Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-09-05
The spirit of the sou.Is.

Erom the National IiicNigcaccr, ding. 90.
The very interesting letter inserted below,
is from gentleman OF intelligence and
honor, personally well known to us, aud
whose statements of fact are entitled to full
credit. lie is, moreover, Il Thorough loyalist,
and has been uniform and decided friend
of the Administration. The result of his
observation in recent and extended tour
in the South, he has thought of sufficient
interest to be communicated to the public
here, and we are sure that all of our readers
will agree with him.
NORFOLK, Aug, &c. 1868.
To tie Editors ofthc NarionH IcseoIigeacer
Having just returned from tour through
portions of the States of Virginia. North
Carolina. Alabama. Tennessee, aud Kentucky
and having met in my travels many of the
former prominent politicians ofthose States,
and as was most natural undCr the cir
cunstanccS, had frequent conversations with
them on the subject of the Warts origin
| objects, bearing on the present and future
| OF our country, and its probable RESULT
feel assured to some extent that brief
synopsis of the impressions made on my
mind will not ne altogether unacceptable
! to your readers The War, they argue, was
Instituted for the purpose oi securing further
guarantees to their own peculiar institution
Slavcry-anG To rcpress Abolitionism. or
Northern aggrcssions on their rights. Its
bearing on the institution has been to weaken
and endanger its entire overthrow. They
admit they have been deceived 10y their
political leaders, and that nearly all their
promises have proven failures. They see
they feel, the crushing effects of the War
upon the Slave States, and admit, if it
indefinitely continue, that the institution of
Slavery will not only he in danger of annihi-
lation, but that their former slaves will be
drafted into the army of the United States
for the purpose of continuing the war on
the South. This one siugle .tdct bears mare
heartily upon them than dhythiBg else connected
"dh tie War and, to escape this now
apparently inevitable fate, they express
Willingness to accede tn any terms which
shall not humiliate and degrade them They
aillrm I'm TACT. they expect, they hope, they
pray Tor III that it is not for them to beg
for peace, but for the President to hold out
the olive-brGnch and ii the President were
to issue proclamation holding their leaders
to strict accountability for the Rebellion,
and offer the people protection in life and
property, leaving the institution of Slavery
to the constitutional immunity of State laws
they will not only accept it, but will hail
the act as magnanimous, noble great. Thus
1t will he perceived that the gleat masses of
the Southern people are standing on point
OF honor. which to them is of far greater
import than defeat in battle, the loss of
strongholds, or the reduction of their armies.
All this they can bear, but dishonor, they
cannot bear; and they hope, they expect,
thev pray, that the President will spare
them this unspeakable humiliation In
view Of these simple truths, | would ask,
Messrs Editors, through the medium of
your invaluable journal, if the President
cannot afford To he magnauimous IT, after
the fall Of Charleston, he cannot afford 10
oiier some terms which shall induce the
great body of the Southern people 10 return
to their allegiance Ia the Federal Union and
the Government of the United Statesi Ii
he Is ambitious of enyiable fame, he will
do 1t II he desires TO be remembered as the
second Washington, he will do IL; If he
wishes Ia secure TO himself the appellation
OF Abraham the Great, lac will do il; ifhe
wishes 10 initiate the example of Him who
said, "Go thou and sin no more,n he will
do Il and, may add, IL he wishes 10
proclaim the popular sentiment ofthe Amer.
lean people, and the sentiment Of humanity
civilization and Christianity throughout HE
world, he will do IL; which God grant. for
peaces sake, Yours, very truly,
JOHN ADAMS, Jn