Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-06-13
LETTER FROM GEN. SHIELDS.

who participated In the Shenandoah,
as well as by those who witnessed his
daring vslor during the Mexican War.
The General was removed from CON-
mand, by the radicals, to give place
to that band-bo commander, Gener-
al Banks, whom Stonewall Jackson,
used to run out of tho Contedercy for
the purpose Of getting his supplies.
Gen Shields is now cultivating farm
in Missouri. Read his able letter on
reconstruction.
CARRoLToN Mo-, May ].
Messrs. CLARK II. Green, W. c. B. Gil
lespie, d. X Turk, Macon, No:
GENrLEMEN-I deeply regret my
inability to comply with my engage
ment at your place on Monday next.
The sudden and serious indisposition
of member Of my family makes il
imperative on me to remain at home
until it be Gods will to relieve me from
anxiety. l beg that you will make
this known TO your good people
as my apology for failing to attend,
and | desire this the more because ]
make it point never to fail in an en-
gagement Of this kind, except under
the pressure Of overuling circum-
stanes. If / can at any time hereafter
atone for this failure, it will afford me
pleasure TO do so.
/ have never been more thoroughly
convinced Of the necessity for exertion
than at the present moment. The
peril Of the present hour can hardly
be crrated. In this ] agree with
the President, and think il would be
treason to the Constitution and the
Union for men who think a. / do TO
continue silent and Indifferent at such
"a crisis. A few years of civil war do
the the work OF centuries in altering
and deterioEating the character of a
people, and none bat strong and priv
lleged races ever fully recover from
such deterioration.
| Most nations have to pass through
a second CONSERVATIVE revolution 10
recover their lost position, and il we
escape from that calamity it will be
by violent political struggle, amount
ing in substance TO revolution. The
bad passions of human nature once
stimulated by war, survive the Seeas
sior - makes the period that sue
ceeds on1 g I. ,oT revenbs ca rf
persecution. 1t was at drst hoped
and believed by the friends Of human
freedom everywhere, that cur new peo
pie, educated under the benign and ele
ingindnence of liberty ,wo dshow tC
the world that q defea,ed party in 1
civil turn to their natural al, glance
without any feeling Of disbsnor on
degrada tioh, and that the victorious
party, disdainin - base and COW
ardly qualification of revenge, and
confident in their owB strengh, justice
and 49,. .lanimitv could welcome bach
their erring Jretlrcn, without seeking
or desiring to insult, huiailiate, or de
grade them, or rcndcr them unworthy
of that high destiny which should b
9 the prce and boast Of the free-borl
citizens Of the only great republic il
. the world. This would have exalted
i. our national character in the estima
a ton OF Christianity, and, like all pub
lie conduct which is truly great ant
: noble, would rebound TO the highes
! interest and advantage of our owl
a country. But all of these bright hope
have been doomed to sac and Ditto
q disappointment. The leaders of th
!. present Congress are giving the mos
convincing proof that a single despot
howcver cruel, can be more mrgnay.
70 nous and merciful than the iiiflame
,dI fanatical representatives of free pee
90 pie. They are not content with try
~ ~ ing to humiliate, degrade and dishono
b. the whole Southern people en- mdsS'
90 loyal an | rebel, but they are detern
ined to perpetuatc that degradatio
:. and fasten upon their inn nocept poster
D ity, by divesting them Of AID politics
power, aud investing their slaves {
yesterday with full political power {
dominate over them. They imagin
and perhaps rightly, that no huma
l., punishment could degrade tae Soutl
crn whites like that of investing the
recent slaves with power 10 decic
upon their destiny. There is coldl
calculated, refined vindictiveness
}. this that would do credit to the Gil
zens of darker region than the
Ethiopian policy can ever make Il
South. And beside tho gratifcatio
- of impish revenge, this policy pror
ises them peculiar political advan
ages, for it in one of the characteristic
of this cold-blooded faction, that
even gratifying their revenge the
IT. never loose sight Of their own imme
ate interest. The whole political po'
= or of the South, when once Africanise
-, No. can be made available by suitab
rlv apents. under their Civil Rights bi