Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-14

/ the war | entered the military service, and
I except when disabled by the casualties of
battle, was constantly occupied IN that ca
/ pacitv. Yet / was nevertheless not inatten-
| tive TO the movements of the civil authori-
| ties. and still believed that there might be s
union Of all the states under a common gov
/ ernment. Confident that the Southern
States had the means of resistance, vet in the
first three months of the war the develop
ments at Richmond created apprehensiOns
of failure on my mind. For the first two
/ years Of the war, the people gave a cordial
and energetic support to our government,
Notwithstanding It's inefheiency; but early
in the year 1853 the extraordinary develop.
ments at Richmond seemed 10 indicate that
we were not to be allowed to succeed. There
are reasons why / do not now choose to enter
on this branch Of the subject but / ought
perhaps 10 say that the impression was grad
uallv made on the minds Of intelligent men
that the government was either utterly des-
titute of practical talent, or that for some
unexplained reason there was purpose 10
retard our movements and prolong the war.
This we'll founded want of confidence pre-
cedcd its termination.
The great practical question now presents
itself: What ought TO be the action of the
United States towards the South | am
not mistaken when | say that in North Car
olina the determination to support the Con-
stitution and obey the laws of the United
States is universal. There are to be found
here and there, perhaps, individuals IN that
State who will assert the contrary. They
are, however, men without consideration or
character. who have been disappointed in
their attempts to get office, and who charge
the people with being disloyal because they
will not vote for them. No man living IN
the State believes there is at present disloy-
altv there. The late elections have been de-
cided by personal preferences, aided some
what by old party associations. Our people
think that when they have complied with
ali the acquisitions Of the President, they
have a right to choose their representatives.
| know 10 man in the State, however, that
/ believe can take what is commonly called
the :" test OATH without perjury. IL this be
insisted on. our State will have only nominal
or counterfeit representatives. Sooner than
have such, many think it as well to have no
representation at all. If those chosen are true
to the Constitution, the more talent and con-
sideration they have the better for the gov
eminent When an army surronders, it is
done by its officers in command, and not by
men taken from the guardhouse or the rear,
because Of their inefheiency. So is II not
better that the public Of the South shall come
in with their representative men2 In this
manner the government and the administra-
ton will obtain the entire political and
moral support of the States.
1t is obvious that there are in the North
persons who still desire to keep up quasi
war on the South. Some Of these men ex-
pect pecuniary advantages in the form of
places, contracts and jobs. Another class Of
men seek political strength by appealing TO
the hostile feelings Of the masses who have
not cooled down They persist in regarding
the South rs still an enemy, and desire By
continued attacks to make it so. Should the
government yieldtotheirviews, twill inilict
injury both on the South and itself, with no
corresponding advantage. The Government
of the United States can have the entire
South loyal and true to it by accepting them
rs such and il will be difficult to make the
people there actively hostile at this time. II
a desire for vengeance exists in the minds of
any persons in the North il should not be
forgotten that the Southern States have suf-
iered more severely than any community in
modern times. Besides the loss of so many
of their best men, probably two-thirds Of
thelr properly II gone. Iht o"I luiiilphN
of slaves, estimated according to their alue
in 1860, constituted one-third of their wealth,
and the depreciation in the value Of land
and losses of personal property, are fully
equal to another third BY now keeping
them under military rule, for which no rea-
son exists whatever feelings of disafectiou
may be produced, and the expenditures Of
the government Of the United States can
have all the Southern States again it, friends
by allowing them, when they have complied
with the acquisitions Of the President, 10 ex-
ercise those privileges which belong, accord
ing to the constitution, to all the States Of
the Union. Very respectfully, Gu,
r. /. CIINgNAN