Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-09-09
THE REPLY.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST
Y, AuruSt Of 1SeS

A., august 20, IoOO.
GENERAL: | have had the honor to re
ceive YOUR letter Of this date, and IN &C
cordance with your suggestion | have con-
ferred with a number of gentlemen from
the South, in whose judgment | have con
fded, and who are well acquainted with
the public sentiment of their respective
States. They have kindly consented to
unite with me in replying to your commu-
nication, and their names will be found
with my own appended TO this answer.
With this explanation we proceed to
give to 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 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 consid-
er that those questions 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 re-
sumo their former relations with the
United States Government. Through their
State Conventions they abolished slavery
and annuled their ordinances of secession ;
and they returned to their peaceful pur
suits with a sincere purpose 10 fulfil all
their duties under the Constitution of the
United States. which they had sworn 10
support If their action in these particu-
lars had been met in spirit of frsnkness
and cordality, 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 VIC are advised. the people of
the South entertain no unirieudly feeling
toward the Government of the United
States, but they complain that their rights
under the Constitution are withheld from
them in the administration thereof.
The idea that the Southern people are
hostile to the negroes, and would opprcss
them ifit were in their power to do SO, is
entirely unfounded. They have grown
up in our midst, and we have been accus-
toned from childhood to look upon them
with kindness. The change in the rela-
tions of the two races has wrought no
change in our feelings toward them -
They still constitute the important part OF
our Iaboring population. Without theiI
| labor. the lands of the South would be
comparatively unproduclive. Without
the employment which Southern agricul-
tnre affords, they would be destitute of the
means OF subsistence, and become paupers
dependent on public bounty.
Self respect, even If there were no high
er motives, would therefore prompt til,
whites OF the South to extend to the ne
groes care and protection. The impor-
tapt fact that the two races are, under ex
isting circumstances, necessary to eacl
other, is gradually becoming apparent tt
both and we believe that but for infu
ences exerted to stir up the passions of th'
negroes, the relations of the two race
would soon adjust themselves on basis O
mutual kindness and advantage.
1t is true that the people of the South
together with the people of the North anC