Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-08-21


so heartless so unrelen niins ia its consequences
upon the negro riee, and 1t : n, If undertakea.
cover the whole Southern country with
blood,
Intereatin Letter from Hon. NJ. Blair
General Lee's fSsitsos BEFORE he Far
- Tie Course q Ssa,ssse .Ssutesp,ea.
Isditerfof Epeas.s1 fosf.
My DEAR SIs-A writer 10 a,vour manor
makes severe All nadyeisions ON the, Hon.
Alexander 81. s ephens, provoked. it seems.
sby'a letter written by hias to me. HIS as
suasiye tone. he patriotic ieciing, the re.
s'gneds self-denyi ng devotedneSs with which
me ees - tha tortslpe nae:ed s,,t ta
himself IN common with his fellow. citizens
OF the South, and would now turn adversely
itself to good account by making it rebound
to a more close, more cordial, and secure
union than that which preceded hostilities,
ind no liberation. 1t is amazing, after the
horrid struggle in which our kindred of all
the States have been decimated, that any ono
should now be found unwilling to be appeased
and dtorenew fraternal feeling. Mr.. Stephens
great crime, in the eye of the Posts con-
trIbutor, is, that the Same spirit now ami
mates him that made that most eloquent
OF all appeals-his speech to the people of
Georgia to arrest the revolutionary conflict at
the opening by preventing the secession of
Georgia from the Union, and which now pleads
for its restoration, having in the interval stood
by his State and the South But is there
anything unnatural or objectionable in this
Do we not see the highest intelligence and
noblest sensibility that adorn our nature drawn
to the side of those who have fallen into er-
ror from honorable motives, although these
motives may have been instilled into the
community by artful, intriguing, selfish men
for selfish ends at war with the public good !?
Does not every candid mind now perceive,
that looks back to the thi.ty years history of
secession, that it was war of sections that
gradually brought to the issue and trial of
battle, by the ambition of few political lead.
ers who availed themselves of the difference
In the great common interests North and
south, which had prevailing sway over the
minds OF masses in the two sections to pro>
duce the belief that there was an irreconcila-
BILE incompatibility between them, rendering
separation inevitable? Everybody knows
that there were multitudes of enthusiasts on
both sides who urged on this quarrel, under
the delusion that it was mere matter of dis
cussion, which would be determined by peace
able separation, or pass off like other political
questions, by collapse of the iufammatory
feeling melted by debate.
All such disputants and the great body of
the people were taken by surprise on the out
break of the war, organized by the secret Ca
bal of conspirators. But when the war came,
in spite of all appeals of sober.minded patriots
/ to stay its fury-when the thunder of cannon
had begun-what could the lovers of peace
In either section do but submit to the force
with which they were surrounded in the
States to which they belonged2 General
Lee said to my father, when he was sounded
by him, at the request of President Lincoln,
about taking command of our army against
the rebellion, then hanging upon the decision
of the Virginia Convention, "Mr. Blair. [
look upon secession as anarchy. If l owned
the four millions of slaves in the South, l
would sacrifice them all to the Union but
how can draw my sword upon Yirginia, nv
native State 2" He could not determine
then said he would consult with his old
friend General Scott, and went on the same
day to Richmond, probably to arbitratc diff.
culties and We see the result. 1t is hard
for noble mind to tear itself from home.
kindred, friends, and native soil, and go into
opposite ranks to crush them all. This was
the case of Stephens as we'll as Lee. 1t was
the case of nearly every elevated soul in the
South when the Government of the United
States, delinquent in all its duties, had failed
to make preparation to arrest violence at the
outbreak, and cure the phrenzy by binding
1t IN the begintfing, and prevent its running
on until it became sectional war. and, in
effect, national i0dr, in its influences on the
people of both sections. who were brought to
consider the success of the one the subiuga.
ton of the other.
AS the South grew weaker, and began to
stagger under the blows Of the gigantic North,
all her brave spirits rallied to her support
Even the slaves were moved by the natural
instinct; for when all the white men, young
an old, had left their homes. their women aud
children to be protected and fed By their su-
perior strength, they would not desert to our
conquering army as it marched through the
shrinking South. but fed with its panic
stricken families, and gave them aid and COM
fort. In this did not the blacks prove them
selves . loyal people Would not the white
man have proved himself recrcant if. uu-
der such circumstances he had gone to- the
invaders When the affairs of the SOuth
were absolutely desperate, and President Lin.
coin. had sent message inviting pc4ee ON
terms that Mr. Davis seemed at oIe TINA in.
clined to take, the commissioners apnointed
by him-Hunter, Stephens and Campbell-
were all anxious to conclude tie war on the
terms proposed by our President These gen
tlemen were for union and peace. Mr.. Davis
who had in charge the cause of the South
insisted on Independence. Could the com.
tnissioners violate the trust which, according
to the shape given by events to the cause thew.
represented, and which they were boundsto
consider that Of awhole people, Rere com
mitted to Mr.. Dayis2 Could tley take upor,
themselves to say it was treason, and commit
all that concerned 1t to the urJitrunl of Mr.
The aspects to which I thus allude show
that the spread and continuance of a war pr,ts
new face on that which, at its inceptioT. Wa ws,
treason. Ihe war rIrnr, IL. Ctl