Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1865-11-17
General Reagan o the Texans.

General J. H. Reagan, late Postmaster
General of the "Southern Confederacy,"
who has just been liberated from Fort
Warren, along with Alexander H. Steph-
ems, of Georgia, wrote a long letter just
before his release, to his people Of Texas,
on the subject of their situation and their
duties under the circumstances. 1t is an
admirable letter, if genuine-that is, if
It candidly and honestly means all it says,
and one of the best documents OF the kind
that has emanated from any rebel official
since the fall of Richmond. If the people
of Texas and of the South generally would
take the advice which it contains and
would act on it in good faith, they would
soon find plenty of friends at the North,
among the party in power" who could
and would greatly aid them in the matter
OF reconstruction "-eyen among the
radicals" and would gladly welcome
them back to the old Union. There would
be but little objection to the "pardoning"
Of rebels-any of them-if they would
only act in good faith in accordance with
the tenor and spirit Of this letter. The
LOYAL people of the North entertain no
hostile feelings toward the people Of the
South. and have no desire that they should
be punished but are afraid to trust them,
to the extent OF restoring them at once to
place and power in the Government. But
let the people of the South but give un-
mistakable evidence of submission and
loyalty to the Government and Of a readl-
ness TO do right-and all this even will
..-:h tDbo xaJ;oo1o IN onnh raea Ny0Iln
vote for their pardon.
But here is the main portion Of General
Reagan's letter. We hope now, since he
and Stephens are both at liberty, that they
will both devote themselves to the incul-
cation and carrying out of the views and
recommendations contained in 1t, until
they get the people Of both their States to
heartily and honestly adopt them. Re-
construction will then be easy, and we
may then soon look for peace and good
will to reign throughout the land.
The State occupies the condition OF
q conquered nation. State government
and State sovereignty are in allegiance
and must be so until you adopt a govern
ment and policy acceptable to the con-
ouerers. A refusal to accede to these
conditions would only result in a pro-
longa,ion of the time during which you
will be deprived of q civil government OF
your own choice, and continue subject to
military rule. And it would do more
than these; it would keep questions OF
the gravest character open for discussion
and agitation, and by degrees accustom
the whole country TO a sort OF military
government, and result in the establish
ment of a military despotism. without
bringing you any nearer to the attainment
of your wishes than you are at present.
In order to secure to yourselves again the
blessings of local self-government, and to
avoid military rule and the dangar OF
falling into military despotism, you must
agree:
First. To recognize the supreme au-
,hority Of the Government of the United
States within the sphere of its power, and
the right to protect itself against disinte-
grafton by the secession Of the States.
And, second. You must recognize the
abolition of slavery. and the nigh. Of those
who have been slaves to the privileges and
protection of the law Of the land.