Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-07-27

lably degrade and weaken that part
of our united Republic.
Letter from Gen. JEFF. Thompson.
The following letter was recently
addressed by Gen. NJ jeff Thomp-
son, to Prentice Of tho Louisville
Journal:
Ny DEAR FRIEND: You desire mo
to write you my feelings and opin.
ions under the existing condition Of
the country. Your friendship to mo
in tho dark days of the late war,
while We were politically enemies,
gives you the right to command my
services in any way that | can re-
turn your Kindness, and in as few
words as possible express my pres
sent sentiments. | might cover tho
whole ground when | say that hear
tily concur in the sentiments of Gen.
James Longstrect; but Gen. Long
street was professional soldier, who
fought like hero, and surrendered
like brave knight who has been un-
horsed, and he may not 60 far enough
in his language to place himself
right before the world; therefore I,
who was civilian before the war,
and only buckled on my sabre, to
contend for certain "rights, as was
the case with tho armies on both
sides, ! can 60 farther than Gen.
Longstreet, for / havercsumed my
social status and have not changed
my occupation.
Itcll you then plainly that never
fought the United States because l
hated the United States. never
fought the North because hated the
North. | did not desire to be one
jot frecr than was under the flag
of the Union, but there was an alb
stract principle Of State rights, and
four thousand millions Of dollars
worth of African slaves that tho't
could be saved out of the Union
From the first battle gun fired by
John Brown at Harper's Ferry, uH-
til the 5th day of June, 1865, when
| surrendered my troops, was q
fair, square, and consistent enemy
of abolitionism and those who fought
their battles but when desolation
came, and starvation and ruin stared
our women and children in the face,
I followed the example of my noble
leaders-surrendercd all political
rights, and became one ola conquer
cd, but still proud people. Our
war had been no "boys' play" Our
surrender was no farce. No politi-
clan had aught to do with the finale
and our proYdest and noblest simply
received a parolc-saying she shall
not be interfcred with by tho United
States authorities, as long as he obscr7
YES this parole, and the laws in force
where he may reside" This then
was our actual condition on July l.,
1865. In short time a million Of
soldiers stacked their guns and re-
sumed the peaceful pursuits of life,
And in a short two years we have
taken giant strides in the march Of
improvement and reconstruction
We have not been asked TO love tho
dominant party, nor to kiss the rod
which smote us; but the victors
have the right to say, shall we make
the brave men our friends by our
courtesy, or shall we make the cow
ards friends through fear? And
they only have the right to make
the laws, while we simply have tho
right to obey, or leave the country,
or become aliens in our own land.
The proper policy for yictors to
pursue, is not my province to discuss,
neither have l right to complain,
nor will | presume to advise. / can
simply set my soldiers an example
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 courtesies and favors
that the laws may grant me, and NOS
let my individual likes or dislikes
interfere with my duty TO the coun-
try in which my children, at least
have an interest I can now but
repeat what | had occasion to writp
once before: Apologies for the past
or promises for the future would in
dicate want of confidence in my
own integrity. Ihave simply done
what conceived 10 be my duty, aud
I propose to do It now" The Con-
tolerate government wiped out
State rights the first year of its ex-
istence-a bloody war wiped out
slavery and wiped out the Confcdc-
racy; SO they are obsolete ideas, and
the plain question now presented is,
"yill you accept citizenship gnder
our terms as contained IN this law2''
and emphatically answer yesl-
Let each and every white man living
in the South say, abstract ideas oF
obsolete theories shall not govern
me, for will look facts in The face
as they exist, and make the best put
Of the futHre, without moping over
the past. 1t - not 10 be presumed
that l shall be called upon 10 CON-
promise my honor. Oh be false % nv
friends. for 1 am compelled TO ebey
the laws, and being an elector SIM
Ply gives me an opportunity 10 make
the laws more fav0rable-then will
confdsnce be restored, and plenty
ahol- crle more.