American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-09-12
THE LEE.ROSECRANS CONFESSION
a DENtE. \ 4 hu.A
PEACE: PEACE: PEACE.
Two VERY IMPORTANT LRTTRRs.
The following is the Rosecrans.Lee

GcRtruI-~Full of solcitule for tn,
future of our CUhntry, come will
my heart in MY hand to learn thu
condition, wishes aud intentions o.
the people of the Southern States
especially to ascertain the sent
ments Of those brave, energetic ant
sclrSacrticing men, whose trusted
and beloved leader you have been
who, after sustaining their conf
dence for four years, laid down theil
arms and sw0re allegiance to the
government Of the United States.
| see that int preting State rights
to conflict with national unity las
produced a violent reaction against
them, which is drifting us towards
CONSULTATIONS and also that so great
a country as OURS, even now, is GER
taifpto be, must have State govern,
merits to attend to local details, or
90 farther ana fare worse. 1t is plain
to us of the &Fest aud North, that
guaracontinupn : of semi,anarcby,
S'h5ri as has existed for the last
three years in tell States Of our
Union, largely increases the danger
of Capitalization, swtlls the national
expenditures, diminisheS our produc-
tons and our revenue, inspires doubt
of our political and financial stabil,
ity, deprecates the value of our
national bonds and currency, and
places the credit of the richest be-
low that of the poorest nation in
Christendom. We know that our
currency must be deprecated SO
long as our bonds are below par.
and that therefore the vast business
and commerce Of our country Must
suffer the terrible evil OF Il fuctuat
Ing standard Of value, until we can
remedy the evil condition of things
at the South. We also see other
mischief quite possible, if not proba-
bic, to arise, such as from a failure
of the crops. local insurIection and
many other unforeseen cOntingen
cies, which may still more depreci-
ate our credit and currency, provoke
discomfort and disorder among our
people, and bring demagogical agi-
tation, revolution, republication; and
a thousand unnamed evils and vii
ldinics on us. .... INK. r..
We know that the interests of the
people of the South are for law and
order, and they must share our fate
of good and i'll. l believe, and every
one, know, who reflects, believes,
that if the people of the Southern
States could be at peace, and their
energy and good will early applied
to repair the waste Of war, reorgan-
lie their business, set the freedmen
peaceably, prosperously and content
eddy at work, invite capital, enter |
prise and labor from elsewhere to |
come freely among them, they would
soon rebuild their ruined fortunes, |
manifold the value of their
lands, establish public confidence in
our stability, bring our government
bonds to premium, our currency to
a egold standard, and assure for
themselves and the whole nation
a most happy and prosperous fu-
ture.
Seeing this and how all just int
rests concur in the work, ask the
officers and soldiers who fought for
the Union, | ask every thinking man
Of the great West and North, ask
why it cannot be done? We are
told by those who have controlled
the government for the last faw
Cars Cars, that the people OF the South
will not do it, that if ever done at all
it must be done by the poor, simple,
landless freedmen and
he few whites who, against the
public opinion and sentiment of the
white people, are willing
% attempt to lead and make their
living off these ignorant, ineXperi-
anced colored peoplc-mostly men
who must he needy adventures or
without any of those attributes OIL
which reliance for good guidance or
government can be placed. We are
old that this kind of government
mast be continued at the South
until six or eight millions of intelli-
rent. energetic white people give in
o it or move out of the country.
Now. I think that the Union army
links. and the people of the North |
nd West, dare say, believe, that ;
here must be, or there ought to be, {
shorter or surer way to get good j
government for all at the South |
Ne know that those WHO organized ,
nd sustained the Southern Con, ,
ederacy for four years against gi. {
,antic efforts ought to be able to ,
i've peace, law, order and protection !
o the whole people of the South.
they have the interest and the pow |
T to employ, rotect and elevate the
,oOr freedmen, and to restore them ,
elves and our country to all the ,
blessings of which / have just spOk /
n. The question VIC want answered
5, Are they willing to do itl come $
own to find out what the people Of {
he South think of this, and to ask
on what the officers and soldiers /
1ho served in the Confederate army, {
nd the leading people who sustained I
t, think of these things
| come to ask more. | want to
SIX you. in whose purity and patri-
tiSm | here express unqualified con
Idence, aud as many good men as
on can conveniently consult, to say
THAT you thiuk of it. and also what
.ou are willing to do about 1T. /
lant "A written expression Of views,
hat can he followed by a concur.