The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
The Civilian Leaders Of the Confederacy
By John Goode of Virginia:
Sometime Member Of the Confederate Congress- Of the Virginia
Secession Convention Of the Congress Of the United States and
President of the Virginia Constitutional Convention Of 9Ol-2
BY John Goode, of Virginia.

peal tho late amendments to the Con-
stitution, to revive African slavery, or
secession as State right or remedy;
or to Organize any party. or cultivate
an opinion, which, directly or Indirect
~, shall inculcate dsloyalty to the
Union, or affect the allegiance Of citt-
zens TO the Federal government. Let
1t be stated once for all. that this ar
gument as to the right OF the South
to be protected in property in slaves
and in the exclusive right of a State
to be the final judge of the powers of
tho general government and to apply
suitable remedies. Is based on tho Con-
stitution and the rights of the states
as they existed In 1860"
In his second article. entitled Equal
ity and Sovereignty of the State" he
| says among other things: 'In forming
the Constitution of the United States,
from whose ratification our more per-
| feet union resulted. did the States
surrender their equality and sover-
eighty and transfer to certain gov
eminent the powers and rights which
in all previous history had been 50
carefully maintained? This is the cru
cial question determining the right OF
the Southern States in 1860 ana 1861
1 TO secede from the Union and to estab-
| lish for their own defense and welfare
new Federal union. Obviously this
! question should BIO approached and
| considered and decided. not by prcju-
dice. or passion or sectionalism, or in
! terest, or expediency, or wishes OF
men; but by the Constitution. In It's
/ proper meaning as to rights and pow
| ers delegated and rights and powers
reserved. Whether secession was wise
or unwise. cxpedient or inexpedient.
approved or disapproved by majority
of the States, or OF the Inhabitants
has no relevancy, nothing whatever to
do with this discussion. The naked
matter is ono OF right. Was there a
supremacy In Congress, or in any other
department OF the government of the
Union, or did the states assert and re-
world?"
States and the Union.
In his third article. entitled "Rela
tion of tho States to the Union Under
the Constitution" le says:
II I'VE arc now prepared to consider
the action OF tho South which rested
upon the relation which the States anc
the Federal government bore to eaci
other. What the South maintained was
that the Union, or general government
emanated from tho people OF inc sev,
cral states, acting in their separat,
and sovereign capacity, as distinct pc
lltical communities; that the Constitu
ton being a compact to which eacl
I State was party for the purpose Q
good government and the protectlon
] life, liberty and property, the severa
, states had the right to Judge OF TN
r infractlons Of the Constitution, OF
I, the failure Of the common sovenn'hen
to subserve its covenanted ends, an
TO interpose BY secession Or 9 pasiavaS
Q for protecting the great res ,la -
!, mass of undeegated powers. ana 10
1 maintaining within their respeetiv
j limits the authorities, rights mnd l. ne,
!. ties appertaining to them. inc q thl |,
: Virginia resolution of 17s9. draw" M, . :,
!. Madison, puts this very clearly. ,Iha
: ren,ptorily declare that Y views =,
d powers Of tho Federal EovernlAe IN =
ssuns from the camp g limited ne wA'S
the plain sense and intention OF do tne ~ y
e strument constituting that oo M -,
. as no further valid than they ar VIZ ~ !
II thorized by the grants enumet ,s a.
o tho compact; and that in case 2. x =,
J. llberate.. palpablo and dangerous s"s'