Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1868-09-11

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
WEST Va, August 26, 1868.
GENERAL have had the honor to re-
ceive your letter of this date, and in accor-
dance with your suggestions I have conferred
with number Of gentlemen from the South
in whose judgment have confded, and who
are well acquainted with the public sentiment
of their respective States They have kind
ly consented to unite with me in replying to
your communication. and their names will
be found with my own appended to this an
swer. With this explanation, we proceed
to give you candid statement Of what we
believe to be the sentiment of the Southern
people in regard to the subject to which you
refer.
Whatever opinions may have prevailed in
the past in regard to African slavery or the
right Of State to secede from the Union,
we believe we express the almost unanimous
judgment of The Southern people when we
declare that they consider that those ques-
tons were decided by the war, and that it is
their intention in good faith to abide by that
decision. At the close of the war, the
Southern people laid down their arms and
sought to resume their former relations with
the United States Government Through
their State Conventions they abolished sla-
very and annulled their ordinances Of seces-
sion, and they returned to their peaceful
pursuits with a sincere purpose to fulfill all
their duties under the Constitution of the
United States which they had sworn to pro-
tect. If their action in these particulars had
been met in spirit of frankness and cordial
ly, we believe that ere this old irritations
would have passed away, and the wounds
inflicted by the war would have been in
great measure healed. As far as we are ad-
vised, the people of the South entertain no
unfriendly feeling towards the Government
of the United States, but they complain that
their rights under the Constitution are with
held from them in the administration there
of.
The idea that the Southern people are
hostile to the negroes, and would Cypress
them if it were in their power to do SO, is
entirely unfounded. They have grown up
in our midst. and we have been accustomed
from childhood to look upon them with kind
ness The change in the relations of the
two races has brought no change in cur feel
ing towards them. They still constitute the
important part of our laboring population.
Without their labor the lands Of the South
would be comparatively unproductiye. With
out the employment which Southern agricul-
ture affords they would be destitute of the
means of subsistence, and become paupers,-
dependent on public bounty. Self-interest,
even if there were no higher motive, would,
therefore prompt the whites of the South to
extend to the negroes care and protection.
The important fact that the two races are,
under existing circumstances, necessary to
each other is gradually becoming apparent
to both, and we believe that but for the in
fuences exerted to stir up the passions of the
negroes the relations Of the two races would
soon adjust themselves On basis Of mutual
kindness and advantage
1t is true that the people Of the South, to-
gether with the people Of the North and,
West, are, for obvious reasons, opposed to
any system Of laws which will place the po-
litical power Of the country in the hands of
the negro race. But this opposition springs
from no feeling Of enmity, but from deep
seated conviction that at present the negroes
have neither the intelligence nor other quail
i6cations which are necessary to make them
safe repositories of political power They
would inevitably become the victims of dem
agogues. who for selfish purposes would mis-
lead them, to the serious injury Of the pub
lie. i'Fd
The great want Of the South is peace. =
The people earnestly desire tranquility and
the restoration Of the Union. They depre-
cate disorder and excitement as the most Sc
rious obstacle to their prosperity They ask
restoration Of their rights under the Con-
stitution. They desire relief from oppres-
sive misrule. Above all, they would appeal
to their countrymen for the re-establishment
in the Southern States Of that which has
justly been regarded as the birthright of
every American-the right of self govern
ment. Establish these on firm basis, and
we can safely promise on behalf of the South
ern people that they will faithfully obey the
Constitution and laws Of the United States,
t-eat the negro with kindness and humanity,
and fulfill every duty incumbent on peaceful
citizens loyal to the Constitution Of their
country. t+'s ISIS
We believe the above contains a succinct
reply to the general topics embraced in your
letter, and we venture to say on behalf of
the Southern people and of the officers and
soldiers of the late Confederate army, that
they will concur in all the sentiments which
we have expressed, -a
Approaching the patriotic motives which
have prompted your letter, and reciprocating
your expressions Of kind regard, we have the
honor to be, *-tf
Very respectfully and truly,
R. E. Lee of Virginia, W. J. Green, n C,s
G. 7. Beauregard, La, Lewis E. Harvie Va,
Alex. H. Stephens, Ga, P, V. Daniel, Jr., Va,
Q: NJ. Conrad, La, W. 7. Sutherlin. Va.
Linton Stephens, Ca, A. B. James, La,
A. T. Caperton, ". Va, 7. Beauregard, Texas
John Echols, Va, NJ 0. H. Norton, La,
3. S. Stockdale, Texas 7. P Branch, Ca, f
\. W. Pickens, S. G, H. 7. Russell, Ga,
VIM. J. Robertson, Va. Sam'l J. Douglas, Fla,
Jos. R. Anderson, Va, jeremiah Morton, Va,
VIM: I. Turner, W. Va, John B. Baldwin, Va,
c. H. Subee S. c., Geo. W. Boiling, Va,
3. Fontaine, Va, Theodore Flournoy Va. |
John Letcher, Va, James Lyons, Va,
B. G. Adams, Miss, '-i.3-!