The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-03-28
Bill Arp on tho Situation.
ROME, BIG SHANTY TERRITORY, No 3.
March Sth, '67.

A1stlSil ctii, W.
Mr.. Edito,-Nfy intention was to have
remained in dignified obscurity the
small remnant of my miserable days,
ken, Tip and other respectable gentle
men of all sexes and both colors, seem
to be disheveled about the times, and
insist on my views about the momen-
tous state of our sufferin country. The
GOOD people in Atlanta have got shaky
in the knees, and it is the duty of every
GOOD citizen to keep the disease from
spreadin if he can. | haven't been to
Washington, nor been playin sentinel
on the watch tower. but my observa-
tion convinces me there is a power of
fuss on hand about something. Politics
look squally and alarming. Bill Sher-
man overrun the country and destroyed
and carried away our property, and now
his brother John is finishin up the job
by Robin us of the rights and liberties
our forefathers won. General Thomas
is playin Vantoun with his Fl orders
for tableauin with an old Rebel fiag-ac-
cusin us of all the crimes in the deca-
logue: such as murder, larceny, rape,
arson, burglary, bigamy, perjury, and
suicide, THROWN up in our teeth the
aaog11a7ainaity Of our co1aqlterors, as bein
our safety valve from death and Beelz-
club. Good gracious what an awful
people we are.
But, my friends, we've got nothing to
be ashamed of. Since the war our pur-
suits have been peaceful and honorable.
We needn't humiliate ourselves through
fear of what humankind can do to us.
If the Radicals intend to confscate us,
they will clio it, and no acceptance OF
Sherman's bill will prevent it. Ii they
want our cabbages, they are goin to
have 'em. If they will ride over one
law, they will over another. II they
disregard Mr.. johnson S great argument
they'll disregard anything. I don't
know how it is generally, but there amt
an unpardoned Rebel in this county,
and if they confscate they have got to
declare the pardons all void. Nobody
knows what they wont do, or when they
will quit doing it, and my advice is to
suffer and be strong, endure everything
and accept nothing. All is lost save
honor; hold up your manhood, don't
lick the hand that's raised to strike the
blow. Joe Browns banner says '.all is
lost save honor, and that is only tolera-
BILE thank you, it grows puny and
weak" He says we can have represen-
tation in Congress. Who by? A man
who can take the test oath and control
the niger vote. Who wants such rep
resentation? How long before he
would jine the Radicals and go in for
confiscation. If he controlled the Mig
ger vote he'd promise 'em land or any
thing else. Demagogues have always
controlled the ignorant whites, dema-
gogues will control the ignorant blacks.
Who controls the niger influence in
RrnUploVY and his
party Tennessee has done just what
Joe Brown wants us to do, and now
look at her and weep "a niger candi
date running for Governor.
But suppose we had representation
and elected all good men, fair men, just
men, what could they do for us? Just
nothing at all. With the present Radi-
cal majority all our votes wouldn't UNI
do anything that has been done, and
with Radical President they could do
as much more as they pleased. Just
let 'em all alone, give 'em rope, more
rope; history is repeating itself, the cri
Sis will come some time, tyranny and
oppression must run its course, Joe
Browns programme won't stop it.
One of his resolutions made my head
swim; felt like taking chloroform. He
would make the whole Yankee nation
wanted 'em to come out South and let
us hug 'em. Well, all that sort Of stuff
is played out. There ANITA hundred
men in the State that has any more re-
spect for Radical than a hyena, and
Joe Brown knows it. But the good
Lord knows our hearts, and how fondly
we cling to those moderate men OF the
mighty North who would save us from
the humiliation that awaits us. Let a
kind word be spoken to a subjugated
Reb, and the warm blood quickens in
his veins.
Oh, but here are, the Union Leagues,
somebody says. what are they goin' to
do with us? Never mind, my friends,
the Union Leagues ain't agoin' to hurt
nobody. They are made of flesh and
blood like we are, and they are citizens,
and their fate will be our fate. They
are as much Disguised at Sherman's bill
as anybody. They are our neighbors
and our friends, and if there is some bad
men among 'em, there is enough of The
good to make 'em do right. So keep
quiet and be easy, and the Union Leagu
ers are not goin' to trouble you. Ifthey
want to save their own, it don't follow
that they want to steal yours.
But Joseph is afraid we can't stand q