The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-27

states..iB matter OF like knowledge.
That. for many years year., following the
intention found no advocates, but that
the CONTRARY view prevailed, BOTH
North and South, y aqualy demon
statfd By ss9r s mr. o me os hs 3 aier
speeches, he said: ~ do not hesitate
to FAY and repeal. that II the Northern
states refuse wilf',lly and dellberntely
Constitution whidll respects the resto-
ration OF fugft.Nc slaves, the South
would lie no LONGER bound TO keep the
compact. ~ bargain broken on one
101 OF pr. 'Bledsoe's worls), appears not
to have had clearly defined in his mind
the idea. for which he had IN former
years 80 strenuously tontenden, tnat
compact had surrendered absolutely
and irrevocably the sovereign powers
delegated to the Federal government
ommencement Of iiostiiities. no settled
conviction on tllis subject, even in the
North. contrary to ,the historic view
OF It. which prevailed almost linani-
9usy In the sHnah aamina f eH Work
lstonewnll jackson. Vol. l., page ll')tI
'Air. Lincoln's predecessor, in the
claimed that coercion was both illegal
and inexpedient; dnd for the three
months which interviewed between the
secession Of SOUTH n G R,ica ana pr 1ne
idont the government made not the
slightest attempt to interfere with the
peaceable establishment of the new
inforced the garrisons OF the military
posts in the South. Not single rcgi-
ment was recalled from the Western
frontiers. and the seceded states Win,
to take possession, with few exceptions,
OF the forts. arsenals. navy yards ana
custom -houses which stood II their
oYn territory X seemed ua aa, tne ,,,-
til an amicable arrangement iniEht be
arrived at as to the terms of separa-.
ton. ,.r.s ~. ,.as i, ,,,,,c,
she had assented to the Constitution,
further justification were needed for
the belief OF Virginia in the right or
secession. it was sassurediy 10 pc toul ~
20 grave question even In the Repup-
l5lican party. and In the duiescent atti-
| tude or the Federal government"
arbltrament Of war to decide. what
the trainers of the Federal Constitution
| had builded stronger than they knew;
! or at least. than they had ayowed; and
| that they had indeed contributed to
nosterity new principle OF political
science to-wit. that sovereignty, may
| be divided and that soyer o1tn,, s. a,d
! irrcyocably certain of It's sovereign
rights. even. as an individual may yield
| and surrender absolutely and IRE
cably certain of his natural rights, IN
order TO form civil government
MeanW lille. until this nom ntous de-
cision was SO made. II wiys put tol-
loving the dictate, OF the nlshess pa pa
| Bledsoe clearly demonstrates, for all
who fought and suffered in the great
war of coercion to hazard their all. as
an uns fish devotion that i'm itself is
a priceless heritage to posterity.,
As 20 admirably SAID by that inim it:a,
The North. In resolving to maintain
the Union by fc>ce. of arms, was up
held by the beliet that she was acting
I The South. in ass rting her independ-
ence and resisting coercion, found
tmora support In the same convictions
and the patriotism OF those who fought
more ardent than the patriotism OF
those who fought for States rights
Long ago. Parliament OF that nation
to which jackson and 50 many Of his
petition to the Pore that he should
require the English King to respect
the independence of Scotland. and mint
rs E ssst AFFAIRS 80 Long as dGG OF u
will never in any degree be Subjected
to the English. 1t is not for glory
or for riches or for honor that w,
4 fight. but for liberty alone. which M
good man loses but with his life Nor,
than 500 years later. for the same
4 noble cause and In the same uncom
i prisirg spirit. the people OF Virginia
made appeal to the God Of Battles"
4 The whole Sof this admirable sum.
4 mary. by an impartial historian. Is APP.
plicable to the South as whole. ant
forecasts II 1t does not indeed It's i
1 pronounce. the final Judgment of his
tory. FREDERICK WILMER SIMS.
{ Louise. Va.