Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1866-05-11

or two letters for numbering her majesty's
English, vet IL frequent repetition OF the
offence can hardly be justified. 1t is de-
moralizing to LAM guage. The truth is, no
wit is good wit that will not bear to be
GORE city written, and therefore direct a
reconstruction Of the photography, even at
the peril OF Mr.. Arp's reputation.
For the sentiments that pervade these
letters, I have no apology to make. AT
the time they appeared III the press Of the
South, these sentiments were the silent
echoes of our peoples thoughts, and this
accounts in the main Tor the popularity
with which they were received. OF
course they contain exaggerations, and
prophecies which were never fulfilled !,
but both sections were playing "brag' as
well as ''Lattle," and though we could
not compete with our opponents III the
former, yet some OF us did try to hold our
own. At both games We were whipped
bv overwhelming torces and we have Civ
ell it up. Conquered, but not convinced,
we have accepted the situation, and have
pledged ourselves to abide by it. We
have sworn to do So W. have declar eG
it most solennly III convention. We have
asserted it III every act and deed and
Southern honor, which our enemies can
not appreciate, but which is nntarnished
and imperishable, is the seal OF onr good
faith Whoever testifes to the existence
among Us of an association designing
renewal of the rebellion, is either the vic
tim OF his own cowardice, or else the au
thor Of a selfish and heartless lie [ say
this with feeling and Indignation, for we
see In sach testimony a willingness, nay, q
desire on the part OF our military rulers,
to retain over lis their power and their
tyranny for malicious or avaricious ends.
We have long felt, and we are still feeling
their insults. their black mails their rob
bcries. Ours is the stranded ship. and the
Federal officers among us are the wreck
ers ours the carcass, and they the vul-
lures who are picking our denuded bones.
The little that was lett cur people is seized,
and released on paying part into private
pockets. They get rich and resign, and
fresh corps OF vampires take their places,
to renew the operation. l have even
known them to steal by night, and haul
away the poor pttance of damaged corn
that onr generous O. Government had
stored tor distribution TO our starving poor.
1t is for such purposes that military do
ninion is to be. continued. Would that
t!is were all But uot content with even
this exhaustion of Our scaDty means, they
are snnullng our contracts made with the
labOlers who were content to work III our
fields for fair wages and are tolling them
off to parts unknown under false preten~
ces Our plnughs are standing in the
fields idle, our farms will go untitled, and
the land swarms with agents who are bri-
bing the poor negroes away under promi
ses of higher wages, and under the sane
ton Of Bureau as rotten as the promises
Of Pharoah.
Vu Victis. But still we abide all these
sad results, and look upon it as part Of
the war, and III keeping with the charac-
ter of those who have so long been our
enemies. They but exhibit the animns Of
people whose hate and avaiice induced
the rebellion. Such oppression has turned
from them almost the last opponent Of Sc
cession, and caused them to regret that
they did not throw their lives and fortunes
into the fight.
Perhaps this is all for the best We can
not tell. We have almost ceased to phi
lesophize upon it, tor we have no time to
think The work OF actual reconstruction
absorbs our time and energies. I mean
! the reconstruction Of your individual for
times, oar houses. our fields and farms, OUR
railroads, manufactures, grave-yards,
schools and churches We have no time
to stop and mourn over the loss Of liberty.
But can find time to ask, What has
the North gained by tho WARP What