The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-06-26
From the Louisville Ky Journal.

From the Louisville Ky Journal.
LorIstILLE, Sunday, June 10, 1867.
george D. Prentice, Esq:
My Dear Friend,-You desire me 20 write
you my feelings and opinions under the exist
ing political condition Of the country. Your
friendship 10 me In the dark days OF tho late
war, while we were politically enemies, gives
! you the right TO my services in any
way that l can return vour kindness, and
therefore | Will comply with your request,
and in as few words as possible express my
present | might cover the whole
ground when / say that i heartily concur in
the sentiments Of General James Longstreet ;
but General Longstreet was n professional
soldier, who fought like q hero, and suTren.
dered like a brave knight who has been I'M
horsed. and he may not 60 far enough In his
language to place himself right before the
world therefore /, who was a civilian before
the war, and only buckled on my sabre TO
contend for certain rights las was the case
with the armies on either side,) / can go fur
ther than General Longstreet, for / have re-
sumrd my social status and have not changed
my occupation.
l tell yOu, then, plainly, that / never
fought the United States because / hated the
United States. never fought the North be-
cause ! hated the North. l did not desire TO
be one lota freer than ] was under the flag of
the Union but there was an abstract pOliti-
cal principle of State rights and four thou
sand millions OF dollars worth OF African
slaves that thought could only be saved out
of the Union. From III" first hostile gun
fired by John Brown at Harper's Ferry I'M
Ill the 9TH day OF June, ls6j, when l sur
rendered my troops, l was a fair, square, and
consistent enemy Of abolitionism and those
who fought their battles; but when desola-
ton came, and starvation and ruin stared our
women and children in the face, / followed
the example of my noble lcaders-surrendered
all political rights, and became one OF a con-
qucred but still proud people. Our war
had been no =, boys play Our sur,
render was no farce. No politician had
aught to do with the finale, and our
proudest and noblest simply received n
parole saying che shall not he interfered
with by the United States authorities as long
as he observes this parole and the laws in
force where he may reside This, then, was
our actual condition on July ], 1860. In a short
time Il 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 re-
construction. We have not been asked to love
the dominant party, nor 10 kiss the rod that
smOte MS but the yiCtOrs have the right 10
say, "Shall we make the brave men our friends
by courtesy, or shall we make the towards
friends through fcar?' And they only have
the right TO make the laws, which we have
simply the right 10 obey, or leave the country,
or remain aliens in our own land.
The proper policy for the victors to pursue
is not nv province 10 discuss, neither have l
a right to complain nor will | presume 10
advise. / can simply set my soldiers IN eX-
ample of patience, industry, and enterprise
10 build up our broken fortunes, and make the
land bloom again in peace, confidence, ana
plenty therefore ] will accept all COurtesIes
and fayOrS that the laws 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. l can nOW
but repeat what | had occasion TO write once
before : al Ologics for the past or promises
for the future would indicate 4 want of conf
dence III my own integrity. | have simply
done what l conceived 10 be my duty,
and ] propose TO do IL now TIL" Con
fcdcrate Government wiped out State
rights the first year of its existence
Il bloody war wiped ont slavery, and wiped
out the COniederaCy so they are ooso'
lrtc ideas aud the plain question now pre-
scented is, "Wi!l you accept citizenship under
our terms, as contained in this law - ana i
emphatically answer, Yes Let each and
| every white man in the South say, "Abstraci
ideas or obsolete theories shall not govern me,
| for ! will look facts in the face rs they exist
and make the best out Of the future without
mOping over the past. 1t Is not to be pre-
sumcd that | shall be asked TO compromise my
honor. or be false to my friends, for ] am com
PEELED to obey the laws, and being an electol
simply gives me an opportunity 10 make The
laws more favorable then VIII confidence
be restored and plenty abound once more.
Yours, most respectfully,
NJ JrEr TuOVpSOS.