Abbeville Institute

Scholars' Conference

"The present generation suffers every hardship and cost of war, although anticipation pretends that it is covered by future generations. And this delusion is used to involve nations in wars, which they would never commence, if they knew that all the expense would fall upon themselves. It is twice suffered; by the living, who supply all the expenses of war; by the unborn, who supply an equivalent sum, to take up certificates of the expenses paid by the living."

John Taylor of Caroline, An Inquiry into the Principles and Policy of the Government of the United States

Library of Southern Literature

Recent Scholarship of
Interest

NINTH ANNUAL ABBEVILLE SCHOLARS" CONFERENCE

"THE SOUTH AND AMERICA'S WARS"

The Cape Fear Club
Wilmington, North Carolina
February 24-27, 2011

TOPIC: Southerners are rightly known as a people who value the military arts; have excelled in them; and have been inordinately represented in America's military history. What is not so apparent is the strong, if not predominant, tradition of Southern opposition to foreign war. This view of the military is defensive, embodying the virtue of loyalty and the duty to respond to offenses against honor. Southern leaders have perhaps been less motivated than other Americans by the ideological rationales given for U.S. wars ("freeing the slaves," "making the world safe for democracy," etc.). Many respectable and eloquent Southern voices have been raised against most U.S. wars, and on grounds different from those of the "anti-war" left.

“American Colonial Resistance to British Imperial Wars,” Carey Roberts.

“John Randolph versus the War Hawks,” John Devanny.

“Nathaniel Macon’s Resistance to the War of 1812,” Troy Kickler

“John C. Calhoun: Anti-Imperialist,” Clyde Wilson.

“Virginia’s Reluctant Secessionists, Dutiful Sons, Fierce Warriors,” Jonathan White.

“Southern Critics of American Wars and American Empire: 1865-1912,” Joseph Stromberg.

“The South and America’s Wars for Righteousness,” Richard Gamble.

“Gnostics of War: Richard Weaver’s Traditionalist Conservative Critique of Modern Warfare,” Jay Langdale.

“Perpetual War for Perpetual Union: Kendall and Bradford on Lincoln’s Imperial Rhetoric,” Daniel McCarthy.

“Other Southern Resistance to Foreign Wars,” Roundtable Discussion.

“Why Southerners Fight and Why Southerners Don’t Fight,” Roundtable Discussion.

Cost, Accommodation, Tours: Lectures in The Cape Fear Club, a private club, tracing its origins to1852, and having no fear of cigars. Rooms in the Wilmingtonian hotel, a short walk away. If booked before December 24, rates are $79 (Thursday) and $115 per night (Friday and Saturday), for a double or single. Ask for the special rate at (910) 343 1800. Other hotels within easy walking distance are the Coastline Inn 910-763-2800; the Hilton Riverside 910-763-5900; and the Clarendon Inn 910-343-1990. Conference fee of $125 includes two suppers, one dinner, and tour. Partial scholarships available for students. Make and mail checks to Abbeville Institute, P.O.Box 10, McClellanville, S.C. 29458.

Wilmington was the last port of the Confederacy. Walking tours of Confederate Wilmington are offered. A short drive away is Fort Fischer under whose protective guns the blockade was run Queries:contactus@abbevilleinstitute.org, or (843) 323-0690.

The Cape Fear Club:

The Cape Fear Club organized in 1866 from the membership of the “Hollowleg Club,” a men’s club originally founded in 1852 which had suspended activity in 1861. The Club reincarnated on March 3, 1866 “with a view to promote social intercourse among its members” with at least five of the seven Governing board members having military titles from the late War. The Club roster of 1868 would indicate that at least half of its members served in the armed forces of the American Confederacy, and included Brigadier-General’s William MacRae and Raleigh E. Colston, and Colonels Robert Strange, Duncan MacRae, John J. Hedrick, Alfred Moore Waddell, W.B. Flanner, Robert H. Cowan, Edward D. Hall, and John Lucas Cantwell, the latter a member of the “Immortal 600” Confederate officers held captive at Morris Island in 1864. Colonel Francis W. Kerchner, originally of Baltimore and in command of the company that effected John Brown’s capture at Harper’s Ferry in 1859, was also a founding member of the Club.

The current Cape Fear Club building is the fourth location of the organization and first built solely for the Club. It was occupied in mid-November 1913, and shortly thereafter adorned with priceless paintings donated by members Harry Walters and J. Pembroke Jones. The latter served as Flag Lieutenant under Captain Tattnall on the CSS Virginia, and later commanded the ironclad sloop CSS Raleigh defending the Cape Fear River.

The donated works on display in the Club include those of Salvatore Rosa (1615-1673) and the School of Rosa, Petro Liberi (1605-1687) and Giovanni Battisamoran (1520-1578). Other works held by the Club include Leonidas at the Pass of Thermopylae; and hand-tinted lithographs “Washington and His Generals, “Lady Washington’s Reception,” and “Not Caught Yet.”

The Club has entertained hundreds of distinguished visitors including a President and Vice President of the United States, numerous Governors and members of Congress. President William Howard Taft was entertained at the Club’s previous location at Front and Chestnut Streets, during his Wilmington visit on November 9, 1909.

(The Cape Fear Club, 1866-1966, Wilmington Printing company, 1966)