Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-10-05
to fasten its hateful tyranny upon the I'M
terminate freeman of these States.

1OfGuH8C0 Ire0m0u Oi IuoDo 0soS0o'
You say we falsified the vote Of Lou
isiana. The truth is, Louisiana not only
separated herself from your Government
by nearly unanimous vote of her people,
but has indicated the act upon every
battle field from Gettysburg to the Sabine,
and has exhibited an heroic devotion to
her decision which challenges the admira-
ton and respect Of every man capable Of
feeling sympathy for the oppressed or ad-
nliration for heroic valor. You say we
turned loose pirates to plumber your IN
armed ships. The truth is, when you rob
bed US of our part of the navy, we built
and bought few vessels, hoisted the flag
of our country, and swept the seas in spite
Of your navy around the whole circumfer-
ence of the globe. You say we have ex-
PEELED Union families by thousands. The
truth is, not single family has been ex-
PEELED from the Confederate States, that l
am aware OF, but on the contrary the
moderation of our Government towards
traitors has been fruitful theme of denun-
citation by its enemies and many well
meaning friends Of our cause. You say
my Government by acts of Congress has
contiscated call debts due northern men
for goods sold and delivered" The truth
is, our Congress gave due and ample time
to your merchants and traders to depart
from our shores with their ships, goods and
effects, and only sequestrated the property
of our enemies in retaliation for their acts
declaring rs traitors ard econfscating our
property wherever their power extended,
either in their country or our own. Such
are your accusations, and such are the
facts known OF all men to be true.
You order into exile the whole popula-
ton OF city, drive men, women and chill
dren from their homes at the point of the
bayoDet, under the plea that it is to the
interest of your government, and on the
claim that this is an act of "kindness to
these families of Atlanta" butler only
banished from New Orleans, the registered
enemies of his government, and acknowl-
edged that he did as punishment. You
issue sweeping edict covering all the in
habitants OF city and add insult to the in
jury heaped upon the defenceless by as
suming that you have done them kind
hess. This You follow by the assertion
that you will SNAKE as much sacrifice for
the peace and honor OF the South as the
best born Southerner." And because I
characterize what you call kindness as be-
ing cruelty, you presume to sit in Judgment
between mo and my God, and you decide
that my earnest prayer to the Almighty
Father to save our women and children
from what you call kindness, is sacrileg;-
GUS, hypocritical appeal.
lou come into our country with your
army avowedly for the purpose of subju-
eating free white men, women and chill
dren and not only intend to rule over
them but you make negroes your allies and
desire to place over us an inferior race,
which we have raised from barbarism to
its present position, which is tho highest
ever attained by that race in any country
in all time. Unjust therefore decline to &C.
cept your statements in reference to your
kindness towards the people of Atlanta, and
your willingness to sacrifice everything fer
the peace and honor of the South, and re-
fuse to be governed by your decision in re-
gard to matters between mLself and my
country, and my God.
You say "let US fight it ont like men,
To this my reply is, Tor myself, and, be-
lieve, for all true men, aye, and women
and children, in my country, we will fight
yon to the death. Better die thousand
deaths than submit to live under you or
your government, and your negro allies.
Having answered the points forced upon
me by Your letter Of the 9th September, !
close this correspondence with you, and
Notwithstanding Your comments upon my
appeal to God in the cause Of humanity,
again humbly and reverently invoke his
Almighty aid in defence of justice and
right.
Respectfully
Your obedient servant,
TSipnedl ]. r. HOOD General.