Chapter XL: Part I: The Virginia Renaissance

I. The Old Dominion: The mother of the agrarian West.
Transition from middle-class to plantation ideals.
Increasingly libertarian 5

II. The Heritage of Jeffersonianism

I. Jeffersonianism an expression of native conditions.
Interpreted in terms of Physiocratic agrarianism,
natural rights. Terminable nature of compact the
source of states-rights doctrine. Struggle between
capitalistic and agrarian economics. Virginia the
leader of the latter movement 10

II. John Taylor--Agrarian Economist: Leader of the
young Republicans. His works. Theory founded
in Physiocratic doctrine. Aristocratic origins of the
political state. Examination of the principles of John
Adams, Hamilton--social classes derive from exploitation.
Danger of a paper aristocracy. His philosophy
summarized 14

III. John Marshall--Last of the Virginia Federalists:
His strategic position. Middle-class sympathies;
intellectual qualities. A politician on the bench.
Two fixed ideas: sovereignty of the federal state;
sanctity of private property. His decisions Federalistic.
Two main groups: sovereignty of the judiciary;
irrevocable nature of contract. The Yazoo Fraud
case. An arch conservative 20

IV. The Older Plantation Mind

I. Plantation backgrounds: The literary renaissance
followed English romantic movement. Kennedy’s
_Swallow Barn_ and the rise of the plantation tradition 28

II. William Wirt: The man--embodiment of eighteenth-century
culture. _The British Spy_--characteristics.
_Life of Patrick Henry_--solution of the problem.
Later shift in political sympathies 30

III. Nathaniel Beverley Tucker--A Virginia Fire-eater.
His parochialism; his pessimism. _The Partisan
Leader_--a dramatization of Calhoun’s philosophy;
the note of romantic extravagance. Hatred of democracy--appeal
to South Carolina 35

V. Adventures in Romance

I. William Alexander Caruthers and the transition to
romance. _The Kentuckian in New York_, a contribution
to intersectional good will. An appreciation of
northern qualities; a criticism of slavery. _The Cavaliers
of Virginia_, the new spirit of romance. His slight
reputation 41

II. John Pendleton Kennedy--A southern Whig: The
man--Jeffersonian backgrounds; influence of Edward
Gray. Turned protectionist, accepted the doctrine
of progress. A romantic; an amateur. _Swallow
Barn_--an idyl of plantation life--slavery. _Horse-Shoe
Robinson; Rob of the Bowl_--cavalier romance. _Quodlibet_--a
Whig satire of Jacksonianism. His later
career 46

III. Edgar Allan Poe: Relations to southern environment--his
prejudices against New England. Aloofness from
Virginia ideals. A problem for abnormal psychology
and belletristic criticism. An artist and a critic 57