The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-10-14
Sr. MARvINs. Brown County, o.,
sSentember Il. 1865,

letter:
ST. MARvINs. Brown County, O.,
September p, 1865.
Gen. John Looe, Indianapolis, Indiana:
GENERAL indispensable duties prevent
me from attending the gathering of Off
GERS and soldiers at indianapolis, to which
your letter invited mo on the 23d inst.
But beyond the great qualification l
should experience in meeting so many Of
my old companions in arms, and minglng
our memories of the past with resolutions
of future efforts and sacrifices for tho
honor Of tho land and flag wo love, my
presence there would not accomplish more
tlan simple statement of my views on
the chief issuos now agitato the country.
/ believe our free institutions and high
est material interests AFRO in grave peril.
l>shal, therefore, pcrform=a solemn and
responsible duty to my felow-sodiers and
countrymon, who love this nation more.
than party, by stating what think tho
most vital issues before the public in the
approaching Presidential election.
Above all other xpenses-expendituros,
taxation, bonds, "grccnbacks," or any
thing elso-stands that of rest. ring 1hs
people of the Southern States to hopeful,
cheerful self-gorernment.
Restore them this, and as certainly as
day follows the sun our political stability
will bo assured; our financial prosperity
will speedily follow; the value ofproporty.
in tho South will increase; our public Sc
curitcs will so to a premium; our groom
backs will become par; coin and curron-
cy accounts, with all their evils and COM
plications, will disappear from the books
of our business men.
Believing with my soul that the pre-
seryation Of our Government from des
potio changes, and those inestimable bless-.
ings depend upon the restoration Of the
Southern people to wholesome, chocrful
solf-government, / am equally certain
that it can be done, and dare pledge my
honor and life for them that they will
give and observe all proper guarantees to
ronounco secession, slavery, and their de-
pondent issues; to protect, educate, and
elevate the freedmen to tho exercise Of
all the franchise thoy enjoy in Ohio, In
diana, or Illinois; and faithfully to per-
form all the duties incumbent on them as
good citizens under the Constitution and
laws OF the United States.
And what moro could bo asked of them,
or what greater results could patriotism
desire for tho country than dopond upon
this issue2
Not even the prosecution OF tho war
challenged moro thorough renunciat,on
Of party preferences and personal dislikes
on tho altar Of our country than doos tho
attainment Of this great good.
Tho dosolate and ruined South, the op-
pressed tax payers of The West and North,
generosity, mercy, love of country, appre-
tensions of evil TO come, every motive
that ought To move the hoarts Of true and
noble men, appeal to us to say Ivy our
votes we will stop that hopeless folly of
attempting to govern The Southern States
by what we call "loyal blacks" and give
the people, under just guarantees, tho
right peacefully and legally to proceed to
rcorganize their OWE government within
the Union.
With sucl, convictions, hold the man
who would moi express and actupon them
traitor to himself and his country, and
despise the partisan who would iind ia;llt
with any reasonable stops he might take
&c bring about So great u good TO the n'l-
ton.