The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-09-06

'O"dluS Tue general government. With
their private opinions, their sympathies and
preJudlces had nothing to do. Yet for
more thorough understanding of the ques
tlon | made it part of my mission to nves
tlgate even these. 1 found they had uni>
versally complied with the conditions
granted and accepted at the final surrende,
OF their armies and cause. | found tha,
they were carrying out with good faith and
alacrlty the requirements of the constitu.
tlonal amendment abolishing slavery. and
that in all the States except Mississippi and
Texas, the famous civil rights bill had been
anticipated by the action of the State leg
lslatures previous to its passage by con,
gress. Further than this, l found that
In the reputation Of every dollar known
as the confederate debt, the same prompt
action had been taken by the State author
tiles, and had been universally indorsed by
the people; and l neither saw nor heard
any disposition, or anything that pointed
toward disposition, to rcpudiate the ma
tional debt or to revive the institution of
slavery.
But whilst the southern people are thus
loyal and have fulfilled all the requirements
asked of them by the federal government
1t is impossible to disguise the fact. and
the better class of citizens DO not attempt
to disguise 1t, that there is among them a
deep feeling and strong apprehension as
to the cause Of their long continued ex>
c'usion from Congress. They elevc that
it Is mart Of plan for pcrpetuating the
existence OIL -: 10 political party now in the
ascen dant, and that the Question of suf>
fragc, readjus'ment Of representation aud
taxation are but excuses FIR still longer
delay, thus regardless of the great interests,
not only of the suffering south, but of the
whole country, burdened with debt and
laborlng under severe embarrassment.
found the prevailing opinion among the
most intelligent citizens, as well as among
those most anxious for an early restoration
OF the Union, TO be that, if representation
and and equal and just co-opera-
ton in the administration of federal af-
fairs we're much longer withheld from the
southern States, feeling of Indifference
would spring up towards taking any part
ia filling federal Offices, more particularly
towards rcGlling their seats in Congress
that the people, il fact, would stay away
ifcW the polls, and allow the elections to
go by default, to the great detriment of the
country at large This feeling of indifier,
enee indeed Is already maniicsting itself
aud is rapidly increasing, 50 much so that
were it aot for few persoLs in each south
crn State who have found it necessary for
their existence to live upon and hold Office.
and whose haunts and occupations have
hitherto been at the federal capital, | do
not believe that any clamor for represen~
tation would DC heard.
What is needed to restore harmony and
prosperity to the entire country, both north
and south, is closer ard better acquaintance
with each other have been astonished
to notice how little people, even whose
social relations are all southern. know Of
the true state of feeling in that section OF
the country. We need greater political,
social and commercial freedom. more fire.
Queut intercourse. and Il kinder rannrcciation
of each others peculiarities The advanta-
ges 10 the country in its present financial
stress Of reunion Of healt and sentiment
would be beyond enumeration. The broad
lands of the fertile south are now lying
almost in waste for want Of means and
capital to cultivate them, when every acre
of this benefcent soil might be a gold mine
to It's possessor were the political relations
of each other better understood and acted
upon.
have the honor to be your most obcdi-
cnt servant, GORDON GRANGER
Breve; Major General, United States Army