, 1863-09-02

The following IL copy OF the letter already
alluded to in the telegraphic dispatches as
having been received by the Washington IN
k0igeneer. With little faith In the statements
snd premtees Of the anonymous writer, We
1rlut it as part Of the history Of the times:
NoRToIK, August 2s 1868.
To the Editors Of the National Inte]lfgencer:
Having Just returned from tour through
PORTIONS Of the States of Virginia, North Car
olina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Ken
tucky, and having net In my travels many of
The former prominent politicians OF those
StateE, and, as was most natural under the cir
ru1netances, had frequent conversations with
,he n, On the subject Of the var, its origin, OBJ
jects. bea,iogs on the present and future Of
.nr country, and its probable result, I ftelas-
su1cd to ecme extent that 4 brief synop-
ELS ofthe Impressions nude on my mind will
lot be altogether unacceptable to your
res6ers.
The war, they argue, was Instituted for the
purpose Of securing further guarsntees to
their Own peculiar 0stttutlon--slavcry-
10 rep,ess abolitioniem or Northern aggres-
sio1s On their rights. Its bearing On the fu-
stitrtien has bcen to weaken and endlnger its
entire overthrow. They admit that they hare
been deceived by their political leaders, and
that nearly ali their promises hnye proven
failures. They see, they feel the crushing
admit If 1t indefinitely continue that the In
stitu,ion Of slavery will not only be in dagger
If anpihI1a'1on, but that their former slaves
i'll be draAed into the army Of the United
Stats for the purpose Of continuing the var
on the South
This ore single fact bears moreheavIly upon
them than anything else connected With the
war; and to escape this now apparent l1ev1-
table fate, they express \ Willingness to ac-
cede to any terms, which shall not humi}iate
ind degrade them. They affirm Tin fact they
::spect, they hope, they pray for II that 1t
President to hold out the olive branch; aud
II the President were to issue proclamation
holding their leaders to strict nceountabilf-
ty for the rebellion, and offer the people pro-
lection In person and property, leaving The
Institution ef slavery to the e5nstituf flona1
cept 1t, but will hail The act o. magnani-
mons, noble, great.
THIS 1t viii be perceived that the great
iaasses Of the Southern people are staadisg on
Joint Of honor, which to them Is Of fur
greater import thnn defea: in battle, the loss
VI sttong6olas, Or the reduction Of thefe
armies. All this they can bear, but dishonor
they cannot bear, and they hope, they expect,
they pray that the President viii snare them
this unsI eakable humiliation.
In view Of these simple truths, would ask,
Messrs. Editors, through the medium of your
1hga4uaole 1cnrfal, u the President canuot
afford tc be masnalImous2 Il, after the fall
Of Charleston, be cannot afford to offer some
terms which shall induce the great body Of
the Southern people to return to their allegi-
ance to tho Federal Union and the Govern
ment Of the United States? Hhe be ambi-
rious Of enyiable fanfe, he will do it; If be- de-
tircs to be remembered as the second Wash
to lin. elf the appellation Of 1brahaa, Ne
Crnat. he viii do Ii; If he wishes to lmita'e
the example Of Him who said "go thou and
lin no more" he will do It; and, may add,
If he wiehes to proclaim the popular seutI-
ment Of the American people, and the sentt-
meut Of humanity, civilization and Christian
~ throughout the world, he will do it; which
God grant, for peace's sake.
Yours, very truly,
JOUN ADAMS, JR,