The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-30
SUNDAY. OCTOBER 50. 1904.
The Confederate Cause.

Il. = = +. d .
We print elsewhere a communicate ton
from j. w. Jackson, OF Stage Junction,
va. III which ile takes Issue with tho
Times. Dispatch In saying that II IS
Uncomfortable to us that any man VINO
wore the gray for four WARS and took
part in the struggle for States rights
should, at this late day. openly confess
that the war in which ne fought was
us eless and wicked war. wrong in prin-
ciple, and based upon the bondage OF
tho human race Our correspondent
says in reply that there were many good
men On the Confederate army who did not
believe in the principle OF secession. 81
course we do not deny that statement
nor have we any quarrel with men, who,
In spite Of their opposition to secession,
took up arms In defence of tho Confed-
crate States. They were. conscen Ious
men, good and true. and while we
believe that the States had the consi t.
tu,.ulal right to secede, we respect the
convictions of honest and asallant Con
federate soldiers who held different
view. and ne have no word OF censure for
them.
But TO oeny the right OF secession and
to deaounce the war in which Confed-
rates engaged as "a useless and wick
Ell war. wong in principle. and based
up0n the bondage Of the human race,
ere two very different propositions.
The War was not primarily a war OF
secession, and II is infamous to say that
ii was fought 10 pcrpetuateR negro slaN-
CIV 1t was never the design or the
desire OF the Confederate states TO make
war Gpon. the Union. II those States
hId been permitted to go out Of the
Unon IN peace. there had been no war,
certainly not a. that time, and for that
cau.e Confederatcs fought IN resistance
Sof Invasion, and there was nothing else
for them to do. The North was the
agsiessor; the South was put on the
defensive, and when the invasion began
the question OF secession, upon which
Southern men had differed, gave way to
the more serious and imperative ques-
ton OF resisting the Invading armies of
The North Upon that question there
+
AMI anti-secessionists. They came to-
sether in a common cause and fought
for home and freside and all things
that honest end chivalrous men hold
most dear.
Our correspondent says that General
Lee himself s-as Opposed TO secession.
but will he say. or will any man dare
say that General Lee engaged in war
which he believed to be wicked and
useless wrong in principle, and based
upon the bondage of the human race"
Tho bare suggestion Of such thing
would be an insult to the noble SOLDIER
whom the whole world holds in rever-
enoe. Tho mere fact that General Lee,
IN spite Of his opinion on the academic
question of secession, resigned his com-
mission In the United States army and
drew his sword in defence OF the Con-
fedcracy and became leader OF the Con-
Tolerate troops and fought unti! further
lighting was useless, Is a sufficient proof
That the war OF resistance which the
Confederates waged was In his view al
together right and righteous No man
Of Robert y. Lees character could have
fought rs he fought in a wicked and USE
less war. We might quote by the column
expressions from him. showing his cstl-
mate Of the Confederate cause, but II Is
enough for our purpose to append these
immortal words which he spoke only Two
days before the surrender; "We had. /
was satisfied, sacred principles TO main
tain ana rights 10 defend for which we
were IN duty bound TO do our best, even
# we per!shed in the endeayor"
That is enough to show what Robert
=, Lee thought OF The Confederate caus4s
and the war which The Confederate
states waged asaiAst their Northern
foes