The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-09-07
proceed to give You a candid statement

people, when we declare that they con-
slider that the questions were 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 return
ed to their peaceful pursuits with a sim
cere purpose to fill all their duties un-
der the Constitution of the United
States, which they had sworn to sup
port. If their action in these particu-
lars had been met in spirit of frank
ness and cordiality, we believe that all
the old irritations would have passed
away, and the wounds inflicted by the
war would have been in a great meas
ure healed. AS far as we are advised,
the people of the South entertain no un-
friendly feeling toward the Government
of the United States, but they complain
that their rights under the Constitution
are withheld from them in the ad-
miDistration thereof. The idea
that the Southern people are
hostile to the negroes, and
would oppress them if it were in their
power to do SO, is entirely unfounded.
They have grown up in our midst, and
we have been accustomed from child
hood to look upen them with kindHess.
The change in the relations of the two
races has wrought no change in our
feelings toward them. They still con-
stitute the important part of our labor
ing populations; without their labor the
lands of the South would be compare
lively unproduetive, without the en-
ployment which Southern agriculture
affords, they would be destitute of the
means of subsistence and become pau
pers dependent on public bounty. Self
interest, even if there were no higher
motive, would therefore prompt the
whites of the South to extend to the
negrses care and protection. The i'm
portant fact that the two races are I'M
der existing circumstances necessary to
each other, is gradually becoming ap-
parent to both, and we believe that but
for the influences exerted to stir up the
passions of the negroes the relations of
TIE two races would soon adjust them
selves on u basis of mutual kindness
and advantage.
1t is true that the people of the SoSth,
together with the people of the North
and West, are, Cor obvious reasons, op-
posed to any system of laws which
would place the political power of the
country in the hands of the negro race;
bnt this opposition springs from no feel.
ing of enmity, but from deep.seated
conviction that at present the negroes
have neither the intelligence nor other |
qualifications which are necessary toi
make them safe repositories of politi- |
cal power. They wonld inevitably be-
come the victims of demagogues, who
for selfish purposes would mislead 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 Uuion. They de- |
precate disorder and excitement as the |
most serious obstacle to their prosperi- |
ty. They ask restoration of their
Is ghts under the Constitution; they de-
sire relief from oppressive misrule.
Above sll, they would appeal to their
countrymeis for the re-establishment in
the Southern States of that which has
Justly been regarded az the birthright
of every American, the right Of Gelf-gov-
ernment. Establish these on a firm ba- |
sis, and we can safely promise, on be-
half of the Southern people, that they
will faithfully obey the Constitution
and laws of the United States, treat the
negro with kindness and humanity, and
fulfil every duty incumbent on peace
ful citizens loyal to the Constitution of
the country.
We believe the above contains n sue
cinct reply to the general topics en-
braced in your letter, and we venture
to say, on behalf of the Southern peo-
ple and of the officers and soldiers of
the late Confederate array, that they
will concur in all the sentiments which |
we have expressed.
Approaching the patriotic motives
which have prompted your letter, and
reciprocating your expressions of kind
regard, we have the honor to be,
Very respectfully and truly.
Il. Z. Lee, Va;
G.. I. Beauregard, La;
Alex. II. Stephens, Ga;
Alex. II. II. Stuart, Ca;
C.. NJ. Conrad, La;
Linton Stephens, Ga;
A. I. Caperton, West Va;
+. 5. Stockdale, Texas;
+. w. Pickens, S. c.;
VIM. }. Robinson, Va;
Jas. X. Anderson, Va;
VIM. F. Turner, w. Va;
G. II. Lubec, S. c.;
l.. Fontane, Va.
John Letcher, Va;
b. c. Adams, Miss.
w. j. Green, y. c.;
Lewis L. Harvee, Va;
p. A. Daniels, Jr., Va;
w. I. Sutherlin, Va;
A. b. Jones, La;
II. o. II. Norton, La;
T. p. Branch, Ga;
II. T. Russell, Ca;
S. Douglass, Fla;
John B. Baldwin, Va;
Theo. +. Conway, Va;
jeremiah Morton, Va;
Geo. w. Balling, Va;
James Lyons, Va.
To General w. S. Rosecrans, Minister
to Mexico, White Sulphur Springs, Va.
Keep il Before the People!
The Public Debt Increased over One
Hundred mud Fifty Millions
since the Close of
the War.
THE PUBLIC DEBT "AT THE TIME THE
WAR WAS DRAWING TO a CLOSE"
Extract from Secretary McCulloch's last An.
nual Report,
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 80, 1867.
In conformity with law, the Secretary of the
Treasury has the honor to submit to Congress
this his regular annual report.
In order that the action of the Secretary. in
the financial administration OF the Department
may be properly understood. brief reference
To the condition of the Treasury AT THE
TIME THE WAR WAS DRAWING TO a
CLOSE, and at some subsequent periods seems
/ nV, sha L