The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-09-18

less freedmen, and the few whites who,
against the public opinion and sentiment
of the intelligent white people, are willing
to attempt to lead and make their living
IN those ignorant, inexperienced colored
peoDle-mostly men who must be adven-
turers, or without any Of those attributes
On which reliance for good guidance or
government can be placed. We are told
mat this kind of Government must be con-
tinued at the South until six or eight mil
hons OF intelligent, energetic white people
give 10 to it or move out Of the country.
Now ! think, the Union army think, and
the North and West, dare say, believe
that there must be or there ought to be, q
shorter way to get good government for all
the South. We know that they who orr
eanized and sustained the Southern Con-
federacy for four years against gigantic eff
forts, ought 10 be able to give peace, law,
order and protection to the white people of
the South. They have the interest and the
power to employ, protect, educate and ele-
vate the poor freedmen, and restore them
selves and our country to all the blessings
of which / have spoken. The question We
want answered is, Are they willing to do it?
| came down to find what the people of
the South think of this, and to ask you
what the officers and soldiers who serve in
the Confederate army, and the leading peo-
pie who sustained it, think of these things
Il como to ask more: | come to ask you,
IN whose purity and patriotism here ex-
press my unqualified confidence, and as
many good men rs you can conveniently
consult, to say what you think Of it, and al
IN hof V,nr1 70 m ha. II
want written expression of views that can
be followed by concurrence of action-I
want to know if you and the gentlemen
who will join in that expression, are willing
to- pledge the people of the South to
and magnanimous devotion to
restore peace and prosperity to our common
country. / want to carry that pledpe high
above the level Of party 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 me-
ccssary action, confident that it will meet
with response so warm, so generous and
confident that We shall see in its sunshine
the rainbow of peace, and our political sky,
now black with clouds of impending storm,
bright and cloudiess. l know that you are
q representative man in reference and re-
gard for the Union, the Constitution and
the welfare of the country, aad that what
you would say would be endorsed BY nine
tenths Of the whole people of the south.
But l should like to have the signatures of
all the representative Southern men here
who concur in your views, and expressions
OF their concurrence from the principal Of
hcers and representative men throughout
the South, when they can be procured.
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, yours,
To Gen. R. E. Lee, White Sulphur
Springs, West Virginia.
LEE TO RoSECRANS. l....#
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, /
Aug 26, 1868. !
GENERAL-I have had the honor to re.
ceive your letter of this date, and in &C.
cordance with your suggestion, have con-
ferred with a number of gentlemen from
the South, in whose judgment l have con-
fidence, and who are acquainted with the
public sentiment of their respective States.
They have kindly consented. to unite with
me In complying to your communication,
and their names will be found with my own
appended to this answer. With this ex-
PLANTATION. we proceed to give you candid
statement Of what we believe to be the
sentiment of the Southern people with res
gard to the subject which you refer.
Whatever opinion may have prevailed
in the past with regard to African slavery,
or the right of State to secede from the
Union, We believe we express the utmost
unanimous judgment OF the Southern pao-
pie when we declare that they consider that
the questions were decided by thu 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 for
mer relations with the United States Gov
Through their State Conven-
tons they abolished slavery and annuled
their ordinances of secession. They re-
turned to their peaceful pursuits with sim
cere purpose to fulfill all their duties under
the Constitution of the United States
which they had sworn to support. If their
action in these particulars had been met
in spirit of frankness and cordiality, we
believe that these old irritations would
have passed away, aud the wounds inflict-
ed by war would have been in great meas
ure healed. AS far as we are advised, the
people of the South entertain no unfriend>
y feeling toward the Government of the
United States, bat they complain that their
rights under the Constitution are withheld
rom them in the administration thereof.
The idea that the Southern people are hos
tile to the negroes and would Cypress
them it it we're in their power to do so, Is
entirely unfounded. They have grown up
n our midst, and we have been accustomed
from childhood to look upon them with
kindness. The change in the relations of
the two races las wrought no change in
bur feeling towards them. They still con-
'tltute the important part of our laboring
population. Without their labor the lands
Of the South would be comparatively un-
productive. Without the employment
which Southern agriculture affords, they
would be destitute of the means of subsist-s
ence and become paupers dependent on
public bounty. Selfinterest, even if there
we're nc higher motives, would prompt the
xhites of the South to extend to the ne,
yroes care and protection. The important