The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-08-04
To the people of Idaho Territory.

It has been well and truly said, "that victory
has its obligations as we'll as its delights; that il
is the pleasure as well as the duty of magnani.
nous vietors to assist in healing up the wounds
of the vanquished and ministering to their wants.
If this be correct in general sense is it not rem
dered peculiarly SO when we consider the sad con.
dition of our friends in the Southern States. II
the same desolation and ruin existed in any other
land as is now witnessed in that portion of our
own country, there would be (Judging by the past)
in every section of the Union generous effort to
afford immediate relief
There are tens nay hundreds of thousands of
our fellow citizens in the South who are to-day
without the most common necessarles of life. The
results of lamentable war, have left their towns
and villages in ashes, their homes desolated and
destroyed and their fields laid waste So press
ing are their wants. in this terrible and trying
crisis. that from all parts of that once prosperous
and happy Territory, petitions have been sent
North asking for relief from immediate and press
ling want. With few noble exceptions, they
have received in answer to these touching appeals
eof the yanquished to the vanquisher, government
representatives, who have been sent amongst
them to gather up by confscatien and other means,
what little property is remaining in this land of
desolation and suffering. They are governed by
the most rigid military law and discipline, and
subjected to tie whims and caprices of Federal
officials. They are fined and imprisoned at the
will and pleasure of every Provost Marshal. Mill.
tary Commissions are appointed in time Of peace
to try them for their lives, and in many instan.
ces have sent them 10 northern prisons and to the
gallows. Their lands have been taken from them
upon many occasions and given to their former
slaves, net to be cultivated in days of yore for
the benefit Of mankind generally, but for these
negroes to i've on in idIeness. and be supported
by the government at the expense of industrious
tax payers.
Thousands who but recently were surrounded
with affuence and refinement, the result Of their
industry and frugality, have been driven from
their homes and fresides, and are now refugees in
foreign lands, whilst others are wanderers beg
gng their bread and perishing all over the South.
Taxes. contrary to the letter and spirit of the
Federal Constitution, are levied and collected in
the Southern States whilst their representatives
are excluded from the Federal Congress. Laws,
the most stringent andtoppressive are being pass
ed by Congress, seriously affecting their civil and
constitutional rights without even permitting them
to be heard.in their own defense, and under all
these trying circumstances, not one word of sym
pathy for them has ever been expressed by their
oppressors. Idon't present the foregoing truths
for the purpose Of parading their misfortunes be-
fore the world, but in order that the friends of
this brave but suffering people may know and un-
derstand their conditioniiand actual wants and be
induced tp.lend them, now in this their day and
hour of adversely, helping hand.
By the urgent solicitations of many of my South
ern friends was induced, after the termination of
the late war to enter into the Sanitary service in
connection with the Mississippi Association