Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-28
sUFFEKTNesE 40 TIE sourH.

A private letter in the New York Times
from a violent radical army officers
northern man-gives, ifpossible, 8 worse
picture Of suffering than any we have
had. But, he thinks it right to stop per-
secution somewhere, and, therefore, after
an abundance of personal reflections
upon the stupidity and acrimOny Of those
around him, writes as follows, in words
which make ones heart ache and cheeks
to Jingle with shame
The truth is that these people are so
tortured with debt and poverty that they
hardly mind anything which has not a
direct relation TO getting daily bread and
necessary raiment. l do hope to God
that we never shall approach the horri-
bic crime and cruelty Of confscation or
any similar measure of mere vengeance.
Looking this desolate and pauperized
community Of widows and orphans IN
the face, I feel like -imprecating curses
on the head Of any man who strives to
add to their misery. The amendment
is right il Furnishes the very men who
ought to he punished it il simple and not
unmsrciful justice. l approve Of Sher-
mans military bill because it enforces
the amendment. But this WHISPERING
about confscstion seems TO me like the
whispering Of murderers. A large por-
ton OF this people is close on the verge
Of starvation and if you take away
their land, or X you render their landed
tenures 50 insecure as 70 Interfere with
the planting Of crops, there will be hor-
rible misery the south will be a Poland,
an ireland, an India, a he'll to itself and
Z = horrihfa dfG0Vaaa tn M
There is a family within g mile Of this
place living in q brush house, F" a shanty
OF fresh pine branches. II consists of q
mother who had a son killed, a daughter
of twenty who had a husband killed.
another daughter OF thirteen, and a
grandehild of three. The Oldest daugh-
ter told me that she had been all over
the village to get work, and had failed
] furnished them with some clothing /
from the bureau stores, but how they are
70 live through the year Ican't imagine.
They were poor before the war, but not
like this. They "hdd q fdBlilg Bibte
once, and father thought eUer so much Of
e." A few words OF pity brought the
tears rolling down the eldest girls sallow
cheeks. "OhIn she said, " Zee been
LhrOuqha pOtDer IN the last tCo gears.v
She told me that she wasn't used to going
barefoot in the winter, and it made her
sick, which l consider very probable, as
we have had three inches Of snow.
There is q five points OF crime and
misery all over the country districts Of
this state. Let US bOpe that there will
be no coniscation to complete the ruin
and misery Of this misled and pitiable
population. Let their old political mills
elack; they viii Ia out aud stop some
day.
/ wish the north would do more to re-
lieve the southern poverty. 1t would
be a good political movement, and would
commence the work of conversion.
Mere merey-that is, mere lack of pun
ishment-seidOm brings over an enemy;
but actual, active, positive kindness must
have its good effect. As for punishment,
we have given up whippingour children;
can't we give up whipping u brothers
and sisters2 Must the north behave
like that fanatic or maniac who lately
logged his baby TO death because it
wouldn't pray2 Let Us have the pleas
ure OF believing that Mr.. Stevens viii
1 short Of that.
Idon,t believe there Is money enough
ia my district to pay the United States
taxes now due. I heard the other day
that one Of the most responsible Families
hsd written north for charity, and
accepted fifteen dollars
They hare @ house, 6a can't sell Il; iznd,
but cdsS hire ca9tiUators.