The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-31

the South gave token of its content
ond happiness, where the vivacious
Louisianian kept court and sang. and
the brave Texan revelled and dared in
his liberty State. So indeed it
was in all the thirteen Sovereign In
dependencies of the Southland. 1t was
a beautiful life. 1t was a life OF great
contentment. 1t was full Of happiness.
In 1t there was an exquisite simplicity,
Of very real refinement, which i'm
pulsed and strengthened its own civil
isation and culture; and which may
do so still in this huff of nations
destiny. happy people dwelt here,
content The drive along the country
side. through fields of the golden grain
staccatoed with the green OF the to-
bacco. or white in the harvest time of
the great staple, down the crystal
mscadam OF the avenue. and around
the circle. led you to the cOlumned or
rose-trellised porch, and the welcome
of the lady and the gentleman. par eX-
cellence the lady and the gentleman
OF scholarship. dignity, and comeliness
of character: and of their fair daugh-
ters the idyll is not yet written. Men.
walked with innocence when they
walked with thsm. and true genti'ity
could have had no happier inspiration.
They were as the touch of high
civilization. Aye these We're the ladies.
and about them were the men who
were to make in the opportunities of
Patriotism. and where the battle join
| ed. the fame of a chivalry and the re-
| cord of a courage which the world
shall not forget. This was life in the
South in 1861. These We're the people
of whom we came. and theirs We're the
sons and daughters of whom we keep
memory. God forbid we ever fail to
keep this memory.
Tocxin of War.
Then sounded the tocsin of war 1t
| had been preceded by struggle in
politics, OF long duration, and latterly
under peculiarly battling conditions;
debate hard and bitter, persuasive and
conciliatory, division of parties, and
| tho rise of fanatics over against the
conservative element of the nation; an
election had followed, In which the
violent and the apprehensve were
aroused. and at It's conclusion con-
fused with It's possible consequences
| Men knew it was time of crisis. but
| few could have realized what this crisis
| meant; and 1 believe those men of the
| South who struggled to continue the
economics and institutions. and the
construction of the nations great in
| struments as they had been and We're.
| and when they found that impossible
determined to conserve their own. to-
| gether with that large conservative
| element in the North who Were in
| agreement best foresaw the danger
| OF the future, and We're morally. con-
stitutionally. and historically right.
4 Both fundamental and acquired
| rights, as SO conceived, were involved
! in the cause of the great battle. In
the Declaration of Independence the
American people had made known their
affirmation of the lnalienabio right of
a people to determine. reconstruct or
revoutionize their form of govern
nent. In rigid construction of this
principle they justified thenr separation
could any section or sections of this
land find authority or warrant for the
coercion OF another section save where
in jointly formulated constitution
they had so agreed. The United States
was a confederated body of sovereign
States. and any hint to the contrary
in the time Of the formation of the
United States would have rendered
that confederation absolutely impossi-
BILE. AS 1t was no little difficulty was
encountered in the genesis Of the Union
because of the reluctance OF many
colonies to relinquiSh any right OF
n rights.
Day Was Arriving.
The freedom of the slaves was nc
New England or Kansas organization
nor due to any such sections peculiar
: morality. New England got rid of her
slaves by sale. And as she unmolested
had exercised her discretion in this
matter. SO the South proposed to eXer-
) else hers. But that was not to be al.
lowed
In the very beginning of this gov
eminent. Virginia had advocated the
abolition of the slave trade, but was
successfully resisted by New England
Before tho sound of war had beer
heard on the border of the South many
! slaves had been manumtted, and slow,
| Is, but surely the emancipation of al
slaves was to come into consideration
and for determination under Southern
legislation. 1t was only question OF
Il time and as we now look back unt
comprehend the development of the
4 vast Western grain-tields, we know
i that time would have been of shor
Il duration. But 1t was a question fol
Southern legislation.
Slavery had been q potent factor ii
the carly development of this country
but like all factors in the rationale o
history, when 1t ceased to be profitable
II | 1t would be abolished. That day was
arriving.
The sovereignty Of the State as do
fined in the formative period of thu
Il Union, and as construed In the South
was likewise to have. in the nature o
things, radical amendment. 1t hat
teen, and was in 1861. an ideal sys
tenn Of government incident upon tn,
simple conceptions and purpose of tn,
II nation In its early history. In tt
essential principles then affirmed w,
must still hold 1t tho American ideal
But with the steady increase OF pros
pcrty, and the acquisition of wealth
H ability, and power, the United States
II Nrf oh =