The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-06-27
oEN.LoNeNrREEr REINFORCED
Letter from Jen Thompson.
!. !. !. .LoUIsYILLE. June l6. 1867.

G3ES.- -I50SGSFREEF REINFORCED
Letter from JEFF Thompson.
(, (, LoUIsyILLR, June 10, 1867.
George ID. Prentice. Esq:
Ny DEAR FRIEND: You desire me to
write you! my feelings ard opinions
under the existing political condition
of the country. Your friendship to me
in the dark days of the late war, while
we were political enemies, gives you
the right,to command my services in
any way that can return your kind
ness, and therefore 1 will comply witt
your request, and In us few words as
possible express my sentiments.
might cover the whole ground when
ments of Genersl James Longstreet,
but General . LouSstreet was a
professional soldier, who fought
like q hero, and surrendered like Il
brave knight who was unhorsed, and
lie may not go far enough in his Ian
guage TO place himself right before the
world; therefore 1, who was a'civilian
before the war, and only buckled on
my sabre tocontend for certain "rights,
(as was the case with the armies on
either side,) can go further than Cen
eraI IIongstreet, for Ihave resumed my
social status and have not changed my
occupation. n5'i,5-', 4o-, 40 Z.
ItelI you then, plainly, that never
fought the United States because
hated the United States. ! never fought
the North because hated the North. j
did not desire to be one iota freer thanI
was under the flag Of the Union; but
there was abstract political principle oI
States rights and four Thousand mill
lions of dollarsi worth of African slaves
that thought could only be saved ou!
of the Union, From the hrst hostile
gun fired by John Brown at Harper's
Ferry until the 9th day of June, 1855
when l Isurrendered my troops, was d
fair, square and consistent enemy oi
Abolitionism and those who fought
their battles; but when desolation came
aud starvation and ruin stared our wo.
men and children in the face, l followed
the example of my noble leaders-sur.
rendered all political rights and became
oneofa conquered but still proud people
Our war had been no "boy's play
OurHurrender WAS no farce. No poIiti.
clan had aught 10 do with the finale
and our proudest and noblest simply
received parole saying, "he shall moi Gt
inteLJered iDith by the UIIited lStdtes
authorities, as long as he observes thiS
may reside" This. then, was ouI
ACTUAL condition on July lst, 1865. In a
short time 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 Feconstruo.
lion. We have not been asked to love
thatrsmote us; but the vic ors have the
right oisay, shall we make the brave
men our friends by courtesy, or shall
We make the towards friends through
fear2n And they, only, have the right
to'make the laws, " which we have sim
ply-the right 20 obey, or leave the
eonntryf or remain aliens insour own
land.
The proper policy for the yictors to
pursue Is not my province TO discuss
neither have i Alright to complain, nor
viii 4 presume to-advise. 9scan simply
set my soldiers an example of patience
ndnstryaRnd enterPrise,t 10 build up our
broken fortunes and makR the Hand
bloom again In peace, confidence and
tesies and flvors that the law 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. T i can now !bnt
repeat what 1 had occasion to write
once before: Apologies for the past
or promises for the future would indi.
cate a want OF confidence in my own
integrity. have simply done what ]
conceived to be my duty, and propose
to do~it now" The Confederate Gov.
ernment wiped out States rights the
first year ofits existenca-a bloody war
wiped out slavery, and wiped out the
Con federacy, so they are obsolete ideas;
and the plain question now presented
us is,i"Wnlyou accept citizenship un-
I der our terms As contained in this
law. 2" and emphaticaIIy answer Yes
Let each and every white man in the
Southisay, "Abstract ideas or obsolete
theories shall not govern me, for
shall look facts In the face as they ex-
ist, and make the best out ofthe future
without mOping over the past. 1t is
not to be presumed that 1 shall be
asked dtoNcompronIise my honor, or be
false to my friends, for l am compelled
to obey the laws, and being an eIectoI
simply gives me an opportunity tC
make the laws more favorabls"-then
will confidence be restored, and plenty
abound once more. Oh =14gC =
IHl Yours, most respectfully,
{, li7-st 3 800 NJ. JEFF. THOMSON.
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