The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-07-28

Republican Government is maintained.
In this Niew, dark as the future look,
I will not despond, but will still hope
that its developments may unfold in the
bosoms of the great mass of the Amer.
lean people a returning sense Of justice
and even Of liberality.
The gallantry and manhood display
ed on the battlefield in vindication of
Southern honor, affords themost salts
factory guarantee to every thinking,
impartial man North, who understands
human nature, that the honorable
pledges of acquiescence given by the
people Of the South will be observed in
The utmost faith A truly brave man
is never a hypocrite, and his pledges
are never willfully broken. BY these
pledges we have agreed, as II of the
results Of the war, that the freedom of
the colored n shall be guaranteed.
The State of Georgia, in common with
other Southern States, has enacted laws
which give them ample protection of
life, liberty, and property. | believe
those laws are now, as q general rule,
faithfully and impartially executed.
This must be done, and equal and
even-handed justice must be meted out
to them by every individual, and in
every judicial tribunal. In their pres
ent status this is their right, and this is
our duty. This is the only path Of
safety, as it is the only way to avoid a
war Of races, which must result in I'M
numbered woes, and untold misery.
And while we cannot accord to, the ne
gro race social or political equality, l
believe it is the fixed purpose Of nine
teen-twentieths of, the people Of Geor-
gia, to see that they havelegal equality,
and that justice and equity be constant
ly administered to them. That this is
our purpose, will soon be understood
by the people of the North, in spite of
the i%mprudence of a small minority OF
our own people, and the numerous mis-
representations and axaggeratlons
which We see daily made in some ofthe
newspapers of the Northern States.
This, in my opinion, is all that will be
required upon second sober thought,
when reason has triumphed over pas
sion in the bosoms of the mass of the
people of the Northern and Western
States.
1t seems to me, therefore, to be en-
inently proper for the Conservative
men of oil the States, who intend in
good faith to restore the Union and
maintain the principles Of the Constitu-
ton, whatever may have been their po-
sitions on the questions now forever
settled by war, to meet together in coun-
ell, shake hands over the buried past,
and do all in their power to promote
reunion, harmony of sentiment, and
concert Of action. To such q council
they are now summoned, and l think
every State, North and South, East and
West, should be represented by its
wisest, most conservative, and best
men. without regard to past political
opinions. We want no Hotspurs there;
no restless, ambitious politicians; no
one whose supreme object is not the
good Of the whole country.
The most patriotic President Of the
United States, the able and experienced
Secretary of State, and others promi-
nently connected with the Government,
whose patriotism has risen above all
selfish considerations are understood
to favor the Convention, and to desire
that all the States be represented. Let
it be so then.
A word as to the kind of delegates
we should send. | do not think it eX-
pedient that those who were prominent
as politicians, or in the field, should 60
to the Convention, or seek prominent
positions in connection with the Gov
ernment, so long as there is any dis,
pute about the terms of restoration, or
the reconstr action Of the Union.
We have conservative men who are
no more true to the Government now
than most Of the class just mentioned,
but who are more acceptable to the
people of the North. Then let those
of lis who belong to the class first
designated remain in private life, and
send them, and let the affections of cur
people 60 with them, heart and soul,
and let us all do our utmost to pro
mote restoration, harmony and re-
union. .'r .