Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-05-25

COTu tuuI OuT ReucTous W po'oAhnSAs
had stored for distribution 10 our starv-
ing poor. II is for such purposes that
military dominion ia. 10 be continued.
Would that this were all But not con-
tent with even this exhaustion of our
scanty means, they are ann0lling our
contracts made with the laborers who
we're content to work in our fields for fair
wages, and are tollng them off to parts
unknown. under false .prctences. Our
ploughs are standing in the fields idle.
our farms will 60 untitled, and the land
swarms with agents who take the negroes
away under promises of higher wages.
and under the sanction Of Bureau rs
rotton as the promises OF Pharoah.
Te uictis But still we abide all these
sad results, and look upon IT as part Of
the war;. and in keeping with the char
acter of those who have so long been our
enemies, They but exhibit the nnimus
of people whose hate and avarice in
duced the rebellion. Such oppression
has turned from them almost the last OPP
ponent of secession, and caused them to
regret that they did not throw their lives
ana I0rtuleA lnt0 rue uRHb.
Perhaps this is oil for the best. We
cannot tell. We have almost ceased to
philosophize upon it, for we have no time
to think. The work OF actual recon-
struction absorbs our time and energies
mean the reconstruction OF our indi-
vidual fortunes, our houses. our fields
and farms, our railroads, manufactures.
graveyards, schools and churches. We
have no time to stop and mourn over
the loss Of liberty.
But l can find time to ask, What has
the North gained by the war! What
principles have been established What
great or vital questions have been set
tied Is the sovereignty Of State for
ever annulled2 Then let Illinois take
down her deceitful sign, obliterate her
great seal Of State, and choose another,
for the one she now has is obsoletc--on
eagle proudly postured under a scroll,
Nth Estate Sovereignty" upon it. Is it
the freedom of slaves that has been ac-
complished? Alas the one and half
millions who have persisted in the war.
are certainly free; the remainder are
rapidly realizing the same liberty, or
finding new bondage in other chimes
Like the poor Indian, the race is doomed.
and the mighty North still triumphs in
the glory Of its accomplishment But I
will not speak more of this To the
charitable reader let me say, forgive me
if you find something to condemn in the
following pages. It is not in my heart
to offend good man, whether be live
North or South and there be better
Judges than I Of what should have. or
have not. been written. 1t may be said
that the character of these letters has no
tendency to soften the animosities engen-
dcred by the late unhappy strife. can
only answer, that it is not in rebel ma
ture to be humble to those who would
put the heel Of tyranny upon us. Our
people are unit upon the moral Of tho
tight they made They sincerely feel
that the provacation of tho war was not
Of their begetting. Many time and
oft have men and nations been conquered.
but not convinced The story Of Ireland.
Poland, and the i" Hero Of the Lakes
has been often reproduced, to illustrate
that wrongs are not remedicd, nor rights
secured, by wager Of battle.
While mourning the loss Of thousands
Of the noblest Of our race--while suffer.
ing the poverty and desolation with which
our conqucrers have visited us--while
memory, stipgs with the rape and arson
which barbarians under arms enforced.
and beartless officers permitted, it is not
in human nature to smother resentment
against those who would still play the
tyrant and grind US into dust.
But to you kind reader, who can
speak gently to the erring. (if we have
erred, who would pour oil upon the trou-
bled waters. and prefer the hand of kim
dred love. letme say that, though proud
ly defiant Of our enemies, the noble man
Illness of our people will meet you cordi-
ally at the first sincere effort toward an
honorable reconciliation. Otherwise we
will close up the avenues of our hearts.
and like the rcd men Of the forest. trans
nit our bitterness and our wrongs as
heritage to our children
Republicans. Puritans, Pharisees'
Saints-you who were sucked with
songs of pity for the charcoal race. whose
hypocritic.l sympatLies have been for
wears playing leap-frog over the poverty
and distress around your own doors, and
aiightiug far off in the sunny land; who
have seen and are seeing thousands Of
dusky pets perisbing and passing away.
from the lack offood and the lust of FREQ
dom; you whose morning hymn is, II
love my love with B. because be is
black and whose evening prayer. May
the Lord send freedom without money
and without price = yon who look upos
our people as race Of turbulent asxsa,
and fowl blot upon the good sans tss
the land you commend al saa rpn.
fort that you can find within aseae ssss'sss
Small though this volame BE. L wili
uevertbeless save Yoa ~ sxslnmssiou.
= Oh that mine sSvse<ess b.s written
book r rzkN1Es r. ssrra