American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-11-07


nionr---Hhe Hry0luI4On 90 Reach
CiinEmx-An Independent South in I
E"i"rc---A2is OpiniJna OF GOseph
Known,
Correspondence of the New York Heraldl
MOBILE, Oct. II, 1868.
IAe announcement of the death
Howell Cobb, SO suddenly and Il
eXpectediy, has OCCasioued conside
able regret here, as 1t will thrOugI
out the South, where he was so we
and iayOrably known. 1t also eI
ables your correspondent to repeat
conversation beld with tile deceasc
III August last, and in doing so it j
E, 10 be hoped that no one will regart
the act us lacking in respect for tn
dead. Two visits to Macon and Oh
to Athens for the purpose of seeing
!, General Cobb had failed in their oh
Ject, but the fourth was successful
An acquaintance passing over a pc
riod OF several years brought cor
dial welcome, and after matters Of {
purely social and personal nature
mad been discussed the real purpose
OF the visit was introduced.
General" | remarked, "as have
before, once again desire to have
your views on the political situation.
Your speech in Atlanta last month
is being used by the Radical news.
papers with considerable effect, and
desire to know if the sentiments
attributed to you by them are really
yours"
Il do not care what the Radi-
cal newspapers of the North say
about me" he replied. "That speech
Of mine III Atlanta was the first | de.
livered since the war ended, and if L
was abused when | kept silent what
need | expect when | do say some
thing | have written It letter de- |
n0uncing the manner in which my
language has been misC0nStrueG. | !
desire peace as earnestly as any man
in the country; have accepted the |
and intend to adhere to the |
terms Of my parole faithfully, but |
VIII never accept the kind Of peace
by the Radical party. We
are either an integral part Of the
Union or conquered people. If the
.irst, | GLAZING the same rights for
Georgia as New York possesses i'll
d. AoaaA toiir iad NnG rsso, :, ;5;;l:s.'-st q
N such a policy as viii in future I
cad us to liberty. But this halfway
Measure will not suit the Southern
)eoplp. Constitutional amendments |
md legislative enactments which
make political outcasts Of some Of
yur best men, and which reduce to a |
state of political vassalage the whites ,
If the South will not bring about a {
asting peace" ;
'SBut ! thought, Geueral,' ] re. {
" that you were at one time !
II favor of the fourteenth amend i
nent to the Constitution"
$50 l was, Captain, for a little '
While" he answered. Luckily / 4
I'D not so express myself publicly, '
or after giving the amendment a
arctul consideration, | saw it would v
lot do. l regard that amendment b
IS the most dangerous encroach. 5
nent upon the reserved rights OF the e
States that has set been attempted u
" the party in power" The Gen Il
raj then gave his reasons for this
opinion, which were mainly that ii
ave to Congress almost unlimited $
,ower over the States in the matter ?
# suffrage and representation. 1t h
vas, in his opinion, IA direct blow ut o
ur system Of government.
"What, then, do you propose as a f
means of restoring peace and heal II
ng the differences between the two c
eCtOnS Z" Il
"An amandment of every meas, h
re of reconstruction and recogui- &
ION of every Southern State as an t
qual of every Northern State. I'm s.
.ss this is done there will be no Il
eace and cannot be any. The South [
I'll people were earnest in their "
forts to restore the Union after p
had ceased. Had they
cen met in a friendly spirit we d
,ould now have been a united peO- Il
lie and the Southern soldier would !,
ave fought aside of the Northern o
older, under the same banner, 4
gainst a foreign enemy, with as Y
luch courage and fidelity as he did T,
Dr. independence. This feeling is al
lost dead in the South. Radical n
.gislation, with its military and civil h
has embittered onr pCO- II
lc, and many OF them have begun 4
D look with utter loathing upon a $
overnmcnt which deliberately ut. h
,mpts to make the slave of yester- ~
ay rule men who have ever possess i
1 the highest order of freedOm.- il
dptain, you are not 50 blind as not {
, have perceived that there is less 4
at the South to-day than n
Iere has been at any time within \
our recollection. And on the re a
Ilt of the pending election depends e
neither the Union feeling shall bc
sviyed Or killed forever" s
And what do you think OF the "
respect y "
" Bad" he replied. Il am afraid q
nat we cannot elect Seymour. He {
good and allie man, but he can. u
OF stem tine current of this res olu- a
on. 1t must reach IFS climax y