Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-11
. 8.s. From the Richmond Dispatch.
IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE.
WEEN GENERALS
ROSECRANS AND ROBERT E. LEE.
LETTER OF GENERAL ROSECRAES.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS
WEST VIRGINIA, August 26, 1868.

LETTER OF GENERAL RoSECRANS.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
WEST VIRGINIA, August 26, 1868.
| GENERAL Full Of solicitule for the future O
| our country, come, with NY heart in my hand
to learn the condition, wishes and intention of thu
! people OF the Southern States-especally to as
| certain the sentiments OF that body of grave, en-
ergetlc, self-sacriticng men, who, after sustain
| ing the Confederacy for four years, laid dowr
| their arms and swore allegiance to the Govern
ment OF the United States, whose trusted and be-
| loved leader you have been.
see that interpreting States rights to con
filct with national unity has produced q violent
reaction against them which is drifting US to-
wards consolidation and, also, that SO great a
country as ours even now is. certainly IL to be-
must have State governments to attend 10 local
details, or go farther and fare worse.
1t IL plain to at the West and North
that the continuance OF semi-anarchy, such
as has existed for the last three years
i'll ten States of our Union, largely in
creases the danger of Capitalization, swells our
[ national expenditures, diminishes produc-
tons and our revenue insp ires doubts of our po-
itical and financial stability, depreciates the
value OF our national bonds and currency, and
places the credit of the richest below that OF the
poorest nation in Chistendom.
We know that our currency must be deprecla-
ted so long as our bonds are below par !; and
| that theref re, the vast business and commerce
of our country must suffer the terrible evil OF
fuctuating standard of value, until we can RENE
DIV The evil condition of things at the South. We
also zee other mischief quite possible if not pro-
bic to arise such as from failure OF crops.
local insurrection. and many other unforeseen
contingencies, which may still more depreclate
our credit and currency, provoke discomfort and
disorder among our people, and bring demagoSl-
cal agitation, revolution, reputation, and thou
sand unnamed evils and villanies upon us: We
know that the interests of the people OF the
South for law and order, and that they must
share our fate of good and Ill
1 believe-every one, know, who reflects be-
leves-that if the people of the Southern States
could be at peace, and their energy and goodwill
heartily applied to repair the wastes OF war, re-
organize their business, set the freemen peace
fully, prosperOusly. and contentedly at work, IL
vite capital enterprise, and labor from elsewhere
to come freely amongst them, they would rebuild
their ruined fortunes, multiply manifold the val
ue of their lands, establish public confidence in
our political stability. bring our Government
bonds to premium, our currency to gold stand
ard, and assure for themselves and the whole ma
ton most happy and prosperous future; Seeing
this, and how all Just interests concur in the work,
I ask tho officers and soldiers who fought for the
Union-every thinking man of the great West and
North asks-why it cannot be done.
We told by those who have controlled the
Government for the last four years that the peo
pie of the South will not do it that if done
at ALL it must be done by the poor, simple, I'M
educated, landless freedmen and the few whites
who, against the public opinion and senti-
ment of the Intelligent white people, are willing
to attempt to lead and make their living off of the
ignorant, inexperienced colored people, mostly
men who must be needy adventures without
any of those attributes which reliance for good
guidance or government can be placed. We are
told that this kind of Government must be con-
tinuci at the South until six or eight millions of
intelligent. energetic white people give into it,
move out Of the country.
Now, think, the Union army thinks, and the
people Of the North and West, dare say, believe,
there must be, or there ought to be, shorter and
surer way to get good government for all at the
South.
cd the Southern Contederacy for four years
against gigantic efforts, ought to be able to give
peace, law, order, and protection to the whole
people OF the South.
They have the interest and the power to en-
poy, protect, educate, and elevate the poor
freedmen, and to restore themselves and our
country to all the blessings of which have just
spoken The question we want answered IS
care they willing to do it,"
L came down to find out what the people of the
south think of this, and to ask you what the Off
GERS and soldiers who served in the Confederate
army, and the leading people who sustained it,
think of these things.
1 came to ask more. I want to ask you, in
whose purity and patriotism here express I'M
qualified confidence, and SO many good men as
you can conveniently consult, to say what you
think Of it, and also what you are willing to do
about it. | want a written expression of views
that can be followed by q concurrence of action.
want to know if you and the gentlemen who will
join you in that written expression willing to
pledge the people of the south to chiyalrous and
devotion to restoring peace and |
to our common country. l want to |
carry out that pledge high above the level of par
~ politics. to the late officers and soldiers OF the
Union army, and the people of the north and
west, and to ask them to consider it. and
to take the necessary action, confident
that it will meet with response SO
warm, SO generous and contiding that we
shall see in it's sunshine the rainbow Of peace in
our political sky, now black with clouds and i'm
pending storm.
1 know you a representative msn-in rever- |
ence and regard for he Union, the Constitution, |
and the welfare of the country, and that what you
would say would be endorsed by nine-tenths of
the whole people of the South !; but should like
to have the signatures of all the representative
Southern men here who would concur in your |
views, and expressions of their concurrence from
the principal officers and representative men |
throughout the South, when they can be pro-
cured.
This concurrence of opinions and wills, all
tending to peace, order. and stability, will assure
our Union soldiers and business men-who want
substantial and solid peace-and cause them to
rise above the level Of party politics, and take
such steps to meet yours as will insure lasting
peace, with all its countless blessings
Very truly, your friend,
W. S. RosECRANs.
General r. E. LEE, White Sulphur Springs. West
Virginia.