The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-04-10

~ Ane people OF the South have never asked
anything more from the Government since the
close of the war, than to be permitted to OCCUPY
the position of free American citizens. Wber
they organized the Confederate Government
and while they were prosecuting, the war. they
never designed intended to deviate from the
principles of the Constitution of the United States
They adopted the old Constitution with but few
changes. and those changes did not at all affect
republican form of Government. When Gen.
Lee and Gen. Johnston surrendered, the South
ern people honestly surrendered themselves to
full acknowledgement that the effort to establish
the Confederacy was failures and in good faith
they professeG willingness to abide by the fate
of war, and obey the authorities of the Govern
ment. They have done to the best of their
ability-they have paid taxes to the Government.
although they denied voice IN its manage
ment-they have quietly submitted to be arrest
ed fined and imprisoned on frivolous and fire.
quently false accusations of irresponsible negroes
and unprincipled white men-they have not re-
sisted when property. which they considered
their own by right and justice, was seized from
them and carried Off-and they have manifested
in every way possible, without degrading them
selves as sycophants. disposition to be at peace
and live under the Government of the United
States. No people earth have quietly
submitted to their conquerOrs as we have. And
yet we are denounced as disloyal!
Considering these things. the people Of the
South think they are and have been unjustly
treated by Congress and by many of the North
ern papers, who continue to abuse them and de-
nounce them disoya and unworthy of being
truStpd Fanatics ayorywhera. who ODpOSe the
Presidents policy, hope to keep office and ride
into Office by abusing the South and harpirg.on
the negro question. They really cafe nothing
for the negro-their object is to keep the patron
age of the Government in their own hands. If
we are not in the Union and entitled to represen-
tation in Congress why do they permit officers to
collect taxes from US
If any one in the South is disloyal, or refuses
to obey the authorities violates express orders,
let charges be preferred against such persons and
let an investigation be had. But it is unfair, if
not mean, for members of Congress, and letter
writers here in the South who correspond with
n orthern journals, to -assail and denounce
whole people without being able to produce posi-
tive proof or evidence of their assertions.
The fact is, the people of the South want peace,
and they are TO- day better friends of the Union
than the radical members of Congress. any
others. who oppose the course of President John-
son and refuse to permit the country to be re-
united on the principles of equity and justice.
1t may be useless to talk write on this sub
ect. for wc know the Southern people cannot in
iuence those who are determined to be their enc
powerless and cannot re-
sist if we were so disposed. No responsible
southern man would favor resistance--they have
Ill determined to submit to their fate--but they
are equally determined never to voluntarily adopt
he schemes of the radicals and degrade them
selves. This point might as we'll be understood
low hereafter.