The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-10-06
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND Ike
CONSTRUCTION.

Some nersons in Alabama having coupled the
name of Mr.. Watts, the Governor elect, with the
;nf.mv and stupidity of Reconstruction" that
resnected gentleman has thus defined his position
"a measure which appears superfuous to those
who know Mr. Watts:
Confederate States of America,
Department of Justice,
Richmond, Sept. IL, 1863. )
Hon. ira r. Foster, @. N. Gen. Of Georgia:
DEAR SIR: have to-day received your letter
of the LIST instant, forwarded to me from Mont
gomery, Ala, and hasten to reply. GU say that
nv name, since the Alabama election, has been
freely used by many in connection with "recon-
struction," meaning thereby that some people 10
Georgia suppose that am in favor of reunion
with the Yankee Government of the North.
am surprised and mortified that any body in the
South should so interpret the Alabama election.
IF those who claim my election indicating any
such feeling in Alabama had read my letter OF
2lst of March to Gen. Lawler, and my short
address to the people of Alabama, dated 9Th June
last, they would never have entertained any such
false notion.
It 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
Confederate States is fully established
For myself, l will not forfeit my selfrespect by
arpuing the question of Reconstruction"
He who is now, deliberately or otherwise, in
favor of Reconstruction" with the States under
Lncolns dominion, is traitor in his heart to the
State of his residence and to the Confederate
States, and deserves traitors doom. IF had the
power, would build up aoaN Of fire between
Yankeedom and the Confederate States, there to
burn, for ages, as monument of the folly, wicked
o~l olio ne fha TOM No
sir, rather than reunite with such a people, |
would see the Confederate States desolated with
fire and sword.
When the men of the South shall become such
base towards as to wish for such reunion, let us
call on the women of the South to march to the
battlefield and in the name of the God of justice
bid them fight under the banner of Southern
liberty! The call would not be made in vain.
Let the patriotic sires, whose children have barred
their breasts to the Yankee bullets, and welcomed
glorious death in this struggle for selfgovernment,
rebuke the foul spirit which even whispers ''re-
coEstructionw Let the noble mothers, whose
sons have made sacred with their blood so many
fields consecrated to Freedom, rebuke the fell
heresy Let our blood-stained banners, now un-
furled "to the battle and the breeze" rebuke
the co1ardice and cupidity which suggests "re-
construction" The spirits of heroic dead -
the martyrs to our sacred cause-rebuke, thou
sand times rebuke, demonstration"
We have little cause for dependency, none for
despair Let US nerve ourselves afresh for the
contest; and let us not forget that
"Freedom's battle, once begun,
Bedueathed from bleeding sire to son,
Though baffled oft, is wonP
If we are true to ourselves: true to the memo
ries of the past; true to our homes and fresides:
and true to our God, cannot, we will not be
conquered! In any and every event, let us prefer
death to life of cowardy shame!
Your obi serv't, T. II. WATTS