ANNEX: Origins of Attempted Secession

ORIGINS OF ATTEMPTED SECESSION

Walt Whitman

“Not the whole matter, but some side facts worth conning to-day and any day.

I CONSIDER the war of attempted secession, 1860–65, not as a struggle of two distinct and separate peoples, but a conflict (often happening, and very fierce) between the passions and paradoxes of one and the same identity—perhaps the only terms on which that identity could really become fused, homogeneous and lasting. The origin and conditions out of which it arose, are full of lessons, full of warnings yet to the Republic—and always will be. The underlying and principal of those origins are yet singularly ignored. The Northern States were really just as responsible for that war, (in its precedents, foundations, instigations,) as the South. Let me try to give my view. From the age of 21 to 40, (1840–’60,) I was interested in the political movements of the land, not so much as a participant, but as an observer, and a regular voter at the elections. I think I was conversant with the springs of action, and their workings, not only in New York city and Brooklyn, but understood them in the whole country, as I had made leisurely tours through all the middle States, and partially through the western and southern, and down to New Orleans, in which city I resided for some time. (I was there at the close of the Mexican war—saw and talk’d with General Taylor, and the other generals and officers, who were fêted and detain’d several days on their return victorious from that expedition.)

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REVISIONS, PERCEPTION, MOVEMENT, CHANGE

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There has been much controversy (see Roy Harvey Pearce, “Whitman Justified: The Poet in 1860″, in Modern Critical Views, 1985) about the changes made by Whitman in Leaves of Grass during his life. His revisions, which are similar to the method of recomposition in performance by Greek bards, as noted by Nagy in his Pindar’s Homer, could be seen as a new edition of a book in modern times (what is done on paper today represents a new performance for a bard in ancient times). The revisions then can be taken into account for just what they are, attempts to find a better way to convey a message. This is a common practice for any writer. Every time we re-read what we write, we tend to seek a better word, better sound, better rhythm, the same way a translator does, always trying to reach perfection of expression. In the case of Whitman, we must have in mind that he never yielded to his critics, and never changed anything due to public opinion or just to have his book published. It took decades until a publishing house took over his works to make an official edition.

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