Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-09-17

4. tlal ana SOLID peace, and cause then
"a TO rise above the level of party poll
n tics, and take such steps TO NEE
q yours as will insure a lasting peac
with all its countless blessings.
y Very truly, your friend,
W. s. RosRoRAss.
. GENERAL r. E. LEE, White SuIphu
Springs, West Virginia.
, WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, w. v, !
August 26, 1868.
4 GENERAL | have had the honor tc
n receive your letter of this date, anC
: in accordance with your suggestion,
have consulted with q number of gen
= tlemen from the South, in whose iudg
ment | -hlua. nnhdad, and apho a st
! well acquainted with the public senti-
: ments oftheirrespectiv States. They
9 have kindly consented to unite with
me in replying to your Communication
and their names will be found with
my own appended to this answer
With this explanation, we proceed to
give you candid statement of what
: we believe TO be the sentiment of the
Southern people in regard to the sub
ject to which you refer.
WhatsDr opinion may have pre-
vailed in The past in regard to African
slavery, or the right of State to SO.
cede from the Union, we believe we
express the almost unanimous iudg.
ment Of the Southern people when we
declare that they consider that those
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 peo-
pie 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 ordinances of secession, and they
returned TO their peaceful pursuits
with sincere purpose TO fulfil 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 a spirit Of
frankness and eordiality, we believe
that ere this old irritations would have
passed away, and the wounds inflicted
by the war would in a great measure
have been healed. As far as we are
advised, the people of the South enter.
tain no unfriendly feeling toward the
Government Of the United States, but
they complain that their rights under
the Constitution are withheld from
them in the administration thereof
Vie 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 our child |
hood to look upon them with kindness
The change in the relations Of the twoi
races has wrought no change in our
feeling toward them. They still con.
stitute the important part of our la
boring population Without their la
Dor the land of the South would be
comparatively unproductive. With
out the employment which Southern
agriculture affords they would be des-
titute of the means of subsistence, and
become paupers, dependent upon pub
lie bounty.
Self-interest, even if there were
no higher motives, would therefore
prompt the whites Of the South TO ex-
tend to the negroes caro- and protec-
tion. The important fact that the
two races are, under existing cireum-
stances, necessary to each other, is
gradually becoming apparent to both
and we believe, but for influences ex-
erted to stir up the passions of the ne
groes the relations OF the two races
would soon adjust themselves on a ba-
sis of kindness and advantage.
1t is true that the people of the
South, together with the people of the
North and West, are, for obvious rca-
sons, opposed to any system of laws
which would place the political power
Of {! country in the hands of the ne
gro race. But the opposition springs
from no feeling of enmty, but from q
conviction that at present
the negroes have neither the intclli-
gence nor the qualifications which are
necessary TO make them safe deposi-
taries ofpolitical power They would
become the victims Of dem.
agogues, who, for selfish purposes,
would mislead them to the serious in ,
jury of the public
The great want of the South is
peace. The people earnestly desire
tranquility and the restoration of the
Union, They depreeate disorder and
excitement as the most serious obsta- !
Gle to their prosperity.
They ask a restoration of their
rights under the Constitution. They
lesire relief from oppressive misrule.
Above all, they would appeal to their
for the re-estabishmont
n the Southern States of that which
las Justly been regarded as the birth
light of every American, the right of !
Establish these on
A firm basis, and VIC can safely prom.
Sc on behalf of the Southern people
hat they will faithfully obey the Con- : :
and laws of the United States, :
.reat the negro with kindness and hu.
nanity, and fulfil every duty incum- !
bent on peaceful citizens loyal TO the
Constitution of their country.
We believe the above contains a =
uccinct reply to the general topics !.
Embraced in your letter, and we ven.
ure TO say, on behalf of the Southern
people and Of tho officers and soldiers y
If the late Confederate Army, that l
hoy will contur in all the sentiments I"
which we have expressed =, y
Approaching the patriotic motives ' '
which have prompted your letter, and y,
eciprocating your expressions of kind D
egard, we have the honor to be,
Very respectfully and truly,
/. Il. Lee. Va. b. c. Adams, Misc IL
I. Il. Rcauregard, La VIM. j. Green, 4. G.
!. u. stephens, Ga. Lewis +. Hsrvic Va.
!. u. VI. Stuart, Va y. Daniels, Jr.. Va.
. NJ Conrad Ia W T gufbe,in ". p