From Union to Empire: Essays in the Jeffersonian Tradition [Hardcover]

Clyde N. Wilson (Author), Joseph R. Stromberg (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0962384216 | ISBN-13: 978-0962384219 | Publication Date: July 10, 2003 | Edition: 1st

Jeffersonian Democrats, also konw as Southern conservatives, were once a numerous and common American type. They are seldom heard from any more, but for over 30 years Clyde N. Wilson has been examining American history and current events from just such a viewpoint. Wilson, as historian and columnist Joseph Stromberg writes in the foreward, is "the kind of conservative who is a stalwart defender of federalism and republicanism, and the liberties associated with them. Such conservatives are few and far between these days.... "He is ... one a of a vanishing group of professional historians who do not regard Southern life and history as on dark, Gothic misfortune after another.... "What comes of this is the creative deployment of a Southern persective on American history---one that yields interesting and important insights.... "It is hard to do justice to Wilson's work.... Suffice it to say that there is good, powerful writing here, where an understanding of the value of genuine aristocratic leadership is mixed with the practical wisdom of the plain folk of the South. I have long been waiting for a collection of Wilson's essays and, having seen it, I can say it is well worth careful adn repeated reading."

Editorial Reviews

Review

...Otto Scott, The Compass; and more. Endorsed by Southern Partisan magazine and the Conservative Book Club. -- FAE con't. #2

...Otto Scott, The Compass; and more. Endorsed by Southern Partisan magazine and the Conservative Book Club. --FAE con't. #2

...Robert Cheeks, Human Events; Jack Kershaw, The Southern Patriot; Kevin R. Dietrich, The State; E. Ray Moore, The Columbia World... -- FAE, con't.

...Robert Cheeks, Human Events; Jack Kershaw, The Southern Patriot; Kevin R. Dietrich, The State; E. Ray Moore, The Columbia World... --FAE, con't.

Published reviews: Chilton Williamson, Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture; Thomas E. Woods, Jr., The American Conservative... -- The Foundation for American Education

Published reviews: Chilton Williamson, Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture; Thomas E. Woods, Jr., The American Conservative... --The Foundation for American Education

...Robert Cheeks, Human Events; Jack Kershaw, The Southern Patriot; Kevin R. Dietrich, The State; E. Ray Moore, The Columbia World... --FAE, con't.

...Otto Scott, The Compass; and more. Endorsed by Southern Partisan magazine and the Conservative Book Club. --FAE con't. #2

About the Author

From Union to Empire: Essays in the Jeffersonian Tradition by Clyde N. Wilson is a selection from his over 300 articles and essays written between 1969 and 2001. A second collection of writings on the South, past, present, and future, is in preparation, tentatively titled "Defending Dixie: Essays in Southern History and Culture." Clyde N. Wilson is a native Tar Heel and a long-time Professor of History at the University of South Carolina. He recently completed the editing and publication of the 28-volume edition of The Papers of John C. Calhoun. Prof. Wilson is the author or editor of over 30 books, including Carolina Cavalier, Why the South Will Survive, and The Essential Calhoun. He has received the Bostick Prize for contributions to South Carolina literature and has been director of publications and programs for the League of the South Institute for the Study of Southern Culture and History.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 356 pages
• Publisher: The Foundation for American Education; 1st edition (July 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962384216
• ISBN-13: 978-0962384219
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #586,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Encapsulates the rich republican legacy of the Jeffersonians, September 18, 2005

By 

R. Setliff - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Union to Empire: Essays in the Jeffersonian Tradition (Hardcover)

~From Union to Empire: Essays in the Jeffersonian Tradition~ is an anthology of essays and writings by historian Clyde Wilson. As Joseph Stromberg writes in the introduction, "Dr. Clyde Wilson is a Christian, a Southerner, an American, an historian and a conservative. For over three decades he has worked on the definitive edition of the Papers of John C. Calhoun, has written on Calhoun and published a collection of Calhoun's most important writings." Wilson is a luminary figure amongst southern conservatives in my humble opinion, and yet modest about his own accomplishments. He has also written a splendid biographical history of General James Johnston Pettigrew and assembled an anthology of essays in tribute to the late Mel Bradford. As Stromberg opines, "His writings-published in Modern Age, Chronicles, Telos, and many other forums-shows Professor Wilson off as the kind of conservative who is a stalwart defender of federalism and republicanism, and the liberties associated with them. Such conservatives are few and far between these days."

