Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-16
Letter from Gen. Rosecranz to Cen.
Robert e. Lee, and the Reply.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST Va,
D. Anpnst 26.. 1868. e

GENERAL. L Jill VI ooiiCitAuo. ioi 'AtS ..'uAo =
of our country, come with my heart in my
hand to learn the condition, wishes and IN
tentions of the people of.the Southern States.
especially to ascertain the sentiments of that
body of brave, energetic and self-sacrificing
men who, after sustaining the Confederaey
four years, laid .dowa their arms and .swore
allegiance 10 the Government Of the United
States, whose trusted and beloved leader you
have been. ~. ----',''.,...',,,. :, "
see that interpreting estate rights" to
conflict with national unity has produced
violent reaction against them, which IS DRIFT
ing us towards consolidation, and also that SO SO
great country as ours even now Is, certain
" is to be, must have State governments to
attend to local details, or go farther and fare
worse.
1t is plain to us ut the West and North that
the coniinuauce of semi anarchy, such as has
existed for the-last three years in ten States
of our Union, largely increases the, danger OF
centralism, swells our national expenditures,
diminishes our productions and our revenue,
inspires doubts of our political and financial
stability, depreciates the value of our nation
al bonds and currency, and places the'credit
OF tue rlCueSI USlO" Lut-l VI IhS PooiSSs 1's'O,-
in Christendom.
We know that our currency must be de-
preciated so long as our bonds are below par,
and that; therefore, the vast business and
commerce of the country must suffer the ter
rble evil of auctuating standard of value
until we can remedy the evil condition OF
things at the South. We also see other mis-
chief quite POSSIBLE, if not probable, to arise,
such as from failure Of crops, a local insur-
rection and many other unforeseen contingen'
cies, which may still more depreciate our
credit and currency, provoke discomfort and
disorder among our people and bring dema,
gogical agitators, revolution, Reputation and
4 thousand unnamed evils and villainies upon
MS. We know that the interests of the peo-
ple of the South are for law and order, and
that they must share cur fate Of good and Ill.
belieye-every one / know who reflects
bclievcs-that if the people Of the Southern
States could be ut peace, and their energy
and good will heartily applied to repair the
wastes Of war, reorganize their business, set
the freedmen peaceably, prospe, ously and con,
ten:edly at work, invite capital, enterprise and
labor from elsewhere 10 come freely amongst
them, they would soon rebuild their ruined
fortunes, multiply many fold the value Of
their lands, establish public confidence in. OR
political stability, bring our Government
bonds-to premium, our currency to gold
standard, and assure for'themseIyes and the
whole nation a most happy and prosperous
future. =.
Seeing this, aud how ali just interests con
cur in the work, | ASH the officers and SOL
aiers who fought for The Union, ask every
thinking man Of The great Vest and North,
Why 1t cannot be done 2 -. -. -,
We are told by those who have controlled
The fGovcrn;nrnt for The last four years, that
the people ot;the, South will not do it. Tbat,
If ever doae at all, it must be done by the
poor, simple, uneducated, lanlless freedmeh
and the few whites WHO, agairst the public
opinion ana sentiment Of the intelligent white
people, are willing to attempt to lead and
make their living Of Of, these ignorant, mex
p-ricnced p2eple, mostly men who must be
needy anventurcrs, or without any OF those
attributes on whichreliance for good guidance
;ar!govcrument cab be placed. We are told
that this Kind Of government fnnst be con-
tinucd at the South until six or eight millions
Of intelligent, energetic white people give
into or move ont of the country: 8 -
Now, i think. the Union army thinks, and
people Of the North and West dare say be-
:iieye, there must be, or there ought to be a
shorter, surer way 70 get good government
for all at the South. We know that they
who organized and sustained the Southern
Confederacy for four years against gigantic
efforts ought to be able to give peace, law, or.
der and protection to the whole people of the
Souta.s They have the interest aud the pow
er to empty, protect, educate and elevate the
poor freedmen, and to restore themselves and
our country to all, the blessings Of which
have lust spoken. The question I want an-
swered is-"" Arc, they willing TO do it2"
come down TO-. find out, what, the people
of the South think Of This, and to ask you
what the officers and soldiers who served in
the Confederate army, aud the leading peo-
Pile who sustained it, think Of these things i?
came, TO ask more, Igwapt. TO ask you,
in whose purity aud patriotism here express
unqualified condolences. and as many good
men as. yon can Conveniently consult, 10 say
what You think Of it;tand, also, what you are
willingrt to do about it.? -Yr- - ri
wants written expression Of views. that
can be followed BY concurrence of action. !
want to kpowif you and the gentlemen who
will join in that written expression are will
ing to pledge the people Of the South to q
chivalrous aud magnanimous devotion TO re-
storing peace and prosperity to our common
country. I want to carry that pledge, high
above the level OF party politics to the late
officers and soldiers Of the Uuion army, and
to the people of the North and West, and u
ask them to consider it, and to take tue ne
eessary action. confident that it will meet
with response so warm, so generous -and
confding that we shall see in it's sunshine
the rainbow of peace in our political sky
now black with clouds aud impending storm
Iknow. yor are a representative. nun, in
reverence and regard for the. Union, the Con
stitution aud the welfare Of, the country, and
that what you would say. would be endorsed
by mine -tenths Of the whole people Of The
South; but should like to have The sigma.
lures ofall the representative Southern men
hcre, who concur in your, views, and their
expressions of their concurrence from the
principal offers aud representative men
throughout The South, when they can be pro
cured. IL.
This concurrence ofopinions and wills, all
tending to peace, order and stability, will as
sure our rnlon soldiers md business men
who want suLstaatjal and solid peace, anc
cause them to rise above tue lovel Of party
politics and take such steps to meet yours as
will insure lasting peace, with all lis count
less blessings. ,,.......'..,
[Signcdl W. S RosEcRaXz.
General I. E: Lee, WLite Sulphur Springs
West Virginia.
THE REPLY.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, w. Va,