Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-12


The Northern States pardoned the palp-
able usurpation Of a power never
granted to Congress upon the
plea of necessity. Universal suf-
frage was no necessary corollary
of the war; il was extorted by dis
trust, offspring Of the long slavery agita-
ton. That gave enormous power to the
class of politicians who preach the per-
feet and complete wickedness of the
Southern white. These same men urge,
and they persuade many, that you still
cherish devotion to the lost cause,
which does not content itself with the
hopeless tenderness which we feel for the
dead, but is ready to take arms again at
the least encouragement
These fears mingle largely in the can
vass, and will exert strong influence in
the result. / think that distrust and fear
have dictated your terms more than NAL
ice or revenge. 1t was not cheerfully
that the North sacrificed the Coustitu'
ton for which it fought so long. For my
own part have never felt any apprehen-
sion of losing any of the proper results
of the war. / have always believed that
you must from necessity yield them as
frankly as we claimed them. | have
never doubted thatit was possible TO treat
you after your surrender in such way
as to enlist your aid and engage your
sympathies in a constitutional restora-
ton of the Union, and yet secure free
dom and fairness to the blacks, and tran
guilty and happiness to the whites. As
you very forcibly say, there is no policy
possible for you but peace. War now
woald be your utter destruction. The
Union is of more value to you than to US,
aud to the Constitution alone can you
fly for protection.
A general and cordial confidence in
your attitude, feelings and protests is
essential to your peace and prosperity.
We must renew the old spirit within us,
or the new Union will be an empty form.
Even if, by party success in very
close vote at the North, aided by your
own efforts at the South, you obtain a
temporary relief from your abject state
to-day, your condition will still be pre-
carious, your path full of snares, and a
true Union as distant as ever. SO long
as one-half the North is persuaded that
YOU have the will and the power to
Jockey them out of what cost them so
dear, we attempt to rebuild our Union on
the sands. Time alone and a patient
and enduring persistence on your part
in well-doing. in the face of all discour-
agement, can effectuslly remove the
cause of your ills; palliative will but
induce reaction again.
A cheerful concurrence in the essen
tial principles ofDemocrstic and consti-
tutional government regard as.requisite
for your peaceful progress in the future.
IucliniDg to these opinions, should have
excused myself from accepting your
kind invitation had you not expressly
disclaimed any political intent | do not
wish to mako any political speeches to
your people in the interest of any party,
nor add new bitterness to your already
dangerous position. But as / have felt
the evil very much of late that, OF our
own knowledge, we we're so little informed
of the real needs and wishes, and pur.
poses of each other; as cannot feel sure
that may not be of some use, and as l
deplore with all my heart the distracted
and discovered condition ,ot our united
people, will meet you as you request,
as fellow-citizens should meet in times
of difficulty, to consult with you upon
our duty at this time. / shall try to
speak frankly rather than agreeably, and
/ shall hope for equal sincerity in re-
iurnA / need not assure you that what l
have written has been dictated by the
-kindest feelings.
/ am not insensible to your sufferings,
the loss of friends, prosperity and power,
and exclusion from all part or lot in
voting away your last pittance, is bitter
indeed. But hollow as the ordinary
platitudes sound in the sufferers ear, may
it not be in the good providence Of God
to prove to the uttermost the quality OF
your people and lead them through these
dark ways to higher aud nobler career
beyond.
/ at least am determined to hope so,
and doubt not may live to see the day
when we shall all be once more a happy
aud united people, dwelling in peace
under the protection of the Constitution
and within the gentle clasp of our old
Union. Then, indeed, South Carolina
and Massachusetts may cordially en-
brace, and the fortunate spokesman of
my State, that day. will represent the
whole instead Of fraction Of her people.
/ shall leave home on Monday next,
and proceed without delay to Columbia.
] sm, gentlemen, your friend and ser
A