The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-29
from the Louisville (Ky.) Jourr.,
Gen. M. JEFF. Thompson Endorses q
Sentiments of Gen. Longstreet I'M

IRON the Louisville (Ky) Journal
Gen. M. JEFF. Thompson Indora
sentiments of Gen. Longstreet "e
George d. Prentice, Esq: ''e ID.
My DEAR FRIEND: You des;ro
write you my feelings and opinions nnd me to
existing political condition of the cOma The
Your friendship to me in the dark d anny:
the late war, while We were political1v' VI
mics, gives you the right to Command cue
services in any way that 1 can return my
Kindness, and therefore will comply S1 :.1
your request, and in as few words as , "l'a
Die express my present sentiments. p pisSi-
cover the whole ground when I saw tha sht
heartily concur in the sentiments If %
Jas. Longstreet; but Gen. Longstreet ,,, uen.
professional soldier, who fought like . %"Sa
and surrendered like brave KNIGHT 1rhl nero,
been endorsed. and he may not 90 far eno,i mas
in his language to place himself RIGHT h oe4a
the world; therefore l, who was c;,;,;n le
before the war, and only buckled on NV ,'.an
bre to contend for certain rights faS 3D.
the case with the armies on either sido vas
can go further than Gen. Longstreet f,1
have resumed my social status and bava W. l
changed my occupation. '' "os
tell you, then, plainly that never foro,,
the United States because hated the ITn;5.a1
States. I never fought the North becamae!I
hated the North. did not desire to ho ~.
iota freer than I was under the fac Of he
Union: but there was an abstract noGtio"'
principle of State Rights and four thonsaU4n,
millions of dollars worth of African sIaroa
that thought could only be saved ont ~
the Union. From the first hostile gun 6roa
by John Brown, at Harper's Ferry. Until 1 tIa
9Th day of June, 1866, when l SUPREMACY
my troops, l was fair, square, and cons;ot
ent enemy of abOlitionism and those mLo
fought their battles; but when desolot;nOo
came, and starvation and ruin stared our
women and children in the face, foIIowoa
the example of my noble leaders -surrendor
ed all political rights and became one of
conquered but still proud people, Our war
had been n" boys play" Our surrender
was no farce. No politician had aught to
do with the finale, and our proudest and no,
blest simply received parole saying "bo
shall not be interfered with by the United
States authorities, as long as he observes
this parole, and the laws in force where he
may reside" This, then, was our actual con.
dition on July r, 1865. In short time
million of soldiers stacked their guns and re-.
sumed the peaceful pursuits of life And in
two short years We have taken giant strides
in the march of improvement and resonstruc-
tioh We have not been asked to love the
dominant party, nor to kiss the rod that
smote US, but the vietors have the right to
say, Shall we make the brave men our
friends By courtesy, or shall we make the.
towards friends through fear 3" And they
only have the right to make the laws, which
we have simply the right to obey, or leave
the country, or remain aliens in our own
land.
The proper policy for the victors to pursue
is not my province to discuss, neither have I
a right to cofAplail ; nor will presume to,
advise. can simply set my soldiers an ex-
ample of patience, industry and enterprise
to build up our broken fortunes, and make
the land bloom again in peace, confidence
and plenty therefore will accept all cour-
tesies and favors that the laws may grant me
and Rot let my Individual likes or disikcs
interfere with my duty to the country in which
my children at least have an interest. can
onee before apologies for the past or
promises for the future would indicate a
want of confidence in my own integrity. Z
nave simply done what I conceived to be my
luty, and I propose to do it now" The
Confederate Government wiped out States
Rights the first year of its existence-a
bloody war wiped out Slavery, and wiped
nut the Confederaey, SO they are obsolete
IDEAS; and the plain question now presented
s.. "Wal you accept citizenship under our
errss, as contained in this law 2" and EN-
'atieally answer yes Let each and every
sMte man in the South say: Abstract
IDEAS or obsolete theories shall not governs
ne, for will look facts in the face as they
xist, and make the best out of the future,
7ithout moping over tine past. 1t is not to
e presumed that I shall be asked to compro-
lise my honor, or be false to- my friends, for
am compelled to obey the laws, and being
n eleetor simply gives me an opportunity to,
make the laws more favorablen-then Will
onfidence be restored. and plenty abound
nee more.
Yours, most respectfully,
NJ. JEFF. THOMPSON.