The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-04
Among the Books
and Magazines
New nook on NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
nIIsIn from ISTG 10 1901"

a New HOOK On MISUNDERSTANDING
nlIsin from 1S76 to 1901"
BY Professor Charles II. Amber.
Randolph Macon College University
Of Chicago Press. Chicago, 1910.
This Is the most valuable book on
Virginia whioh has appeared since
Philip Bruce published his Economic
History" in 1895. There is more Of
the real history Of Virginia In this
volume than can be found in any other
history of the State with which the
reviewer is acquainted, and Virginians,
or others who want to know the
meaning Of past politics" in the old
Dominion cannot fail to read and pom
der IT. There are only $50 pages.
including an exceedingly valuable
photography and dozen maps which
OF themselves are revelation to many
OF US, who have not seen beneath the
surface of things. in the South. The
book lis an honor both to the author
and the college which retains him as
professor of history Such students
OF Southern and American history and
colleges which seek such men are the
best assets of our section of.the coun-
try.
The history OF Virginia is the his
tory OF long controversy between
conservatism and radicalism, between
inc gentlemen OF the eastern counties
VINO owned negroes, and the farmers
OF the hill and mountain region who
owned no negroes but who usually
outnumbered their eastern rivals. The
gentlemen who owned slaves desired
always to control the State govern
ment-Governor. Legislature. courts
ana they felt that loss of this SUI
pfeme position In the community would
moan the overthrow of slavery, which
was probably correct view of the
situation. So strong was this senti-
ment that in 1850. when the up-coun-
Try Democracy gained control of the
governorship and the Legislature, Lit
tieton w. Tazewell, an able and be-
loved leader Of the East, declared
publicly that the time had come for
his section of the State TO secede and
1orm a government in which property
NEGRO slaves would he protected
And there were many. vesy many.
who agreed to this proposition.
on the other hand. the farmers of
the NH country. from the time of
Bacons Rebellion, always felt that
their interests were sacrificed to those
OF their slave holding neighbors. and
that dissolution of the State gov
eminent would be better for them. and
many times did they. threaten to take
steps TO this end. Thus the Legts-
lature of Virginia was the scene OF
almost perpetual confict--a conflict in
every way similar TO that which was
constantly maintained between North
ana South on the floors of Congress.
Professor Amber has made this con-
met In Virginia the theme of his
DOCK. and HIS purpose has therefore
been TO trace the various aspects OF
the struggle without bias or favor 10
either party To this end he has
t examined a vast mass OF material,
Hitherto htt!e known to scholars. For
example. the Legislative reports ~
Committees on Roads and Internal I'm
provements on the James River and
hanawha Canal. pamphlets on slavery
ana education. court trials and other
similar documents Manuscript sources
ana contemporary newspaper files IN
the Library OF Congress- the virginia
state Library and the Wisconsin His
torical Society have been drawn upon
IN way not frequent In the history
OF Disappointing in Virginia The
handling OF this material shows
judicial temper, sound scholarship and
real insight into historical problems
The topics which occupy the p.in-
cipai space of the book are the Reyo-
luton. the Constitution of l776, Fed
erailsts and Republicans the RISE of
the National Republican Party. the
constitutional Conventions OF 1928 and
me Makeup of Parties Just Before
the civil War. In the treatment of
the Convention of 1875. Mr. Ambler's
purpose is TO show Just who was re-
kponsible. that is. what party, for the
great document which promised to all
Virginians political freedom, religious
liberation and human equality-ona
OF the landmarks OF history. Tho
struggle therefore between Patrick
Henry and his bitter opponent. Ed
mund' Pendleton. is made r3al. Pen
dleton did not like the leveling ideas
OF the up-country Nirginians. whose
mouthpiece Henry unquestiona bly, was
and most East Nirginians looked with
much suspicion upon the leaders from
the west who talked about obeying
instructions from their constituents
declaring for independence. But per-
haps Henry's innate conservatism his
Presbyterian leanings. made him hest
tate to go the full length OF the
radical course at that time. He ia
vored independence, but was not so
ready TO grant universal suffrage, he
could unite willingly with conserva-
tive-radicals like George Mason as
against the real radicalsm of Thomas
y Jefferson. then rising star in the no.
litical ARMAMENT Certain it is that
Henry did not join the Jefferson men
in favor OF the Constitution which
the author of the Declaration of In
(, dependence sent down to Williamsburg
I for adoption, but which was thrown
into the convention waste basket with
out serious consideration, And 1t may.
be doubted Though Professor Amber
does not raise the question whether
the conventional view that jefferson
retired now from national politics
willingly is correct He was cha grined