Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-01-30
A VOICE FROM THE SOUTH,
An Address 10 the People Of Georgia and
the United states.


# Foll0v Citizens of Georgia and of III
United States
BY a Convention held at Macon OF
The 9th and 9th of December, 1867
representing the Conservative peopl,
of Georgia, the undersigned were ap
pointed a Committee to prepare al
Address 10 you, setting forth their
sentiments, their condition, their fear
fnl apprehensions of future ruin, and
The final overthrow of Constitutional
government In discharging this i'm
portant duty, we bring to the task an
Earnest and patriotic desire, not only
to promote the welfare of our own
State, but also that of our whole coun-
{ry.
When the late unhappy war tormin-
ated and the Confederate arms were
surrendered, a single condition only
was required, which was that we should
return to the pursuits of peace, and
obey the Constitution and laws of the
United States, under the pledge, by
the victors, that, so long as we contin-
pcd TO do so, we should be protected
n the unmolested enjoyment of the
lights and privileges which that Con-
atitution and those laws guarantee to
oach State and to every citizen. We
haye kept our promise in letter and
epirit; and, from that day to this, no
assistance has been offered to the Fed
cral authorities. The laws of the
United States are quietly obeyed,
without the necessity of military pow
o. to enforce them. Their Courts are
open and their processes respected
Crime can be punished by the regular
and established modes of judicial pro-
cedure. With magnanimity and hope
fblness, our people united in an honest
cffort to build up their ruined fortunes
and re-establish their lost prosperity.
The war left our homes saddened with
bereavement, and, in thousands of
instances, in ashes. 1t brought uni
versa sorrow and poverty. Our fields
were desolated, our labor disorganized,
our industry paralyzed, all our enter
prises destroyed or crippled, and our
cApital sunk. Towns and cities were
Numbered and burned, and their inhab-
itants driven, in destitution, from their
homes. But these were the fruits of
war-not legitimate, to be sure-such,
however, as usually attends its march
of fire; and, therefore; we submitted
10 them with patience and fortitude,
cheered by the hope, that the quarrel
and carnage having ended, the return
OF peace and prosperity would begin,
and that, at least, political fraternity
would be restored. Under this inspi-
ration we endeavored to forget the
bitterness which the struggle had en-
rendered, to cultivate a spirit of con-
ciliation and harmony, and to evince,
II every possible way, our desire to
have Georgia restored to her constitu-
honal relation to the Union. Terrible
pas been our disappointment. Having
been baf1ed in the attempt at seces-
sion, upon the idea that such attempt
was rebellion, we supposed that its
suppression left Georgia State in the
Union, still possessing the inherent
right of selfgovernment and the con-
stitutional right of representation in
Congress. Instead OF this, however.
The President of the United States
required that we should organize
new State government, ratify the Con-
etitutional Amendment, abolishing sla-
very and Incorporating the same pro-
vision into our fundamental law; that |
We should repudiate our State war
debt and abrogate the Ordinance Of
secession and all the laws in further
ance of the Confederate cause. Ami
mated by a determination to make anv
sacrifice but that of honor, suppressing
oven the spirit Of complaint, for the
Bake Of peace, we did all that he re-
1uired-even surrendering our most
valuable property, that Of our slaves
land consented to become almost
paupers. Supposing that such deport-
ment might challenge the magnanimi-
~ of the victors toward a fallen foe.
we then thought surely the dawn of
peace was in sight, and that our right
70 the protection and benefits of a COM
mon Constitution would be recognized.
We elected our Senators and Repre-
eentatives, thus demonstrating not
only our expectation, but also our (
earnest desire, again TO participate in [
nc councils and promised blessings of
We Union restored. But, as before, {
disappointment was our fate. Our &
members were spurned from the Halls {
N Congress and our people denounced l
NJ traitors and rebels. We have been u
persistently charged with hostility to '
nc Constitution and Union, and treat
% as outlaws from both. Whilst we a
% not thus allude to the department S
NC temper Of our people in spirit of c
poasting, yet we challenge contradic- n
non OF our statements, and fearlesslv a
Array them before a candid world, as il
svidence of the injustice, unkindness n
ND falsehood Of .he charges against f
ii, urged as q pretext for our oppres- il
ion. n
Prescription from the Union, we {
'0uld endure the charge Of hostility /,
o Il were tolerable; from our pros P
ration we might rise; our poverty c
rt might surmount if we could be left
Indisturbed and permitted TO enjoy a
|ar Inherent right Of self-government S
Pr noble State abounds with the Il
Iements and resources Of material o.
V1alth her people are enterprising A
nd full of the consciousness Of unsul- W
led honor and unsubdued manhood. n
'ire play 10 their capacities, unfetter Of
tsir elastic energies, remove unneces- j
ary and unjust burdens from their al