Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-10-25
AN Ex-REBEL ON THE SITUATION.
Letter from Roger A. Pryor.

Roger A. Pryor, of Virginia, lato a
general 10 the rebel army, has written u
letter to friend ia New York in regard
to the statement Of u Virginia paper tina,
he was Radical lie authorizes the
Indignant denial of this statement. aud
says that he has no politics, having given
up all political aspirations with the down.
tail of the Confederacy, but claims that he
has in good faith returned to his allegiance
TO the Government OF the United States, and
is sincerely desirous OF re-establishing
harmony aud good feelings between all
sections. Tho following is tho latter
portion Of the letter.
With this conviction, while | pretend TO
no part ia politics, have not hesitated 10
private discourse to advise my friends in
the South frankly to accept the siiua.
tiou;' TO adjust their ideas to the altered
state Of atiairs; to recognize and respect
the rights of the coored race; to cultivate
relations Of confidence aud goud will to
wards the people OF the North; ~ olslain
lrom the prohIless agitations of political
debate, and 70 employ their energies in the
far aud more exlgenl aud useful work Of
material reparation and development.
Striving, out OF regard to the South, to
inculcate this lesson of prudent conduct I
have urged such arguments as these: That
the negro is ia no seuse responsible for
the calsmities We endure; that toward US
he has ever conducted himself with kind
ness aud subordlnation; that ho is snii
tied To our compassion, aud to the assi,t
ace VI ouf superior intelligence in the
effort to attain higher state Of moral aud
intellectual development; that TO assume
he was placed on this theatre as 70
proach to humanity aud a stumbling block
ln the progress Of civilization, would be- TO
impeach the wisdom aud goodness Of prov
idehce that, considering tho comparative
number oi the two races in the South, it
would be the merest madness to provoke u
collision OF caste; ina word, that It is ab.
soIutely essential to the peace, repose, aud
the prosperity of the South. that the emsn
cipaied class should lie uudisturbcd In the
enjoyment of their rights under the law,
aud should be enlightened to understa d
the du les aud Interests OF social ordor aud
we'll. bsIng, But It has appeared TO mo
that the chief obstacle toa complete and
cordial reunion between the North aud
the South is found in the suspicion aud
resentment with which the people of these
SECTIONS regard each other Hence, while
on the one hand assuring the Northern
people OF the good faith with which the
South resumes its obligations in the Union
| have thought IL not amiss on the other
TO protest to my Southern friends that the
mass OF the Norlhern community are All
mated by far more just aud liberal senti
ments toward US than we arc apt to sus-
pect.
Aud thus, leaving to others the ostensi.
BILE part in the work Of recoustruc ion, aLo
abstainlng studiously from all political
connection aud activity, have hoped ia
some measure, aud in quiet way, to re
pair the evil | contributedto bring upon III,
South, by availing myself OF every appro'
pirate private opportunity co suggest thes,
counsels Of moderation and magnaDimity
Passion, to which in truth wo had ubun-
dant provocation, precipitated us into
secession; reason must conduct Us back
into the path Of peace aud prosperity.
Hard II may purge our hearts OF III,
rosentmcnts and prejudiccs engcnderoC
by civil war, but until our minds be en-
lightsucd by philosophic comprehension