "pro
test is made, are amply able to take car
VI Themselves, especially as the over
whclming sentiment of our Confederate
veterans is With them
Bnt we must express our surprise tina
and any old Confederate soldier should Mt
ter the sentiments expressed by Mr.
Heermuns THE right Of secession" wa
ness. submitted to tho arh!lramcnt o
war" The North as well as tho Soutl
believed In It.. From the adoption OF he
hill Of rights down 10 the breaking on
OF the war between the States, Massachu
Betts. so far as her legislation IL con
cerned. has an unhroken record In ytavo
Of socesslon and even qualification
Horace Greeley. the New York Herald
the CINCINNATI Commercial and othe
n leading Republicans mt the North adyc
Gated the rights Of secession. even aftc
most OF the Southern States had secedet
and some of the Oldest men at the Mort
to-day do not hesitate to say that III
Southern States. under the Constitution
had n perfect right 10 secedc But I'll
right Of secession'' was not affected /
~. war, or Ats result Brute force Gu