Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-03-23
snfrerings at the South.

A private letter in the New York Times from
a violent Radical amy ofhcer-a Northern man
gives, if possible, worse picture OF suffering
than any VS. have had But, be thinks II reht
TO stop persecution somewhere, and, therefore,
after an abundance Of personal reflections upon
the stupidity and acrimony Of those around him,
writes as Flows, in words which make ones
heart ache and cheeks to linge with shame:
The truth is that these people are 50 tortured
with debt and poverty that they hardly MIND
an thing which has not a direct relation 10
getting daily bread and necessary ralment. do
hooe 10 God that we never shall approach the
horrible crime and cruelty OF conhscaIlon or any
similar measure Of mere vengeance. L'okIIg
at this desoated community efwrIowS and Of
phans in the face, | feel like lmPrecatIng curses
on the head OF any man who strives 10 add 10
their misery. The amendment is right It pun
ishes the very men who ought TO be punished
il is simple and not unmerclfII justice. | ap-
prove of Sherman's military bill because II en-
forces The amendment. But this whispering
about coniscation seems to me Ike the whIs-
pering of murderers. A largo portion Of this
people is close OH the verge of starvation {; and
If you take away their land, or IT you render
their landed tenures so insecure as to interfere
with the planting OF crops, there vi De horrible
misery he South will be Poland an Ireland,
an India, a Eell TO itself and horrible disgrace
TO US.
There is a family within mile of this place
living in "branch house" shanty OF fresh
pine branches. 1t consists Of mother who
! had a son killed, daughter of twenty who had
a husband killed, another daughter OF thirteen,
and grandchild Of three. The oldest daush-
ter told me that she had been all over the vii
lage to get work. and had failed. | furnished
them with some clothing from the Bureau
stores, but how they are TO live through The
wear can't imagine. They were poor before
! the war, but not like this. They "hGd family
| Bible once, and father thought so much Of IT,"
few words of pity brought the tears rolling
dowu the eldest girls sallow cheeks. "Oh J!
she said, "rre been through potcsr in The las!
tlco years " She told me that she wasn't used
to gong barefo in winte", and it made her
sick which consider very probable, as we
have had three inches Of snow.
| There is a Five Points Of crime and misery
all over lhe country districts Of this State. Let
! us hope that there will be no condscatIon 10
complete the ruin and misery Of this mised
and pitiable population. Let their old political
mills clack; they will wear out and STOP some
day.
wish the North would 90 more 10 ieIIeFe
the Southern poverty. 1t would be gooG po-
! litca movement, and would commence The
work Of conversion. Mere mercy-that IS,
mere lack of punishment-sedom brings over
an enemy; but actual, active, positive kindness
| must have its good effect. As for punishment,
we have given up whipping our children; can't
we give up whipping our brothers and sisters
Must the North behave like that fanatic or ma
mac who lately Aogged his baby to death he
cause it wouldn't pray: Let us have the pleas
ure Of believing that Mr.. Stevens will stop short
Of that.
don't believe there is money enough IN my
district to pay the United States taxes now due
heard the other day that one Of the most re-
sponsibe families had written North for charity,
and thankfully accepted fifteen dollars. They
hare house, but can't sell il land, but can!
hire cuLlirGtOrS.