Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-16

the people of the South entertain no unfrend.
ly feeling. toward the Government of the Unit
ed States, but they complain that their rights
under the Constitution are withheld from them
in the administration thereof.
The idea that the Southern people ore hos.
! tile to the negroes, and would oppress them
Tif it were in their power TO do so, is entirely
uufounded, They have grown up in our midst,
and we have been accustomed from childhood
to look upon them with kindness. The change
in the relations of the two races has wrought
no change in our feeling toward them. They
still constitute the important part OF our la
boring population. Without their labor the
lands of the South would be comparatively
unproductive. Without the employmentwh
Southern agriculture affords they would be
destitute of the means of subsistence, and be-
come ,paupers, dependent on public bounty.
Self interest, even If there were no higher
motives, would therefore prompt the whites
of the South to extend to the negroes care
and protection. The important fact that the
twp races are; under existing circumstances,
necessary to each other, is gradually becom-
ing apparent to both and We believe that
but for Influences exerted to stir up the pas
sions of the negroes, the relations of the two
races would soon adjust themselves on ba-
sis Of mutual kindness and advantage.
1t is true that the people of the South, to-
gether with the people of the North and West,
are, for obvious reasons, opposed to any sys-
tenn ofllaws which would place the political
power of the country in the hands of the ne.
gro race. But this opposition springs from
no feeling of enmity, but from deep, seated
convection that ut present the negroes have
neither the intelligence nor other qualiica-
tions which arc necessary to make them
safe repositories of political power. They
would inevitably become the victims of dem
agogues, who for selfish purposes would mis-
lead 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 deprecate
disorder and excitement as the most serious
obstacles to theirrprosperity.
They ask a restorationo OF their rights under
the Constitution. They desire relief from op-
pressive misrule. Above all, they would ap-
peal to their countrymen for e-re-establish-
ment in. the Southern States ofsthat which'
has Justly been regarded US the birth,right of
every American-the right ofselfgoyernment.
Establish these On firm basis, and we con
safely promise, on Behalf of.tbe Southern peo
pie, that they wilk faithfully obey the Consti-'
tuition and laws of the. United States, treat
the negro with kindness and humanity, and
fulfil every duty incumbent on peaceful citi
zens, loyal toAhe Constitution Of their coun-
try. ~ .
/ We believe the above contains a succinct
reply TO the general topics embraced in your
letter, and We venture TO say, on behalf oil the
Southern people, and the officers and soldiers
Of the late Confederate army, that they will
concur in all the sentmeutsswhich5 1--WE have
|; expressed. - - ..-.s
I 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,
r r. L. LEE, Virginia. ..t
6. Il. BEAUREGARD, louisiana.
ALEX. II. STEPHENS, Georgia.
- 99ALEN. H.'H. STUART, Virginia. =
C. NJ. CONRAD, Louisiana.
LINTON STEPHENS, Georgia.
A. T.CAPERTON, West Virginia.
JOHN ECIIOLS, Virgiuia.
+. STUCKDAhE, Texas.
F. W. aPICKENS,, South Carolina.
WM. j. ROBERTSON, Virginia.
JOS. r. ANDERSON, Virginia. -.
WM. F. TURNER West Virginia.
CHI. SUBER, South Carolina -
Il. FONTAlME. Virginia. ~ :, l4e.
~. ssIOHN LETT Airginia.s -. 60.
B. G. ADAMS. Mississippi. -. f..
WM. j. GREEN, North Carolina.
LEWIS f. HARVlE, Virginia. '''' -
- p. N.4DANlEh sJR., Virginia. ~
W. T.SUTRERLIN, Virginia.
A. B. JAMES, Louisiana.
-TOUTANT BEAEREGARD, Toxos.
/, ID. o. H. NORTON, Louisiana.
3itS 4. PsBRANCLI. Georgia. ~ 2
al H. TqRUSSELL, Georgia. go q
| SAMUEL j. DOUGLASS, Florida.
JEREMIAH MORTON, Virginia.
JOHN B. BALDWIN, Virginia. :.
GEO. w. BOILING, Virginia. %
T.S FL0URNEY, Virginia. .sgl.sa
JAMES LYONS, Virginia.
General w. S. RosEcRANs, Minister to
Mexico, White Sulphur Springs, West vir-
| giuia. s- - - =.