Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-09-11

ADDRESS OF THE LOYAL MEN OF
THE SOUTH,

vention, Hon. J. A. J. Creswell, of Md
from the Committee, submitted the follow
ing appeal
The representatives of eight millions {
American citizens appeal for protection an
Justice to their friends and brothers IN th
states that have been spared the cruelties
rebellion and the direct horrors of civil wal
Here, on the spot where freedom was pro
fered and pledged by the fathers of the Re
public, we implore your help against reol
ganized opposition, whose sole object is B
remit the control OF our destinies to the con
trivers OF the rebellion after they have beel
Vanquished in honorable battle-thus a
once to punish us for our devotion TO ou
country, and to intrench themselves in tn
official Notifications of the Government.
Others have related the thrilling story o
our wrongs from reading and observation
we come before you as unchallenged wit
nesses, and speak from personal knowledge
our sad experience. II you fail us, we arr
more utterly deserted and betrayed than /
the contest of arms had been decided agains
us, for in that case even victorious slavery
would have found profit in the speedy pardon
OF those who had been among its braves
foes.
Unexpected perfidy in the highest place O
the government accidentally filed by on,
who adds crueltyto ingratitude, and forgive.
the guilty as he proscribes the innocent has
stimulated the almost extinguished revenge
oil the beaten conspirators; and now the
rebels, who offered to yield everything to
save their lives, are seeking to consign us to
bloody graves.
Where we expected benelactor we find
prosecutor. Having lost our champion,
we return to you, who can make Presidents
and punish traitors.
Our last hope, under God, is in the unity
and firmness of the States that elected Abra-
ham Lincoln and defeated Jefferson Davis.
The best statement of our case is the ap-
palling, yet unconscious confession of An
drew johnson, who, in savage hatred of his
own record, proclaims his purpose to clothe
iour millions of traitors with the power to
lmpo9verish and degrade eight millions of
loyal men.
Our wrongs bear alike upon all races, and
our tyrants, unchecked by you, will award
the same fate to white and black.
We can remain as we are only as interiors
and victims.
We may fly from our homes, but we should
fear to trust our fate with those who, after
denouncing and defeating treason, refused
TO right those who had bravely assisted them
in the good work.
Till we are wholly rescused there is nei-
theT peace for you nor prosperity for us.
We cannot better define at once our wrongs
and our wants than by declaring that, since
Andrew johnson affiliated with his early
slanderers and our constant enemies, his
hand has been laid heavily upon every earn
est loYalist in the South. History, the lust
Judgment OF the present, and the certain
confirmation of the future, invite us to COM
mand and declare
That, after rejecting his own remedies for
restoring the Union, he has resorted to the
weapons of traitors to bruise and beat down
patriots.
That, after declaring that none but the
loyal should govern the reconstructed South,
he has practiced upon the maxim that none
but traitors shall rule.
That, while in the North he has removed
conscientious men from office and filled
many of the vacancies with the sympathi-
zers of treason, in the South he has remov-
ed the proved and trusted patriot, and select
ed the equally proved and convicted traitor.
That, after brave men who have fought
for the old flag have been nominated for po-
sitions, their names have been recalled and
avowed rebels substituted.
That every original Unionist in the South
who stands fast to Andrew Johuson's cove
nants from 1861 to 1865, has been ostracised
That he has corrupted the local courts by
offering premiums for defiance of the laws
of Congress, and by openly discouraging the
observance of the oath against treason.
That, while refusing to punish one single
conspicuous traitor, though thousands had
earned the penalty of death, more than a
thousand Of devoted Union citizens have
been murdered in cold blood since the sur
render of Lee, and in no case have their
assassins been brought to judgment.
That he has pardoned some of the worst
of the rebel criminals, North and South, in
cluding some who have taken human life
under circumstances of unparalleled afro
city.
That, while denouncing and lettering the
operations of the Freedmen's Bureau, he,
with full knowledge of the falsehoOd. has
charged that the black men are lazy and re-
bellious, and has concealed the fact that more
whites than blacks have been protected and
fed by that noble organization; and that,
while declaring that it was corruptlY mana
ged and expensive to the Government, he
has connived at a system Of prohigacy in the
use of the public patronage and public money
wholly without parallel, save when the trail
tors bankrupted the Treasury, and sought TO
disorganize and scatter the army and the
navy, only TO make it more easy to capture
and destroy the Government.
That, while declaring against the injus-
he has refused to authorize the liberal plan
of Congress, simply because it recognizes
the loyal majority, and refuses to perpetuate
the traitor minority.
That in every State south of Mason and
Dixon's line, his policy has wrought the
most deplorable consequences, social, moral
and political
1t has emboldened returned rebels to threat
EN- civil war in Maryland, Missouri, West
Virginia and Tennessee, unless the patriots
who saved and sealed these States to the old
flag surrender before their arrogant demands.
1t has corrupted high State officials elect
ed by Union men, and sworn to enforce the
laws against returned rebels, and made them
the mere instruments of the authors of the
rebellion.
1t has encouraged q new alienation be-
tween the sections, and by impeding emf
grafton to the South, has erected formidable
barriers against free and friendly intercourse
with our countrymen in the North and the
West.
It has allowed the rebel soldiery to perse-
cute the teachers OF the colored schools, and
to burn the churches in which the freedmen
have worshipped the living God.
That system so barbarous should have
eliminated in the frightful riot at Memphis,
and the still more appalling massacre at
New Orleans, was as natural as that bloody
war should flow from the teachings of John
G. Calhoun and Jefferson Davis.
Andrew johnson is responsible for all
these unspeakable crimes and cruelties AS
he provoked so he justifies and applauds
them.
Sending his agents and emissaries into this
refined and patriotic metropolis, to insist
upon making his reckless policy a test upon
Christian people, he forgot that the protec
tion extended TO the 14th-of-August Conven
tion in Philadelphia was not only denied tc
the free people of New Orleans, on the 30tl
of July, when they assembled to discuss how
best to protect themselves, but denied amids
| the slaughter of hundreds of INNOCENT mnn