The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-28

GENTLEMEN: A newspaper dispatch
from your city, dated the 9Th Inst, as.
serts that / have been invited by
Louisianians OF diverse parties to ex-
tend my present journey so that itshall
include visit to your section. Though
unable to comply with this invitation,
] Veture TO base on II an entreaty which
am sure you will receive in the spirit
which prompts II.
Our country has Of late been the
arena OF a terrible civil war, whereof
the devastations and the passions,
though soNened by the Intervention Of
time, still remain. Having been
plunged into that war by natural an
tagonisms which seem 10 me fully to
explain, II not to excuse, the collision
they occasloned, we are to-day in dan
ger OF protrActing struggle which has
no longer rational motive, aud for
which the only excuse Is TO besoughtin
antIpathies and preIudices which have
no longer even decent pretext. II has
been decided beyond appeal that we are
not to be hencelorth aliens but coun-
trymen. A handful may migrate to
Brazil on the one hand, or,to Liberia on
the otherS but at least ninety-nlne In
every hundred Of us will live and die
free citizens of the United States. Shall
we not, therefore, resolve to live In
peace and fraternal concord? What
conceivable interest of any OF US can
be promoted by perpetuation Of the
hate and bitterness naturally incident
to state Of civil war?
You Louisianians are prominently
cosmopolitan people. Native and for
eign born; French, English and Span
ish; Caucasian aud African; Southron
and Yankee; you are perfectly able las
you have proved to make your State a
hell upon earth II you choose. And l
greatly fear that there are those among
you who do choose.
But, on the other hand, I feel entire
confidence that you, who have invited
me to your Stale, with very many OF
your neighbors and fellow citizens,
fully realize that the true interest OF all
demands peace, order, mutual kindli-
ness, and the most absolute security.
the most hearty accord, to every human
being now living In or who may here
after come to your State, Of every right
of person or property which is enjoyed
by the most favored among you. | feel
confident that you comprehend that the
immense yet undeveloped resources Of
your most fertile soil, of your genial
cline, and OF your city's unequaled po.
sltion, cannot be even partially utilized
until u substantial concord shall have
been effected among your own people,
binding your diverse races In the silken
bonds OF n common sympathy, based
on feeling Of general security and
contentment.
Some OF you are doubtless estate
Rights men" In sense that am not !;
and think even these must see that no
State can eyer be truly strong while Its
people are arrayed against each other
in hostile factions, each intensely jeal-
Gus OF some other. The tendency to
"fy from petty tyrants to the throne"
is, under such circumstances. irresisti-
bic.
And, on the other hand, the people of
State, thoroughly at peace and in
fraternal relations with each other, may
regard the doings Of the Federal Gov
ernment with Interest, certainly, but
without anxiety or apprehension.
venture TO entreat you, who have
seen fit TO invite me to your State, to
resolve yourselves into n provisional
committee intent on the establishment
forthwith Of mutual confidence and
good will among all the diverse races,
natlonalIties, and clans inhabiting your
State, and that you invite every seq
ment ind class of your people 10 select
its ablest and best men to cooperate
with you in this benign enterprise. If
you do but resolve in faith that the
blessed Christmas season now ut hand
shall not pass without witnessing the
establishment of n perfect and cordial
good understanding between all classes
OF your people, cannot doubt your
success and l shall hope that your
example will be generally initiated, so
that the year 1867 will long be remem-
bered us the dawn OF a new era ofpeace,
prosperity, and happiness, for our too
long distracted md desolated country.
grateful regard, remain yours.
HORACE GREELEY.
To DIcSSrS. Gov. Wells and others.