La sentinelle de Thibodaux. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 1861-1866, 1865-09-02

ludFO ouOVu Gu6uQSOlF6S CIOCa tudt AACu
who remained at home during the war,
doing all they could to grow rich upon tbs
necessities of the people, should alone be
advanced to ofieei and this because such
a hypocritical policy will be acceptable to
those who have the rule over us, and Sc
cure for Us favors which we cannot expect
if we honestly vote for those we love best
and most respect.
We believe no such thing. We do not
believe that those in authority desire US
thus to degrade ourselves. We do not
believe they are so shallow as to become
dnpes of such a miserable pretense. They
know as we'll as we do that our modest
spirits, our truest and best men, are those
who conscientlously believed in the right
eousness of our cause, and who. believing
this, were ready and willing to assert
their creed on the bloody field of battle.
These noble soldiers have gone out from
us, and, like brave men, have fought the
Federal armies with a courage and persis-
tency that stamped them as the noblest of
their race, Many of them have fallen, and
sleep peacefully in unknown graves.
Others have come home manned and Grip
pied for life. All of them are poor. They
had no opportunity to grow rich by extor-
ton and other evil practices, and were
forced to spend the little Heretofore saved
in providing food and raiment for those
dependent upon them.
Yet they acknowledge, just as heartily,
just as truthfully as the ~veriest extortioner
or meanest skulker from CONSUMPTION
can do, that the war is at an end ; that the
Confederate cause has persisted, and that
we are now citizens of the United States,
and, as such. are bound to yield to that
great Government an honest, sincere, and
faithful allegiance. They have tried war,
and know what it is. They nave seen our
failure, and know how complete, how ut
ter is that failure. They have, there
fore, yielded up their arms to the %victors,
and have sworn allegiance to the %victori-
Gus Government. This oath they mean to
keep like honorable men, and we dare say
they will prove as loyal to that obligation
any of those who now are SO blatant
about the necessity of starting a /" Union |
party" composed only Of those who
never had a sympathy in common with |
our people, or who. if they had it, refused
to give it u%tterance. because it was profit
to keep silent.
In this condition Of things, our people
have been summoned to the polls to select
men to fill county and corporation offices.
the performance of this duty they have
acted honestly, and have given, in many
cases, preference for the soldier over the
civilian. This is considered a great offence.
Some cry out that s. it smells of treason =
Our people are declared hypocrites-false
to the oath of allegiance, so recently
taken-rebels against the Federal Gov
ernment. @
Again, we say that this cry is a fneaa
md malicious falsehood. Again, we de-
that these soldiers are noble. truthful
who will show themselves loyal
the Government. and against whom the
can bring no accusation. Let not
he authorities at Washington be deceived
this matter. Let them know the people
10 not believe that, because they IRE con-
luered, they are, therefore, degraded. We
,annot believe that the Northern people
would have US to consider ourselves dis
and ~dishonorabfe creatures. They
rather prefer to see us still brave,
still sincere. Surely, they are interested
n the preservation of our virtue, and
profit little by our proclaiming
ourselves not only whipped, bnt forever
Infamous. ~
We. venture to appeal directly to Presi-
lent johnson upon this point, and implore
lin to investigate for himself the truth of
we assure him. Let him gather cor
'ect informotion from all parts o the State,
Tot from parties prejudiced against the
masses of our deople, but from Trustworthy
pources. who will tell him the truth as it
8, and we venture our existence that he
Vill find it to be as we tell him. He will
ind the people disposed sincerely to
10 law and order. Gen. Gregg re-
emily gave his written testimony of this
act. and we dare say that his successor,
r any unprejudiced officer in the South,
ill do the same. He will find them anxious
n the reorganization of the State govern
rent and for complete Identification with
Union again. And 'ha will find, moreo-
er, that while the people may select men
} office who were thoroughly identified
18th the Confederacy, it will pc done sim
because they are our best and most I
apable citizens. and not because they are '
'ss true to their obligations Of renewed 9
to the Federal Governments.
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