Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-05

ten tion, in good faith, to abide by that deosion
AZ .ne close OF the war the Southern people
Ialo down their arms, and sought 10 resume
SI Sne'I FORMER relations with the United States
Through their State Con ventions they aho,.
ished slavery and ann ulled their ordinances of
secession; and they returned 70 their peaceful
9uss nne9 ass T., to f9 shei,
states, which they had sworn to support If
their action in these particulars had been met
IN spirit Of frankness and cordiaiity, we be :
leye that ere this all irritation would have
passed away, and the wounds inflicted by the
war would IN great measure have been
healed As far as we are advised, the people of
ward the Government OF the United States.
but they complain that their.rights under the
Constitution are withheld from them in the ad.
mlnlstrauon thereof.
The idea that the southern people are hostile
70 the negroes, and would oppress them if II
were IN heir power to do so, Is entirely un-
lonhoed; Tney have grown up in our midst
and we have been accustomed from our child
mood 10 look upon them with kindnes IS The
change In the relations Of the two races has
wrought no change in our feeling toward them
Ihey sui constitute the important part of our
laooring population. Without their labor the
lands OF the South would be comparatively
unproductiye. Without the employment
which Southern agriculture affords they wouId
be destitute of the means of subsistence and
become paupers, dependent upon public
bounty
SeH-intresl, even II tnere were no higher
motives, 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 ap.
parent 10 both, and We believe but for ia "a u =
ences exerted TO stir up the passions of the me-
gToes, the relations of the two races would seon
ADJUST themselves ON basis of kindness and
mutual advantage.
II is true that the people of the South, to-
gether with the people of the North and West,
are for obvious reasons opposed TO any system
OF laws which would place the political powrr
OF the country in the hands of the negro race
But the opposition springs from no feeling Of
enmlty, but from a deep seated conviction that
at present the negroes have neither the intelli-
gence nor the qualifications which are neces-
sary to make them safe repositories of political
power They would inevitably become the
victims OF demagogues, who for selfish pur.
poses would mIslead them, 10 the serious in
jury of the public.
The great want OF the South is peace The
people earnestly desire tranquility and the
restoration of the Union. They deprecate dis
order and excitement, as the most serious OBJ
stacle to their prosperity.
They ask a restoration of their rights under
the Constitution. They desire relief from op.
pressiye misruie. Above all, they look TO their
countrymen for the establishment in the South
ern States of that which has Justly been regard =
ed as the birthright of every American-the
right Of self government. Establish these on
firm basis, and we can safely promise, on be-
halt OF the Southern people, that they will
faithfully obey the Con nstitutiOn and laws of
the United States, treat the negro with kind
ness and humanity, and fulfill every duty in :
cnmbent on peaceful citizens loyal TO the Con-
strution Of their country.
We believe the above contains 8 succinct re-.
ply to the general topics embraced in your let
southern people and OF the officers and elders
Of the late Confederate army, that they will
concur in all the sentiments which we have
expressed
approaching the patriotic motives which
have prompted your letter, and reciprocating
your expressions of kind regard we have the
honor 10 be. very respectfully and truly,
[Slgned R. l.. Lee, NirgInia q. T. Beaure-
gard, louisiana; Alex. II. Stephens, Georgia:
Alex. II. H. Stuart, Virginia; O. NJ. Conrad
louisiana; Linton Stephens, Georgia; A. T.
Caperton, West Nirginia; John Echols, Vir.
ginia; F. s. Stockdale, Texas; f. w Pickens
South Carolina; VIM. j. Robertson, Virginia
Jos r. Anderson, Virginia; VIM. +. Turner
West Virginia; T.. II. Suber, South Carolina:
E Fontaine, Virginia; John Letcher, Virginia.
B g Adams, Mississippi; VIM. j. Green
North Carolina; Lewis z. Harvie, Virginia
p. V. Daniel. Jr., Virginia; W. T. SutherIin
Virginia; A. Il. James, louisiana; Toutant
Beauregard, Texas; NJ u H. Norton, Louisiana;
T p. Branch, Georgia: H 7. Russell, Georgia
Samuel j. Douglass, Florida; jeremiah NJ or-
ton, Virginia; John Il. Baldwin. Virginia
George W. Rolling. Virginia; 7. S. Flournoy,
Virginia; James Lyons, Virginia
Genl W. : ROsECRANs, Minister TO Mexico
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.