The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-10-05
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA,
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
RICHMOND, Scot. l2.
Hon. Ira K. Foster, Qaartermastor- @ enersl
Of Georgia. Atlanta, Georgia:

Hon. Ira K. Foster, Qaartermastor- @ enersl
Of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia;
DEAR SIR: have to-day received your
letter iof the lst inst, forwarded to me
from Montgomery. Alabama, and hasten to
reply. You say that my name, since the
Alabama election, has been freely used by
many in connection with Reconstruction
meaning thereby that some people In
Georgia suppose am in favor of re union
with the Yankee government Of the North.
am surprised and mortified that anybody
in the South should so interpret the Alabama
election. If those who claim my election
as indicating any such feeling in Alabama
had read my letter Of 2lst March to Genl.
Lawler, and short address TO the people OF
Alabama, dated 9Th June last, they would
never have entertained such false notions.
1t is due to the gallant people Of my state
to call attention to the resolutions Of the
recent called session of the Legislature,
passed unanimously, pledging all the men
and resources of the state to prosecute the
war until the independence OF the Confed-
crate States is fully established. For my.
self, | will not forfeit my selfrespect by ar.
guiDg the question of reconstruction. -
He who is now, deliberately or otherwise,
in favor of reconstruction" with the states
under Lincoln's dominion, is . traitor in his
heart to the state OF his residence
and to the Confederate States, and dessr.
YES traitors doom.
IL had the power, would build w
uaH of fire between Yankeedom and the
Confederate States, there to burn, for ages,
as monument Of the folly, wickedness, and
vandalism OF the Puritan race! No, sir
rather than reunite with such people ]
would see the Confederate States desolated
with fire and sword. When the men Of the
South shall become such base towards as "
wish for such reunion, let US call on the
women Of the South to march to the battle
field, and, in he name Of the God Of jus
tice, bid them fight under the banner Of
southern liberty The call would not be
made in vain. Let the patriot sires, whose
children have barred their breasts to Yankee
bullets and welcomed glorious deaths in
this struggle for selfgovernment, rebuke
the foul spirit which even whispers "recon'
struction." Let the noble mothers, whose
sons have made sacred with their blood so
manv fields consecrated 10 freedom, rebuke
the fell heresy! Let our oloOdstsined ban
ners, now unfurled 10 "the battle and the
breeze" rebuke the cocGTdiee and cupfdiy
which suggest ''reconstructiOn." The spirits
of our patriotic dead-the martyrs to our
sacred cause, rebuke-a thousand times re-
buke. "reconstruction We have little
cause for .despondency-none for despair
Let Us now nerve ourselves afresh for the
contest; and let US not forget that
.Frssdor's battle, once begun,
BeQuszthsd from bleeding sire 20 son,
Thslgh baaisd on, il svsr won 20
If we are true to ourselves true 70 the
memories Of the past; true 10 our homes
and our fresides, and true to our Gcd, We
cannot, We ,riA not be conquered In any
and every event, let US prefer death to
life Of cowardly shame!
Your obedient servant, q.
T. II. WATTS.