The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1868-09-17
GEN. LEES LETTER.
Opinions of Southern Men.

Lee and other prominent Southern men
to the letter of General w. s. Rosecranz,
asking for their views on the state of feel
ing at the South:
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGs, WEST Va,
August 26, l868.-GENERAL: have had
the honor to receive your letter of this
date, and in accordance with your sugges-
tions have conferred with q number of
gentlem en- from the South in whose judg-
ment have confded, and who are ac-
quainted 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 answer. With this explanation we
propose to give to you what we believe in
regard to the sentiments of the Southern
people in relation to African slavery, and
the right of State to secede from the
Union.
We express the almost unanimous judg-
ment of the Southern people when we de-
clare that we consider that these disputed
questions have been 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 slavery,
and annulled their ordinances of secession,
and they returned to their peaceful pur-
'suits with sincere purpose to- fulfill all
their duties under the Constitution of the
United States, which they had sworn to
support. C..
If it were not for the aid that Southe IN
agriculture affords them, the people of
the South would be destitute of means of
subsistence, and would become paupers,
dependent on public bounty. Self inter-
est, 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, neces-
sary to each other, is gradually becoming
} apparent to both, and we believe that but
for the influences exerted to stir up the
passions of the negroes, the relations of
the two races would soon adjust them
selves on basis of mutual kindness and
.. advantage.
1t is true that the people of the South,
together with the people of the North and
West, are, for obvious reasons, opposed to
any system of laws which would place the
: political power of the country in the hands
: of the negro race, but this opposition
springs not from feeling of emnity, but
/ but from deep-seated conviction that at
l present the negroes have neither the in
, telligence nor other qualifications which
are necessary to make them safe deposit
aries of political power. They would in
9 evitably become the victims of dema-
gogues, who for selfish purposes would
mislead them, to the serious injury of the
public.
The great want of the South is peace.
The people earnestly desire tranquility and
!, the restoration of the Uuion. They de-
precate disorder and excitement as the
= most serious obstacle to their prosperity
they ask a restoration of their rights UNI
der the Constitution they desire relief
I from oppressive misrule, and above all.
y they would appeal to their countrymen fol-
> the re-establishment in the Southern
: States of that which has justly been re.
: garded as the birthright Of every Ameri-
can-the right of enlightenment. Els
7, tablish that on firm basis, and we car
d safely promise, on behalf of the Southern
W people, that they will faithfully obey the
" Constitution and laws of the United States
k treat the negro with kindness and human.
e ity, and fulfill every duty incumbent or
n peaceful citizens loyal to the Constitution
of their country.
e We believe the above contains sue
n cinct reply to the general topics embrac
g ed in your letter, and we venture to say
y on behalf of the Southern people, and o
! the officers and soldiers of the late Con
p federate army, that they will concur in al
|, of the sentiments which we have expressed
Approaching the patriotic spirit which