Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-11-23
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tFrOm the Detroit Free PrSssl on.
THE TRUTH FROM TIE SOUTH,


Letter from a General In the us.
Army "A Republicans View of
10 Sou uthern Affairs After Less than n
Yoar,s Residence in the SOuth-An
Intelligent and IntelIIgibIe Account
of Southern society aud Wishes-A
Most Interesting Statement.
HILLsBoRoUGH, MISS, November IL, II,
In regard to the hearts of the Southern
people, no man can Judge. The best fcan
do Is to give you impressions, or conelu-
sions, If you will, based on observations
Since December last, when arrived South
| have not heard three men express wish
for another war, and these only in connec-
tion with the policy of the Radicals, in
which they intimated that in case OF war
between the factions in the North, there
would be hopes for the South. As far as l
can Judge. @the situation" is accepted as
final by the great body of thepeople, nine-
tenths of whom, one year ago to-day, well
coined the Union in perfect good faith. At
that time, and for months afterward, | did
not believe that the South could be kicked
into another rebellion, so heartily tired
were the people of war. At this time no
language can express the hatred entertain
ed toward the Radicals, and it is not to be
disguised that in consequence of the course
of the latter the Southern people are not
as we'll disposed now as a year ago; yet
were to analyze public sentiment at the
present moment, should say: fsft.. sr.
|. The result of the war Is accepted as
final, and the Union is regarded as perpet-
ual by the entire population, without eX-
pectation or hope of change.
2. If the question were submitted to
vote to-day, / believe it would be over
nl,,,i, nIty II TniA nd ara OF
3. In my opinion, another rebellion or
war, even under the most favorable cir
cumstances for success, would not be
welcomed or entertained, save by a very
few desperate bad men, whose occupation
In peace or war Is that of DEMONSTRATING.
4. A very few, perhaps, of extreme Bit
terness, might welcome war in the North
in which the South should be called to take
part.
5. Another rebellion is utterly out Of the
question, for any cause, or under any cir
cumstances, and it is not hoped for, looked
for, or wished for, by any respectable num-
Der of respectable people.
6. The Southern people, en- nldSSe, would
to-day respond to the call of the proper au-
thorities to fight for the Union, the Consti-
tuition and the flag; and prophesy that not
long hence the South will constitute the
loyal SeCUlOn vi JilC OulOlls anu W III
the loyal army in it's defense. The next
civil war will not break out in the South
Mark that. Let Radicals take hint.
Z. The South comedies that the war debt
for the Union must be paid, and will pay
her share without opposition. None but
crazy y-headed bigots, who do not reach half
a dozen in the whole South, presume to ad-
vocate the payment of the Southern war
debt, and they could not obtain hearing
before the masses, who, were it submitted
to them, would repudiate it by vote ap-
preaching so nearly to unanimity as to re-
quire an affidavit to prove that the debt had
any friends or advocates.
s. Consistent Union men through all the
trying scenes of the war are exceedingly
rare, yet there are such, though many who
make the loudest pretensiOns now are bo-
gus. Both the United States Senators elect
from this State were among the most faith
full of the faithful, deiying and daring Sc
cession to do its worst. Mr.. Alcorn was a
member of the Convention that took this
State out, and for his defiant attitude was
threatened with violence in his seat, but he
declared that he could die but once, and
never more gloriously than for his coun-
try and flag. Mr.. Sharkey, though not
member OF that Convention, was equally
bold 1t would seem to be both polite and
Just to admit such men to the seats to which
they are elected. The members of the
Lower House of Congress from this State
are all of the same stamp. '-''
8. In a speech in b oOklyn, recently,
Henry Ward Beecher assumed that the pub
lie were opposed to the education of the
freedmen. However it may be in the
North, the South is unanimously in favor
of their education, improvement and eleva-
tion. %
10. AS to the claim of pay for emanci-
pated slaves, it has been mooted by few
fanatics, but the people generally, while
they would not refuse pay if rendered,
scout the suggestion as so remote and i'm
possible as to be. utterly unworthy of
thought. There is no design of presenting
the claim on the part of the people at large,
who would not give one cent for its prose-
cution. ..,...
IL. Slavery could not be re-established
BY vote of the people. have heard but
one man wish for it. The universal eX-
preston is emphatically opposed to its re-
establishment, even were it freely rendered.
Such is my canvass of the views and pur-
poses of the Southern people to day. The
future is only known to Omnipotence.
What the South may be worried into doing
by the course of the Radicals have no in
dication of. The situation seems to be that
of two men who, having agreed to settle a
difficulty, one persists after agreement OF
terms, and before their final fulfillment in
applying to the other every vile epithet
known to the English language. This
course would not tend to peace, and it
would require no small share of Christian
patience on the part of the other not to
avail himself of every means in his power
to retaliate. 81.
The South is easily pacified. Kind words
would do much. The Radicals had it in
their power to raise up friends in this sec
9tion. The New YORK Trt6line could at one
time have had general circulation, and
no man was more popular a few months
ago, with infinite power to do good, than
Il Henry Ward Beecher. A large charity for
the South, and her ways, her errors and her
opinions; the simple recognition in words
by the press and public men of the North
of the soldierly qualities and gigantic eff
forts of these people; indulgence for their
hero worship; coincidence in their grief,
d sympathy for their 'misfOrtunes and sor-
rows, would have secured the hearts OF
these people with hooks of steel.
At present they would despair at the bare
thought of war, of which they are more
than weary. Victims were taken from
every house, and it bequeathed starving,
pinching poverty to every family, the ex-
tent of which willnever be known save by
actual observation. Their prayer is for
peace. Their hearts and their arms are
open for reconciliation. The affairs OF
Memphis and New Orleans are no criterion
for, and find no response in the interior.
They were the work of the lawless who
gather in every city, for which the inno-
cent will have to pay terrible penalty. n''
Persons and nronertY are "a safe as af