The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1868-09-11
GEN. LEES REPLY.

oestions | have conferred with q num-
Der of gentlemen from the South in
whose Judgment | have confided, and
who are acquainted with the public
sentiment of their respective States.
They have kindly consented to unite
with me in replying to your commune
cation, and their names will be found
with my own, appended to this answer.
With this explanation we propose to
give to You what we believe in regard
| to the sentiments of the Southern peo-
pie in relation to African slavery and
the right of State to secede from the
| Union.
We express the almost unanimous
| Judgment of the Southern people, when
we declare that we consider that these
disputed questions have been decided
by the war. and that it is their intention
in good faith to abide by that decision.
At the close of the war the Southern
people laid down their arms and sought
to resume their former relations
with the United States Government.
| Through their State conventions they
abolished slavery and annulled their or
dinances of secession, and they returned
to their peaceful pursuits with sincere
purpose TO fulfill all their duties under
the Constitution of the United States,
which they had sworn to support
If it were not for the aid that South
ern agriculture affords them. the people
Of the South would be destitute of
means of subsistence, and become pau
pers, dependent on public bounty.
Self interest, even if there were no
higher motives, would therefore
! M MT N 1,-bitnc nf thn Snnth 70
tend to the negroes care and protec-
ton.
The important fact that the two races
are under existing circumstances, neces-
sary TO each othcr.is gradually becoming
apparent to both, and we believe that
but for the influences cXcrted to stir up
the passions Of the negroes. the rcla-
tons of the two races would soon adj
just themselves on basis Of mutual
kindness and advantage.
1t is true that the people of the South,
together with the people of the North
and West, are, for obvious reasons, OPP
posed to any system of laws which
would place the political power of the
country in the hands of the negro race !;
but this opposition springs, not from
feeling of cnmity. but from deep scat
ed conviction that at present the negroes
have neither the intelligence nor other
qualifications which are necessary to
make them safe repositories of political
power. They would inevitably become
the victims of demagogues, who, for
selfish purposes, would mislcad them
to the serious injury of the public.
The great want of the South is peace.
The people earnestly desire tranquility
and the restoration of the Union. They
deprccatc disorder and excitement as
the most serious obstacle to their pros
perity: they ask a restoration of their
rights under the Constitution: they de-
sire relief from oppressive misrulc, and
above all, they would appeal to their
countrymen for the establishment in
the Southern States of that which has
Justly been regarded as the birthriGht of
every American-thc right of self-gov-
crnmcnt. Establish that on firm ba-
sis, and we can safely promise, on behalf
of the Southern people, that they will
faithfully obey the Contribution and
laws of the United States, treat the ne
gro with kindness and humanity, and
fulfill every duty incumbent on peaceful
citizens loyal to the Constitution of
their country.
We believe the above contains a sue
cinct reply to the genera, topics embra-
ccd in your letter, and we venture to
say. on behalf of the Southern people,
and of the officers and soldiers of the
late Confederate army, that they will
concur in all of the sentiments which
we have expressed.
Approaching the patriotic motives
which have prompted your letter. and
reciprocating your expression of kind
regards, we have the honor to be
Very respectfully and truly,
r. +. LEE, Virginia.
G. II. BEAUREGARD, La.
ALEX. III. STEVENS, Georgia.
ALIEN. II. II. STUART, Georgia.
c. M. CONRAD, louisiana.
LINTON STEPHENS, Georgia.
A. Y. CAPERTON, West Va.
JOHN ECHELS, Virginia.
Il. S. STOCKDALE, Texas.
r. w. PICKENS, South Carolina.
VIM. j. ROBINSON. Virginia.
JAS. r. ANDERSON, Virginia.
w. F. TURNER, West Virginia.
G.. Fl. SUBEE, South Carolina.
Z. FONTAINE, Virginia.
JOHN LETCHER, Virginia.
B. G. ADAMS, Mississippi.
: w. j. GREENE, North Carolina.
LEWIS Il. HARVIE. Virginia.
p. L. DANCKDS, Jr., Virginia.
w. II. SUTHERLIN, Virginia.
A. b. JAMES, Louisiana.
II. BEAUREGARD, Texas.
NJ. o. III. NORTON, Louisiana
II. BRANCE. Georgia.
II. II. RUSSELL, Georgia.
SAM. ]. DOULAS. Florida.
JEREMIAH MORTON, Va.
JOHN w. BALDWIN, Virginia
GEO. w. ROLLING, Virginia.
THEODORE f. CONWAY, Va
JAS. LYONS, Virginia.
To Gen. w. S. Rosecrans, Minister