Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-22
"INDEPENDENCE OR sUBJUGATIoN."

The following extrdcts from. private letter,
written by Northern merchant, Just received
through the blockade by gentleman in the South :
March I'd, 1865
deeply sYmpathzc with - in his sufierincs.-
But what is all that and ten times more when the
question is political liberty a degraded slavery
feel that would endure any amount Of suffering
rather than succRmo TO people like these. SuJuqd-
tam is the word II is their daily boast to conquer
the spirit they find existing in the South. The
hatred INDUCED in by the people OF the South to-
ards the North, is not greater than the same feel
ugS cherished by the North towards them, and if
tuey could get you under their control, you would
iud the iron heel of tyranny upon you. | have no
confidence in any promise or show of leniency they
may make. 1t is all for effect, to entrap you
They have failed in some instances to conquer the
spirit OF resistance by force, and now they are
adopting hypocrtieal leniency to eutrsp the weak
minded among you. Their boast is to succeed or
blot Won out Of existence, and distribute your land
among those who fought for it," The people there
think this is only ''tGlk," with no purpose on their
part Of executing the threat and so the poor de-
uded people have thought in many Southern cities
that are now being populated BY the Yankees to the
exclusion OF tho original inhabitants.
Upon the approach of the enemy 10 almost every
town, the citizens think ''that matter what was
done in other places the will not occur in this
.'they surely will not he so cruel to MS" and thus
dp they ind themselves deceived and subjugated :
and degraded in the eyes of their friends in this
and other countries. They deceice themselves.
This Government, R0lr, is equal 10 any in its op-
preston, injustice and tyranny. The country can
never be again what il was, at least in our day
Liberty is but name its banner droops upo the
pole that supports il. Even now, that which am
peBniug dare not show 70 my neighbor nor let the
Government know Of il 1t il written in a corner
Taxes are enormous, and take away
nearly everything We can make, and there is no
prospect of their being lighter that / can see. 4.
March 4th. An order has been pro-
mulgated to Join in the festivities in honor of Fed
eral victories to-day. This viii only be partially
complied with in spirit and not fully in practice
Tie Democrats 1.-THE true Democrats, meaB) are
not with them. Ii is bipartisan move to- keep I'D
the war party excitement, and they are using inau-
duration day TO work a double purpose. These
vile workers are inceSS9Rt in their labors They
have been at it, and il has proven, ccessruly
tor thirty years. They leave no stone unturned,
nor spare expense. They continue instant in
season and ont of season." Strange to say, there
are prominent men in the South working with them
To- destroy your nationality, and bring your nceks
such men as Governor Brown, of Georgia. That
nelf ought TO be put - where the dogs won't bite
him" until the war is over. He is mOnOmaniac
on States rights doctrines. There will be time
enough TO settle those questions when the proper
time arrives. At this time he should aid everybO-
dy aud in everything to keep possession of his free
DOM so that he may successfully contend for the
principles he has so much at heart, The -
is in the same category, and held in estimation
nearly as bad as Brown.