Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-10-30
soliloquy of a southerner.
BY sBRIoK" poMERoY.


Dog gon my buttons if us folks down here
don't amount to little bit of melody after
all. We were but a handful of towards be-
fore the war killed off half of US, yet the
great big North is afraid to have us in the
Union! We uns helped make the Constitu-
tion and helped make our common country.
great and when We saw dInger of our rights
under the CONSTITUTION being ignored after
we were educated by Ab0iitiouists to believe
we had the right 10 Scceju, aud to save our
selves, did secede, dog gOh US if these same
men who wanted US jut didn't want us back
againl They sald We were u bill of expense
to the UIiom-tiIat il dost more TO furnish US
mails, revenue officers, etc., etc, than il come
to; aud when We wished to slisve the liberal
North Of this taxatcn Ou our aceonht, dog
gon US but they incurred mote expense To
keep us III than we We're worth while We were
in. And they didn't want US to work nig-
gers, yet were willing To sell thchi 10 Us, and
to buy all tho niggers raised aud pay us in
gimcracks for the same. They drove us OUT
Of the Union. They said we had better 20
out. We took them at their word, for such
good Christians populate the North must
be honest and they sent armies here to drive
us back. They SAID we'd right to secede,
and advised us to loso. We took the North
at their word. Then they said we could not
secede.
And they sent soldiers and thieves down
among us While brave men fought us,
thieves stole from US the things we bought of
them, and now insist on selling them over -.
We could stand their fighting, tut dog gou
'em, not their stealing When we sent our
wounded home, we found our homes were
burned, or our goods stolen. They destroyed
or stole all we had, then blamed us for not
caring for their wounded They carried on
war against US to drive us back into the Union
And when we were driven back, they dis
covered that we were out of the Union!
They wanted us to send members to Con-
gress, and they sent them back home. They
say the war was a brilliant success. They
say fighting, alone can restore the Union, and
still, when the fighting is over with, say war
divided the Union We. have been subju>
gated-rePu -dispossessed-di -disfran-
chsed- -contra5anded-re constructed and
desolated.
We have quit fighting, yet are wnrrod
upon. We want peace, yet are promised
war We want to be in the Union. yet are
tod we shall not come in. They call us in
hdeis' yet forget Christianity themselves.
1t we are now without money, influence,
power or prestige, why is the North afraid of
us 1t we are expected to be good citizens
why do not the Radicals of the North set the
exampleE If we are not in the Union, where
are weY If this is our reward for disbonding
our serried ranks, what was the use of dis
banding? Why not keep on fghting? If
we are conquered, why not accept us as such?
1t we Re not conquered, why not go on with
the war, renew tho murderous crusade for
cotton, mules, niggers, ewelry and furniture?
The men who fought us like brave men now
say that fair play shall be the order of the
day. The towards, thieves and plunderers
who robbed and desolated aud desecrated us,
now are anxious for another war upon US. that
the balance of what we have may b. stolen
from u.s. and their pockets still farther filed,
and we are blamed for not laughing at our
own funerals. We are asked to sing melo.
dies while sitting on bayonets! We are asked
to dance while the slow match is burning still
brightly in our cellars. We are asked to sit
still aud be insulted by the men who stole
from us-who insulted our women-who stole
while others fought. We are asked to be
good citizens when we are treated like bad
citizens. We are asked to believe others who
will not believe us, even in tears. We are
asked to grow flowers in the face of wintry
blasts yet piping from tho North and to deck
our graveyards with flowers, while dogs are
barking at our heels. The North claims the
religion of the country, yet jabs and stabs us
with puritanical hate.
All we want is peace. We wish to repair
the damages the war made. We wish to live
as brothers of common heritage. yet are
treated as servants. AS one of the Southern
ers try to bear all of this-I try to smile
l try to dance while our conquerors are. I'D
ding in drunken glee-I am in earnest in
asking for the peace which was promised us,
if we disbanded our armies-I keep faith
with the North, yet the North will not keep
faith with us. And tell you, if we can.
have the peace and the rights promised ms
life Is burthen and we had better lose il at
once But will wait a'sLs.lie-for surely the
sense OF national hOr.Or has not quite died out
In the North. here is a better day coming
.another year will tell the story