The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-10

craft and drove his foe to cover. The
lronclad of to-day is the conception OF
gifted Virglnian and we can in fancy
picture to ourselves the Virginia, the
proper name Of tie so-called Merrinlac,
oAultNngly pursuing the once mighty
Monitor. lngloriously retreatinE to pro.
lection. / submit we can but feel,
enthusiasm in this reunion. and we
may conceive that from the throne
among the stars. around which our
re.ncarnated heroes cluster In celes-
tial security, there come hosannas IN
gratitude for this dedication OF our
selves at their shrine In honor of tbeir
mnrtyrdom. Comrades of Pickett
Buchanan Camp, ! again avow to you
our happiness in your reception. and
IN the opportunity that the hospitality
of the good people of this city has
afforded us to render homage to our
dead, who fell on unsurrendered shield
and slept amid the cheers of victory.
all unconscious of the agony and woe
awaiting their survivors. But we must
not forget that we assemble not only
to worship at the affairs OF our cher
ished fallen. but to affirm our profound
devotion to the principles OF our cause,
not only to hallow their sacrifice, hut
to assert our undying fealty to the
y
he that time will continue the efface-
ment of animosities and in common
veal harmonic sentiment; but In self
respect we must not falter In the VIM
dioation OF the righteousness OF our
resistance to aggression and invasion
to the violation of our constitutional
guarantees ard the maintenance OF
such abuse by the power of the sword.
No Academic Discussion.
sY - VIII Inf
an academic discussion. but 1t may not
ue Improbable to consider conditions
as they existed prior to the iniquity
of the declaration of war against the
South. Differences as to the extent OF
tile rights of the States in their SOW
ereignty prevailed throughout the
country from its foundation. No small
per cent. of the people of the North
believed that 1t was a prerogative OF
the States to decide whether they
would continue members Of the Union.
Many. of one OF the parties of the
South, antagcniZed the right OF the
St,tes to dissolve tier connection with
the Union. Differences of opinion on
this question existed In all parts OF
both sections. No party was unani-
nous upon the issue The government
Of the United States taught secession
at West Point. One of the textbooks
at that institution was the work OF
William Rawles, distinguished lawyer
and jurist Of Pennsylvania. The lam
guage of this author Is as follows:
- 1t depends upon the State itself to
retain or abolish the principle of rep
RESERVATION, because ii depends upon
tSelf whether it will continue a men,
Der of the Union. To deny this right
would be Inconsistent with the prin-
ciples upon which all political systems
are founded. which is that the people
have in all cases right to determine
how they will be governed
| such was the instruction given the
cadets ut West Point, ard the govern
mont of the United States thus COM
| mitted itself and proclaimed the right
of the state to withdraw from the
| Union. Some of the original thirteen.
| Virginia among them. In their adop-
! tion of the Constitution distinctly de-
clare. their right to revoke their rati-
fcation at will. 1t must be patent to
every fair mind that the pred m.ret'ns
authority of the country was pro.
dependence of the States, except to
the Xtent that they had conferred
| specific powers upon the Federal gov
eminent The North was divided, and
many were ardent in their recognition
| of the sovereignty of the States, and
| repealed any suggestion of any right
| IN the Federal government to coerce.
| IN some prominent instances their con-
viction was so earnest they avowcd
| their sympathy with the South and
their purpose to ally themselves with
| the South in her defense. 1t has been
! alleEel upon authority emitted to con-
| liberation, that the greatest soldier of
| the North commenced the formation OF
| a company ard drilled It preparatory
/ to joining the South, but abandoned his
movement as. when II became known.
| he was allured by the tender Of n
! commission in the United States vol,ln-
| teers 1t Is likewise charged that a
distinguished citizen OF Illinois entered
4 into combination to raise regiment.
of which he should be colonel, to Join
the South. and he too. was captured