The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-10
HOW HISTORY rs MADE.

HOW HISTORY IS MADE.
Plutarch must have had some such
writer as Henry Adams in mind when
ne declared that it is @ very difficult
matter ITO trace and find out the
truth Of anything by history" This
saying of the ancient writer appears
to be pertinent to a recent incident of
which we have been Informed by Mr..
L. Peyton Giles of this town, who was
much distressed and incensed
by statement contained In Adamss
Life Of Randolph" Speaking of Vice
President Aaron Burr, Mr.. Adams
wrote: Among Southern Senator's. his
closest associate was Giles, OF Vir-
ginia, whom no man ever trusted
without regret" Moved by flual affec-
ton, as we'll as by State pride, Mr..
Giles wrote @ letter to Mr.. Adams
asking that lie would do him the court
esy OF citing the authority, or giving
the specific instances, which influenced
the historian to form and express such
an opinion OF the illustrious yirginian.
Senator Giles was a great figure In
his day, in this Commonwealth and in
the Repuhlic. He served as member
Of both branches OF the Virginia Leg
islature; as Governor of the State for
three terms; as member OF the Consti-
tutional Convention Of 1S29-30; as
Representative IN Congress, and as
United States Senator. Thomas JEFF
ferson said of him, "he was the only
man / over knew who could walk into
the Senate OF the United States and
turn them ali around after they had
formed their opinion" and John Ran
been in the various courts of Europe;
have heard the ablest debaters in
the House OF Lords and IN tho Senate
of the United States, but his superior
as debater I have never heard in
either hemisphere"
In his reply to MIR. Giless first let
ter, Nh Adams pleaded that the Ran
dolph Life was written about thirty
years ago. that he had been much alb
sent for tho last twenty years. and
had never given q thought to the sub
tect; that only with difficulty can T
now recall what I thought or why I
thought IT," and that lat the age of
seventy-two ones memory is not so
fresh as at forty" He finally con-
Guided. however. that 1t was in the
History OF the United States. under
The Second Administration of Thomas
Jefferson" and THE First Adyainistra-
ton Of James Madison" that his opinion
OF Mr.. Giles was formed. as gathered
from the expressions of his contem-
porar,es. Not satisfied with Mr.. Adj
nmss explanation. Mr.. Giles again ap-
pealed to him for his auth GRITTY for
the statement that Senator Giles was
a person whom no man ever trusted
without regret" and In reply to this
second letter Mr.. Adams quoted from
a reference In his history to a speech
delivered on December 49, 1911, which a
Mr.. Campbell described as unparalleled
in American History and as displaying
"the malignity OF the human mind
Mr.. Adams further makes plain. In his
ing a time OF foreign war. acting with
the Federalists against the wishes Of
Virginia throughout tho war, and per-
sisting in this action" Senator Giles
a.
in his own party. and not only re-
signed his seat, but was never again
admitted to any share in the National
councils" AS q matter of fact, Mr.
Giles resigned his seat IN the Senate
because, worn out after moro than
twenty-five years OF hard public serv-
ice. the condition OF his health and
his personal affairs demanded retire,
nent. That his resignation was not ir
any sense brought about by the speech
he delivered IN the Senate, and which
Mr.. Adams attempts to use to his dis.
credit, appears to be clearly proved by
| the official records. This speech was
IN advocacy Of a bill prepared by Mr.
! Giles and presented by him as Chair
man OF the Senate Committee on For.
eign Relations, and it was passed b,
the Senate by a vote OF q to l2 ant
by the House OF Representatives by {
vote Of % TO "a. That his res!gnatlo.
had no connection whatever with Thu
speech Is proved by tho fact that hi
resignation did not occur until fou
years after tho speech was dellvere,
and two years before Mr., CHESS tern
OF office expired.
], But what ia tho user This is tn
!, way most OF the history OF tho soutl
i and It's men and their purposes ha
, been written 1t Is not surprising Il
i us that, writing frem the New Englan
partisan point OF view. Mr. Adam
should have made up his Judgment O
this great Vtrg,nian from the view
!, cntert.s1ee 80 Fan by Ms Naxy ~ !,