For most of American history, the old Jeffersonian Democrats, sometimes referred to as Southern conservatives, were the most plentiful and common American type and now they are largely forgotten. The prescriptive wisdom of the old Jeffersonian Republicans lives on and is brilliantly encapsulated in the writings of Clyde Wilson. From his easy-to-read historical exposition of southern conservative statesmen to his stalwart defense of states' rights, Wilson offers a refreshing bit of conservative sobriety with this enlightening collection of essays accumulated over the years. Wilson defends Jefferson and spells out just why so many people from the Right and the Left hate Jefferson, and are committed to tarnishing and maligning his historical legacy. My favorite essays are those recollecting the legacy and contributions of the Old Republicans - James Monroe, George Mason, John Taylor of Caroline, John Randolph of Roanoke, and Nathaniel Macon. The Old Republicans were in fact more Jeffersonian than Jefferson himself as Wilson expounds upon the Tertium Quids with amazing clarity. Like Mel Bradford, Wilson is appreciative of the rich republican legacy and the Constitution, but keen to admit the prescriptive wisdom of the Anti-Federalists in light of history. The Constitution in our time has been thoroughly subverted and rendered a dead letter by "construction."

Wilson is no mere nostalgic revisionist and his realism compels him to admit that lately us Jeffersonian Republicans have been on the losing side of American history. A free republic requires a self-reliant, resourceful, resiliant and productive populace not apt to look to the state for its sustenance and financial provision. In our time, dependency on the paternalistic state is at an all-time high and it is apparently what many people want. Nonetheless, Wilson gives southern conservatives a reason to hold their head up high as he and other torchbearers continue to kindle the flame to pass on to a new generation of conservatives. The Roman statesmen Cicero avowed, "Long before our time the customs of our ancestors molded admirable men, in turn these men upheld the ways and institutions of their forebears. Our age, however, inherited the Republic as if it were some beautiful painting of bygone ages, its colors already fading through great antiquity; and not only has our time neglected to freshen the colors of the picture, but we have failed to preserve its forms and outlines." It is through the Jeffersonian tradition and the legacy of southern conservatives that we may find the brilliant colors and hues to refresh the colors of our the picture and by prudent understanding of history we can restore those forms and outlines of our fragile republic. Perhaps with perseverance, we can one day effectuate Jefferson's vision of an empire of liberty and restoration of the republic. Wilson is a bold visionary and though realistic about political realities now, he is not possessed of a spirit of resignation and defeatism. This distinguished southern gentleman has left a legacy of scholarship that will be disseminated for years to come. With his Calhoun scholarship, he bequeaths to posterity some potent tools for republican restoration.

In summation, Wilson's accumulated scholarship invigorates the Jeffersonian tradition, and gives us southern conservatives a reason to be emboldened about our political prospects despite the formidable odds. At the very least we have a venerable republican tradition and able torchbearers like Dr. Clyde Wilson to bequeath the flame of liberty to future generations, which should give us hope of future restoration of the republic. As a southern conservative, I have been honored to make Dr. Wilson's acquaintance and hear his lectures.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes abrasive, always insightful, February 14, 2007

By 

T. Anderson (Annapolis) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Union to Empire: Essays in the Jeffersonian Tradition (Hardcover)

One could readily effuse a string of encomia to describe the erudition and insightfullness of the author, but what makes the book come alive is that Dr. Wilson is never too shy to express his opinion. Hamilton is an 'evil genius,' JFK an 'incompetent,' Wilson an 'hypocrite,' and Teddy Roosevelt a 'boob.' Maybe such epithetical remarks are harsh - I do not believe so - but they always seem to be correct and are often amusing. I cannot say that I agreed with all of the author's opinions but I always had the impression that his opinions were well reasoned.

The book, being a collection of essays spanning decades, covers a number of topics and persons acting and is an excellent overview of Southern Conservative though regardless of the reader's own political bent. Perhaps the best praise is that I have learned much in an area where I would consider myself well-read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, January 21, 2012

By 

Paul H. Yarbrough (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Union to Empire: Essays in the Jeffersonian Tradition (Hardcover)

This is an excellent collection of essays written over several years. It belongs in the library of any capable historian. Conservatives will learn much and will never tire of reading and rereading the numerous entries. Neoconservatives will choke as they mask themselves as Conservatives; though they, more than Conservatives, NEED this body of work. I have this book as well as (and recommend, as well) Dr. Wilson's complement, DEFENDING DIXIE.