Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-03-28
Conver sation with a Georgia
Colonel.

Last evening ! met gentleman VINO hau
fought through the Virginia campaign in
the latter years Of the war, as colonel of a
Georgia regiment. Before The war be was
a planter, and rich.
"Why won't, you radicals in The Norlh
let us alone 2" he said. Gan we ask is that
we may be permitted 20 live quietly at
home and cultivate our plantations"
''The North require some guarantees that
you viii not try again the experiment OF re-
bellion," replied.
Great heavens ~ said The Colonel with
some Indignation, "what guarantees can
they demand mere Than We have given
We have taken the oaih o: allegiance, and
we nos soIemnly mean to abide by it
We recognizes the. emancipation of the ne
groes, and our legislatures have given them
all The tights of citizens 5ut that of voting
which you know they are not all qualified
ior When they become so, |, for one, am
wiling 10 give that privilege. Guarantees
why, in The name of all that's decent, what
guarantees can we give other than these !!
inflated If we were to get down upon
our knees and whine aud beg, would you
not despise US all The more Can man
ca; who has had his teeth knocked down
his throat You ask to zee when our TWO
eyes have been smashed into one. You
expect US to walk when our legs have been
amputated, and we haven't money with
which TO buy wooden ones !"
"Your position is no, over and above
agreeable, must coin ess,n was my an
swer "Bnt you deserve all you received p
~ WON'T discuss The question OF desert.
replied the Colonel. But we don't fnd
fault with the result. went into. the war
couscientously. and sacrificed everything
had, and staked all, and lost all, we own up
whipped, and 10 good faith mean hereafter
10 support Ihe government"
''Why not say so in a public way g ! re-
marked. "You are misunderstood al The
North You ought to take some public &C
lion, fit it is only TO justify the course Of
President johnson, who is struggling like a
Than in his attempts 10 place the Sourh in
4 position where they can prove their Icy
atty to The government
''Let me say Just one word there" brcke
in the Colonel with ear0esiue.s. Gone
year, yes, six months ago would have shot
a man who had dared 10 say that I ever
could be lound supporting Andrew Johnson.
Bul The maguanimiiy, the heroic courage OF
that man has conquered the prejud.ces OF
The best class ol men here, as your bullets
and bayoneis never could have done. Why
sir, The world DeYer saw such spectacle
II there was any man on the federal side
who had cause tor vengeance for priva e
wrong,, ii was Andrew Johnson Ia all the
North there was not an individual from
whom We conld have expected less of favor
and mercy. Aud ye; with all this be stands
forward as our champion in the Union
Yes, sir; the men in the South " ho tough;
sou hardest, and have suffered more loss
and humiliation, support hlrn in the noble
course he has taken"
''You astonish me" was al the reply !
could make 10 what appeared 10 me bursr
OF patriotic eIoquence.
"Aly dear sir,n con,ined the CoIone
''you can't conceive the change that ba-
taken place among our people within the
last few months. am astonished myself,
aud with myself, quite as much as with the
really Influential, respectable people OF our
community will not say that we had no
right 10 secede, nor thai We were wrong in
fighting. But am convinced that success
ful secession would bave been destruction
in The cad. The results Of lhe war have
shown ibat slavery was the curse OF the
South, and am entirely convinced that The
negroes will benefit themselves and Us
much more in freedom lhan in slavery"
And in parting from the Colonel grasped
warmly The two remaining fingers OF his
hand, which was mullaied by muske,
ball a, Cold Earbor could not but feel tha,
he was one of the representatives OF a new
and regenerated South
Election Case in Montgomery.
At last fall election, Wallace Header
son, Judge of election in Lower Merton
refused to receive the vote of Edmund
HolIinlin, on the ground tbas he was
deserter, having refused to respond to
a. ,troft IL Al.