The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 12, July 1908 - April, 1909 Page: 316
332 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
ing on the desperate struggle against the superior strength of the
North, and particularly those due to the attitude of his powerful
opposers in the South. These difficulties are forcibly described in
the four chapters beginning with the "Rising Tide of Confederate
Opposition," which are doubtless the most illuminating of the en-
tire book.
Mr. Dodd evidently intends that what he says shall not be in-
fluenced by any prejudice due to his Southern antecedents. Indeed,
he rather impairs the effect of his narrative by leaving the impres-
sion of a severe determination to avoid any such tendency by a safe
margin; and even the judicial reader will probably be led to ques-
tion whether, in his resolute impartiality, he does not sometimes,
like the famous tree described by the Indian, stand so straight as to
lean a little the other way. This, however, is better than partisan
heat and unfounded assertion. Again, while it may be inadvisable
to burden a popular biography with numerous fo-otnotes, the student
will wish for completer references at some points than are given.
For example, the story that when Davis was taken he was dressed in
his wife's clothing in order to avoid capture is related (p. 363) with
a few words of explanation, but without any reference to show the
evidence on which the author relies, or whether he has read all the
varying testimony on the point of those who were present at the
time. If he will examine Mr. Rhodes' cool and judicial analysis of
it (History of the United States from 1850 to 1877, pp. 182-183),
he will doubtless be led to revise his conclusions. In at least one
case, he has apparently left himself open to misunderstanding.
The reader must interpret what is said of R. J. Walker (pp. 55-56)
as meaning that he was one of those who believed that slavery was
"a necessity, . . . right and a blessing"; but this can hardly be
what Mr. Dodd really meant, for he must know Walker's record too
well to attribute any such opinions to him.
No life could be more fitly included in the "American Crisis
Biographies" than that of Davis; and it is a matter of congratula-
tion that one so capable and well equipped as Mr. Dodd has been
found to prepare it. G. P. G.316
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 12, July 1908 - April, 1909, periodical, 1909; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101048/m1/354/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.