Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-28
uNFRIENDLY SPIRIT.

UNFRIEEDLY SPIRIT.
have read in Southern papers bitter
| complaints about the unfriendly spirit ex-
hibited by the Northern people, complaints
not unusually favored with an admixture
of vigorous vituperation. But as far as
my experience goes, the "unfriendly spirit
exhibited in the North, is all mildness and
affection compared with the popular tenn
per which in the South vents itself in q
variety of ways and on all possible oeca-
sions. No Observing Northern man can
come into contact withthe different classes
composing Southern society without motto
ing it. He may be received in social
circles with great poiiteness - even
with apparent cordially; but soon
he will become, aware that although
he may be esteemed as a man, heis detest-
ed as a yankee )" and ms the CONVERSE
ton becomes a little more confidential
and throws off ordinary restraint, he is mo-
~unfreuuently told Sc. The word Yam
| kee" still signifies to them those traits Of
| character which the Southern press has
been so long in the habit of attributing to
| the Northern people; and when they look
around them upon the traces of the war,
thew see in them not the consequences OF
| their own folly, but the evidences OF
yankee wickedness." In making this
general statement, 1 beg to be understood
as always excluding individual exceptions
The situation OF the Unionists is de-
scribed as distressing, and the opinion is
expressed that they would be compelled to
fly if the troops were Withdrawn. The
spirit in which the recent Southern cleo
tions were conducted is oitedin illustration
of the general feeling of hostility 10 the
original Union men. Numerous facts are
given to establish this point. We quote
1t struck me soon after my arrival in
the South that the known Unionists ]
mean those who during the wal had been
to a certain extent identified with the ma.
tional cause, were not in communion with
the leading social and political circles, ano
the further my observations extended the
clearer it became to me that their exist
ence in the South was Of a rather preeari.
GUS nature. I
Already in Charleston my attention wa
called TO The current talk among the PEG
ME that when they had the control o
things once more in their own hands, anC
were no longer restrained by the presene'
of Yankee" soldiers, men Of Oh
Mackav's stamp would not be per
mitted to live there.S~At first I did no
attach much importaneeto such reports
But as I proceeded through the eeuntry,l !
heard the same thing so frequently re
heated. at SO many different places, AM
bv so many different persons, that l coul'
no leneer look upon the a~pprehensions ex
messed to me BY Unionists as entrel.
~rroundless. 1 found the same opinion en-
tettained by most of u military CON
manders. Even Gov. Sharkey, in tn
course of a conversation 1 had with himil
the presence of Major Gen. Osterhaus, ad
mitted that if our troops were then with
drawn, the lives of Northern men IN Mis-
sisgippi would net be safe. To show tina
such anticipations were not e~xtravagani
I would refer to the letter addressed t
me by Gen. Osterhaus. (Acc, Doc. Nc
10Y He states that he was compelled I
withdraw the garrison from Attaia eoun
tv. Miss the regiment to which that gar
rison belonged being mustered out an
that when the troops had been take
away. four murders occurred, two {
white Union men, and two of negroes
, He informed me subsequently, that tn
perpetrators were in custody. He goes o