Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-06-28
THE POSITION OF THE SOUTH.
I. os THE CARS, May %, 1857.

....
- os THE Cars, May %, 1857.
70 Tie Editor of tho Independents
s.e.I believe that the bloody civil wal
through which the nation has passed wa'
inevitablc. that the hand Of God was in II
Thus believing, came also to believe that
Wien slavery, the sole cause OF that bloody
struecle, should perish in spirit as we'll al
ia nsme. our estranged countrymen OF the
soath would again love their country and
thair counirymen. Believing this | have
striveu, since the surrender OF the rebel
arI,ies, so to close the great contest that II
wousd never more be reopenod. The way
20 complete success seemed to me TO be,
set through punishments, but through am
nosty for the guilty aud manhood suffrage
for tho freedmen. The nation conquered
the material forces Of the rebellion by the
cartridge hox; its spirit can only be con
querod by reason, through the ballot box
when that great measure was enacted,
giving protection TO life, liberty, and
property, and n well. defined plan of re.
construction aud the ballot to freedmen,
IL seemed 10 mo that the hour had come
for tho friends OF tho united country and
Of impartial liberty Of the South, not only
20 reconstruct the rabel States in accor-
dance with the terms prescribed, but to re-
construct them la spirit, to place them in
the hands Of such men only us are in heart
for the unity of the nation, and the equal
rights and privileges Of oil its citizens.
IL seemed 10 mo that the hour had indeed
como to heap the living Goals OF truth on
AZ. IA t...xu. ~ the xaaulo of fhasc
States. TO rally and consolidate the vetaran
Unionists. the newly .franchised blackman
aud the repentant followers OF tho "lost
cause" and to liz these States out OF the
depths where they were fallen, up into
complete harmony with their loyal sisters.
FILLED with this faith and this hope, |
entered, one month ago into the rebel
States, not TO utter fatterin, or soothing
words Ia the ears Of men Tho now lead
opinions and control affairs, who now di-
rect the press, and other meats OF reaching
the people; but TO make the issue clear,
sharp, distinct between the friends Of the
Reconstruction policy Of Congress and It's
+ enemies: between those who are in sympa.
thy with the men who saved the country
aud made II free and those who insist
that the men who saved the country and
made il free are its enemies. 1t seemed
20 me to be the duty Of far.seeing patrio.
iism TO make the issue in the rebel States
now, aud not permit those States to main
tain the unpairiotic and fatal sectional
ral.cx e ffBsolation--a policy condemned
alike Us Jeason and experience. Begin
ing on tho 10Th Of April, at Orange Court
A n 4 Il. ha
Of May at Huntsville, Alabama, met
aud addressed several thousands of our
counirymen Of the South. | did not fail
10 utter my sentiments with entire free
dom, though they were antagonistic TO
the sentiments OF many who listened TO
mo. Two thirds Of the property OF the ten
rebel States perished in the rebellion, tens
of thousands Of their young men were
sacrificed by it; losses and sorrows burden
the lives of the people, the ideas, princi
Piles, and policies of their leaders are for.
ever losi; and to the people the future
looms up dark almost rayless. These
men Of the South have beea accumstomed
TO hear, and they havy> Come to believe,
that their country and their countrymen
have brought upon them the nameless
woes, now pressing them down. Polid-
clans, presses, and pulpits bayc taught aud
still teach this.
Believing that men must know they
have sinned before they will repent, l
deemed it to be my imperative duty to de-
ny all responsibility for their losses and
safferings on the part Of the Government
Of the United States, the people of the
loyal States, or the Republican party; and
TO hold the people Of the rebel States alone
responsible for every dollar they expended
avery life they sacrificed, every drop Of
blood they shed, every tear Of agony or
sorrow. | deemed il duty to pronounce
Z the war the most wicked rebellion, in mo-
tive and purpose, in all history. | told
them that slavery had poisoned the very
fountains Of their being, fred their blood,
and made them hate their country and
their countrymen. appealed to the black
men not to form black mans party; not
: 70 do thing 10 make q war Of races;
not 10 hate any but love all; to vote for
such men. and such men only, as would
make the constitutions of their States 20
that equal rights and privileges should be
the birthright Of all; and who would es-
tablish schools for the education of the
children Of the people. Loyal men and
freedmen listened approvingly to these
who did not approve TO state that no groan
hiss, or disrespecifnI or unkind word fell
upon my ear mt any meeting addressed
Not accustomed to free speech, accustomed
only to hear one side-the side Of slavery,
secession, rebellion and civil war-thcse
men listened with respectful attention, Of.
fen-with deep interest, to the presentation
of truths antagonistic to all their cherished
. convictions. Surely, free speech In the
States, If not "fxed fact" is in process
Of achievement.
Never was there grander field for labor
than the rebel States now present. The
people are poor indeed. Ny ears are pain
ed my soul was made sick, with the reports
of losses of property and Of suffering.
General Sickles told me that there were
10000 suits pending in the courts Of North
Carolina and South Carolina and General
Pope thought there were nearly as many
in Georgia and Alabama. The people Of
those States need capital. Money is loan
ed there at ruinous rates. They need not
only the fostering cares Of the Govern
ment, but the charitable action of the
people, to relieve their misfortunes and
suferings and to aid their educational and
religious Institutions. These people have
sinned against their country, and against
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