The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-01

forced into the army and kept there. It mat |
tered not whether he was doctor, lawyer,
preacher, or school-teacher, if an able-bodied |
man, he should have been sent to the army.
But, strange to say, the three classes Of men
who were mainly instrumental in plunging their
country into this mad revolution, were all ex-
empted by Congress from fighting. This was
not fair. The man who gets up fight should
always take his share of it.
+ 1t has been said, and repeated all over the
Southern States, that the South has sustained
great loss in the death of President Lincoln. [
do not think so. President johnson is a much
ADLER and frmer man than Lincoln was He is
in every way more acceptable to the South. In
the first place be is Southern man, and Lincoln
was amor man. He is Democrat, aod
Lincoln was Wing and Republican. Pres-
dent johnson was STAKEHOLDER, we'll acqualnt-
ed with the institution, and knows what is pro-
per to be done in the great change which is
taking place. President Lincoln was wholly
unacyuainted with slavery and Southern insti-
tutions. President johnson is a man of iron
will aud nerve, like Andrew jackson, and will
adhere to his principles and political faith,
| On the other hand, President Lincoln showed
| himself to be nothing more than clav in the
hands of the potter, ready to change MS mea-
sures and principles at the bidding of his party.
President johnson has filled all the highest and
most honorable offices 10 the State of Tennessee.
with great ability and satisfaction to the people.
There is no stain or blot on his private charac-
ter The ablest speech ever delivered in the
Senate of the United States, on the issues be-
tween the North and South was made by Presi-
dent johnson He voted for Breckenridge in
the Presidential canvass of 1860. Judging,
then, from his antecedents, the South should
have every hope and confidence in him.
Mr. Chairman, the future, to my mind is not
so gloomy as some would have us believe. |
have no doubt that in ten years the Southern
States will be happy and prosperous again, and
we shall find that the loss of slavery will be no
loss at all to our real comfort and satisfaction.
The planter and farmer will find that his net
profits are greater with hired labor than with
slave labor
The idleness and vagrancy of the negro, in a
free state, may be nuisance to society. have
no doubt, in nine cases out of ten, freedom will
prove curse instead of blessing to the negro.
| No one should turn off his negroes, if they are
willing to remain with him for their vctuals
and clothes, and work as they have heretofore
| done. They had no agency In bringing about
the change which has taken place, and We
should feel no i'll will toward them on that ac-
| count.
But, Mr. Chairman, the secession of eleven or
| twelve sovereign States, composing one-halt OF
the territory of the United States, was some
thing more than a rebellion. 1t was legitimate
war between the two sections, and they acted
toward each other throughout the war as recog-
nized belligerents, and were so treated and re-
cognized by foreign nations. Prisoners were
| exchanged between the two beligerents, and
none were treated as traitors during the whole
of the four years war. Hundreds of thousands
of prisoners were thus exchanged The highest
generals, hell as the humblost privates, were
treated as ssdsAtured soldiers by both Govern
ments, and Exchanged. Surely general officer
who has been exchanged while this gigantic
war was waging, cannot now be demanded as a
traitor, tried and executed as traitor.
There have been few national wars in Europe
in which greater armies were carried into SER
vice and on the field of battle. To call such a
war rebellion simply is misapplicatiou OF
terms The greatest and best men of the
Southern States were most conscientiously lead
ing this war, either in council or on the field OF
| battle
| In all history there is not more perfect
model of pure and great man (save Washing
toni than General Lee. That he should now be
hanged as a traitor would be act of national
infamy that would shock the whole civilized
world, and render the name of the United States
odious in hisrory.
While [ do not think, Mr. Chairman that the
whole people of the Southern States have be-
haved we'll in this war, and done their duty at
home and on the field OF battle, yet there is
very large proportion of them who have won
immortal honors, and whose glory in war and
wisdom in council will illustrate many bright
page ir history They have been unsuccessful
in their revolution, but this should not, and does
not, detract from their heroic gallantry on the
field of battle, or their craftsmanship in the cab
met or halls of legislation. They will be re-