The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1906-03-03
SLAVERY NOT CAUSE
PRIZE ESSAY ON CAUSES OF
THE CIVIL WAR
Written by Miss Mary Burrows
Borum and Read at the
High School.

1t was prophesied in burning words
by the great Patrick Henry and 9TH
ers of the great patriots of his time.
And the causes had not, as it is the
idea of many people of our age, their
origin in the matter of slavery, but
began just after the Revolutionary
War of 1916.
The close of this war left the thir-
teen colonies, which had waged the
war with England, sovereign and in
dependent States. These had, for
the purpose of carrying on the war.
more successfully united to form a
confederation. The articles of this
united body were still binding upon
them Under these articles a Fed
Grad Government had been formed
which possessed limited number
of specific powers, such as the pow
ers of conducting the foreign affairs
of the confederacy, of regulating
commerce, etc When this form Of
government was made it was intend
ed to be perpetual, and was so de-
clared; but in truth it only lasteo
about six years. And how did it
cease to exist? By the secession of
States. An attempt was made in
1876 to call convention at Annap-
oils, Maryland. but the smaller States
were very shy about committing
themselves to any scheme proposed
by any of the larger States, and only
FIVE States responded to the call.
OF course nothing could be done.
The very absence of the representa-
tives, however, revealed some of the
difficulties of the situation.
The next year another course was
adopted. Instead of one particular
State calling the convention, the call
was issued by Congress, and with
much better success, in that twelve
of the colonies appointed delegates
Rhode Island alone standing aloof.
The convention met at Philadel-
phia, with power to discuss all such
alterations and provisions as might
be necessary to make the Federal
Constitution fit the needs of the IN
ion. 1t was then that the States Sc
coded from the constitutional Fed
eral Government, and adopted the
present Constitution Of the United
States. The new convention Of the
States met with power only to mod
lily the old constitution. Instead OF
which, It abolished the old govern
ment completely and recommended
new one, with a protest from no
one. As each State formally and de
liberately adopted a new form Of
government, it as formally and de
liberately seeded from the old one
and there was no talk OF breach OF
faith. still less Of treason.
This new government was. to 60
into operation when nine had signed
it. 1t was long time, however, be
fore all of the States signed. but
finally. two years after. Rhode Is
land, the last, seeded from the so
called perpetual government and en-
. tered the new.
Under the American Constitution
two people, as much unlike as could
possibly be found together on on
continent. were bound together. Thi
may be done in a monarchial gov
eminent, but seems almost impossi
bic in a republic Massachusetts
and Virginia are the two grea
sources from which the great ma
jority of the American people hav
come. There were those who want
ed to find new field Of adventur
Tor themselves, and wealth and 50
cial position for their children; thes
(the cavaliers) were representative
OF Virginia; while the settlers o
! Massachusetts were of the same ma
terial as that which composed tn
I Praise-God- Barebones parliament {
Cromwell's days. OF course the pee
pie were not, to say the least, 0
good terms with each other
Natural affinities attracted like III
to like; the cavalier to the cavaliet
, the Puritan TO the Puritan Wine
the fortunes Of Charles failed, Il
i cavaliers took refuge in Virginis
) when the fortunes Of Cromwell fai
ed. the Puritans fled to Massaehr
E sets.
In commerce those two entirel
different peoples we're OCCASIONAL
drawn into contact with each otht
but were repealed at every stel
Step by step. these two nation
7 were developed The climate ma
> also an almost incredible differenC
= The one being cold and conduct
to manufacturing, while the oth'
y was warmer and conducive to ag
culture. Here was the basis of a
! other important trouble-the tart
: The south had the means of raisi
= cotton. but none for the making
ID it into the much needed cloth
the thousands of slaves. This
: North did possess, though not at