American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-10-24

mN ODlnlOH, III Is tue HOSU uIlCOllSJI
tutional disunion document eve
adopted in America, because it con
cedes to the Northern States what i
denies to the Southern States-th
great right to regulate the franchis
for itself-and thereby destroys tn
equality of the States, which is tn
very cornerstone of the Union.
tell you, on this basis the Union cal
never be maint tained, except it ma,
be "pinned together by bayonets.
l shall go home mortified" not be
cause Gen. Grant may be elected
but because, if electM he will b.
carried into office on Elyild curren
of sectional disSteTif .tlseSr erditahata. eanf
on a disunion PLATFORM of unequa
States. shall go home ;" wiser
man, because, though often told,
never before believed the Northerl
masses were the victims of such dis
trust aud fear of the Southern peo
pie as that they would deliberately
vote the Southern States to inequali
ty in the Union and to social anarchy y
in their internal affairs.
You commend the letter of Mr.. Ad
ans to the Columbia Committee. Sc
do l. Sincethat letter was written
Mr.. Adams has proceeded to the
South. | commend to your consid
Grafton his speech at Greensboro
North Carolina. lie said " He had
learned more of the Southern people
their feelings, and their sentiments,
during the last two days than he
could have learned during his lifetime
IN Massachusetts. He was astOniSh
ed at the condition of the Southern
people. Hewas pleased to know OF
the amicable relations between the
blacks and the whites, and that no
animosity existed between them."-
This is all true, and this happy state
Of things would exist everywhere i'll
the South if the negro, naturally do
cile, was not deluded and excited
against the whites by strangers and
renegades, who wish to use him to
get office. The reconstruction policy
Of Congress has bred these crea
lures, and they will continue and in
crease until these measures are aban-
dOned.
You persist in saying the Sonth,
ern people will not accept the results
of the war. Mr.. Adams intimated
in his letter that this belief was the
trouble at the North. He is learn
ing the truth now. | commend to
YOU his speech at Salisbury, North
Carolina.
"Among " other things, he said the
disposition of the North was kindly
toward the South, but they demand,
ed the concession on our part of al.
the legitimate results of the war
He then asked Col. Cowan and Gov.
Vance, who were on the stand, to
state explicitly if their people accep.
ted in good faith: First, the aboli-
tion Of slavery forever; second, the
overthrow ofthe doctrine of secession,
third, the settlement and kindly wei
come of Northern people here; fourth,
the guaranteeing Of all his just
rights to the negro, and the cultiva-
tion of friendly relations with him
by the whites. The questions were
answered emphatically in the affirm
ative by those gentlemen, and rati-
fed by the entire audience, to whom
the vote was put on each question.
Great harmony and enthusiasm pre-
vailed. All the people expressed as
on hearing from Mr.
Adams the amount ofmisunderstand-
ng which exists in the Northern
mind in regard to the real purposes
md intentions of the Southern peo.
Dle."
Now, Sir, Col. Cowan and Gov.
Vance answered truly and the peo.
lie responded in good faith. And
his is the sentiment all over the
south. At first there were some
but now the people every.
vhere recognize the fact that the
egro is a free citizen, and the good
f the whites and the peace of socie.
Y will be promoted by making him
n educted, good citizen, if it be pos
ible. But it is not possible under
he reconstruction measures. 1t is
OF possible with thet hegro-in the
ands of carpet -baSgers and low
'hites, and while still ignorant, hav-
10 his mind inflated with ideas of
olitical power, and his heart filed
18th hatred to the white race. There
IRE, we say, take away the recon {
truction measures and their brood {
evil doers, and amicable relations
ill universally prevail as Mr., {
dams saw them at Salisbury.
l have often said, and now repeat
nd beg you to note, that the South
as never rejected any proposition j
settlement, or of restoration, or of .
whether proposed by u
re army. or by the President, or by e
ongress, except such as were not {
suits of the war, and which would C
ave dishonored the South, and not v
anefited the North nor strengthen. 6
the Union. The first thing re- e
cted by the South was the proposed !,
mendment Fourteen. She reject. d
this solely because it disfranchised 9
Early all the best men in the South. t
lifelong Union men before
le war. If Congress had submit a
d the other propositions separately, |
nj aS a finality, they would have {
zen accepted. She rejects the sub a
quent reconstruction plan because "
Ie cannot live under it. We pros a
a -.--.. ..t n