The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-17

clear. vigorous argument to show con-
cIusiyeIy that the States of the South
we're only exercising a Constitutional
right when they vainly attempted to
withdraw from the compact into
which they had voluntarily entered.
IF his work do not exhibit the OPP
erations of a truly great intellect at
home with his most interesting ana
imnortant theme, then L am content
to be censured as extravagant or writ
fen down a thick-skulled n1ncompoop.
WHY this remarkable book mas not
attracted far greater attention IMAM
+ it has and been almost universally
read through the South, is to be ac-
counted for. from the fact that the
gauge of battle has practically settled
the right of secession hencetorth, ana
orr people not being much or q read
ing people, being greatly exercised as
to their affairs, have had too much 70
| engage them in the great battle OF
bread and the right to live, and nave
so sought to recuperate, TO renapllltdtc
to Save free institutions ana huillah
liberty, rather than TO study founda-
ton principles, and to concern lhe en-
selves in the books that vindlcate 1ul-
ly the South, that they have overlook
ed important works. President
Davis's very important contribution
Vice President A. II. StcphenS'S work,
DR.. J. l.. M. Curry's most timely work
and others that could be named are
all valuable and able, and help 10
make the Vindication strong ana IN
vincible. DIR. BledSoe'S book fully VIM
dicates the good names of our South-
ern patriots and heroes. When The
wild passions are gone, and rampant
intolerance in the North is dead, ms
book will be read and studied, and ii
will eternize the devotion to liberty
and independence and the great prln-
ciples of the forefathers on the part
Of the true and faithful people in our
| dear old Southland Then in that
| time of national calm and national
Justice, when the truth is sought and
accepted, Lee and Davis and their
glorious compatriots SO far from be
ng associated with traitors, will Be
held up as the great defenders of q
precious right which belonged to them
and their self-sacrificing people in
al the States, and which was guar
lnteed by the very conditions and ma
lure of the sacred compact into
which their ancestors entered-a COM
lact that was threatened to be broken
before through thirty years of tur-
moil by recalcitrant and selfish New
England. | commend Bledsoes very
remarkable and able contribution to
our political history to the attention
of any truth-seeker, every fair mind
ed. intelligent reader. | commend II
particularly to every white man i'll the
South who is under forty-five years OF
age. | do this because | believe IL
the great force and truthfulness CT
the book-'Is Jeff Davis a Traitor?
and | would see the people informed
the truth defended, the cause of the
South maintained as just and right
and Constitutional. Not over year
after the little book was published
DIR. Bledsoe received assurances from
some of an adverse school in Phila-
delphia. that his work appeared con-
elusive TO them, and clearly establish
ed the right in defense of which il
was written. When the chief leaders
and enemies of the South soon after
the war. were anxious to make eX-
amples of President Davis, the peerless
General Lee they waited on Charles
O'Connor of New York, then the
greatest lawyer in that great section
to have him prosecute them for trea-
son. He told them that if the GOV
eminent attempted that 1t would have
no case in court" That was enough
There the attempt stopped.
The late Judge Edwin G.. Reade was
a man of marked ability. He prac-
ticed at the Granville bar, when il
was indeed the great bar, and he die
SO for probably twenty-five years.
knew him personally from about my
twenty-first year. After the war and