The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-06-17
/ Letter from General Forrest.
NasHyr11.E, May is, 1868.

1yAoflvl AAsbJ My ~
Editors Aoaldnc1e
GESrs: An influence is at work in this
State, as I have discovered since my recent
departure from Memphis, to preclHde any
participation by the lutte Confederate sol
ddiers n the coming convention Of the De.
mocracy Of Tennessee, to be held at J ASH.
Vile On the 9th Of June, md in the Nation.
al Democratic Convention, to be held AZ
New York on the 18th OF July.
It does not amount to purpose to arbl-
trarily do this thing; but is felt IN enorts
to induce every one who took any part 10
the recent struggle Of the Confcdsracy for
independence to decline attending at these
as, emblies upon pretended grounds OF ex-
pediency, and to submit the representation
Of Tennessee at New York to men who
were known to be for the Union.
4. Upon consultation with many OF my late
associates in the war, have concluded to
advise against any further political emas-
culation of ourselves in the party move
ments Of the State.
We ara already sufficiently prescribed IN
the constitution and statues which now
govern the State, against our consent, the
prescription of which have, through the
mendacious hostility Of our legislative enc.
mics. been added to time and again, unit!
now we barely live under the accumulated
weight Of disfranchisement and oppression
Shall we superadd, by our own action to
those prescription and exorcisms OF orr
selves from all participation in the assem-
blies ofthe State and National Democracy
and publish to the world confession that
we are too unworthy to intrude ourselves
into the councils ofthe party? The Ma
tional Democratic party, through its COM
mittee have invited us to take part in the
convention which is to assemble at New
York, on the 4th Of July. tproscribes no
test oaths, no qualifications dependent
upon the part we have taken in the late
war, but, like true constitutional party
lit open s it's doors and invites ali who may
choose to come, without reference TO the
past. To suggest then an answer to SO
catholic an invitation that we who are the
trne representatives Of the greater portion
| of the constitutional men Of the State feel
ourselves unworthy to soil the deliberation
of that Convention with our presence,
would exhibit US in an attitude OF seryile
degradation. that trust we have not reach
ed as pet. In this view Of the case, then
| it is my advice (given from sense OF duty,
and agaiist reluctance which is ayerse to
any personal display of myself in matter
of this kind) to all my comrades to particle
pate in the country meetings, and to send
| up full delegations to Nashville, on the
9th Of June, composed Of good and true
men, without reference to the divisions
which were made by the war.
The only hope of a restoration ola good
government in this country is in the sue
cess Of the National Democracy in the
next Presidential campaign. trust my
late comrades will not, from expediency
or other motives, absent themselves from
o participation in the political exercises
which are to result in the choice OF stan
dard bearers, made with view to so pa
triotic and desirable an end. So for as |
am personally concerned, have no de-
sire to take any part in politics, nor to oc-
cupy any political position whatever; but
! do not wish to see my State represented
| by men whose only claim to public favor
| is the dexterity with which they took either
Of the question late war, as interest dicta.
ted, and who bank upon it as their only
capital for popular support.
N. B. FORREST.