Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/506

 500 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Lee. I would scorn my own nature if I did not love Davis. I would question my own integrity and patriotism if 1 did not honor and ad- mire both. There are some who affect to praise Lee and condemn Davis, But, of all such, Lee himself would be ashamed. No two leaders ever leaned, each on the other, in such beautiful trust and absolute confidence. Hand in hand and heart to heart, they moved in the front of the dire struggle of their people for independence — a noble pair of brothers. And if fidelity to right, endurance to trials, and sacrifice of self for others, can win title to a place with the good in the great hereafter, then Davis and Lee will meet where wars are not waged, and slanderers are not heard ; and as heart in heart, and wing to wing they fly through the courts of heaven, admiring angels will say, What a noble pair of brothers !

The saddest chapter in Confederate history which the future histo- rian will be called to write, will be that one in which he shall under- take to define the real cause of our failure. For the truth must be told.

Five millions of people, in such a country as we possess, were not conquered because our resources were inferior, or our enemies were so powerful. All physical disadvantages are insufficient to account for our failure. The truth is, we failed because too many of our own people were not determined to win. Malcontents at home and in high places, took more men from Lee's army than did Grant's guns. The same agencies created dissensions among our people, and we failed to win independence because our sacrifices ceased, our purpose faltered, and our strength was divided. Kind judge, let this sad chapter be short !

But above all things we have least to dread in history on the merits of the issues which divided the contending parties. The Southern States and people must stand before the bar of history responsible for secession. The Northern States and people must stand before the same bar responsible for coercion and reconstruction. Weighed upon !)rinciple, by authority, and by effects and consequences, which of the two positions is the more inimical to the Union, to constitu- tional government and to liberty ?

When the States formed the Union, several of them, especially New York and Virginia, expressly reserved the right to withdraw as a condition of ratification. This reservation, by a well-established rule of construction, enured to all the parties to the Union. But no State recognized coercion to preserve the Union as a right or power, in the Feder.il Government, either express or resulting. So, in the