The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-30
Another GeneraI Endorses Long
street. .l.e.uN r..A--


The following is letter from Gen.
jeff. Thompson, of the late Confede-
rate army: '''
LoUIsvIILE, June 16, 1867.
George ID. Prentice, Esq. o.. i.
MY DEAR FRIEND: You desire me
to write you my feelings and Opt
mons under the existing political
condition of the country. Your
friendship to me in the dark days of
the late war, while we were politically
enemies, gives you the right to COM
mnnd my services in any way that L
can return your kindness, and, there
fore, 1 will comply with yourrequest,
and in as few words as possible ex-
press my present sentiments. I
might cover the whole ground when
I say that I heartily concur in the
sentiments of Gen. James Longstreet;
but Gen. Longstreet was profess
sional soldier, who fought like
hero, and surrendered like O brave
knight who has been unhorsed, and
he may not go far enough in his Ian
guage to place himself right before
the world; therefore I, who was q
civilian before the war, and only
buckled on my sabre to contend for
certain rights" las was the case
with the armies on either side, 1 can
go further than Gen. Longstreet, for
[ have resumed my social status and
have not changed my occupation.
J. tell you, then, plainly, that I
never fought the United States be-
cause l hated the United States. I
never fought the North because 1
hated the North. I,did not desire to
be one iota freer than L was under
the flag of the Union; but there was
an abstract political principle of
State rights, and $4, 600, O00, 600 worth
of African slaves, that I thought
could only be saved out of the Union.
From the first hostile gun fired by
John Brown, at Harper's Ferry,
until the 9Th day of June, 1865,
when [ surrendered my troops, was
a fair, square and consistent enemy
of Abolitionism. and those who
fought their battles; but when desc
lation came, and starvation and ruin
stared our women and children in
the lace, followed the example of
my noble leaders-surrendered all
political rights, and became one of
conquered but still proud people
Our war had been no "boy's play"
Our surrender was no farce. No po-
litician had aught to do with the
finale, and our proudest and noblest
simply received parole, saying she
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 condition
on July l, 1865. In a short time q
million of soldiers stacked their guns
and resumed the peaceful pursuits of
life. And in two short years, we
have taken giant strides in the march
of improvement and reconstruction.
We have not been asked to love the
dominant party, nor to kiss the rod
that smote us; but the victors have
the right to say, "Shall we make the
brave men our friends by courtesy,
or shall we make the towards friends
through fear?" 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 dis
cuss; neither have the right to COM
plain; nor will presume to advise.
1 can simply set my soldiers an ex-
ample of patience, industry and en-
terprise; to build up our broken for
tunes, and make the land bloom
again in peace, confidence and plenty;
therefore will accept all courtesies
and favors that the laws may grant
me, and not let my individual likes
or dislikes interfere with my duty to
the country in which my children at
least have an interest. l can now but
repeat what had occasion to write
once before: apologies for the past
or promises for the future would in
dicate want of confidence in my
own integrity. I have simply done
what L conceived to be my duty, and
/ propose to dc it now" The Con-
federate Government wiped out State
rights the first year of its existence
a bloodywar wiped out slavery and
wiped out the Confederacy; so they
are obsolete ideas; and the plain
question now presented is: "YVill you
accept citizenship under our terms,
as contained in this law?" and en-
phatically answer, YES" Let each
and every white man in the South
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