The Van Buren press., 1868-09-18
Rsssssrsss ~ L. osrssspsaAass.
The following h the Rosesessas and

| lrc Correspondence.
Gxx. RosERr F.. Lss-Gsnsrai: Full ol
solicitude for the future of our country,
come with my heart in my hand, "
learn the condition. wishes and intentions
Of the people OF the Southern States, and
especially 10 ascertain the sentiments oi
those brave, energetic and self sacrificing
men who, after sustaining the Confedera.
cy for four years, laid down their arms
and sworc allegiance 10 the United States.
Whose truest and beloved leader you
have been. sec that the Interpreting
States rights In such manner ~ 10 con
dict with national unity has produced .
violent reaction against them, which u
drifting us toward consolidation. So
great a country as ours even Is now, and
certainly Is TO be. must have Stnte gov
ernments 20 attend to the local "details, OF
go further and fare worse. II Is plain to
us at the West and North, that this con
tinuance of semi anarchy, such as has ex.
listed f,r the last three years in ten States
Of our Union, increases the danger of
centralixation, swells our national ex.
penditures, diminishcs our productions,
and our revenue, inspires doubts Of our
political and financial stability ,Jepreciates
the value OF our national bonds and cur.
rency, and places the credit Of the richest
below that of the poorest nalion in christ:
tendon. We know that our currency
must be deprecated so long rs our bonds
are below par and that therefore the vas,
business aud commerce Of our country
must suffer the terrible evil Of hnctast.
ing standard Of value until we can remedy
the evil condition Of things at the South.
We also see other mischief quite possible,
if no, probable, which may arise, such rs
from failure Of crops, local instruction
and many other unfortunate contingen.
cics. which may still more deprcciate our
credit and currency, provoke discomfort
and disorder among our people and bring
demagoguical agitation, revolution, re?u-
diation aud a thousand unnamed evils
and villainies. We know that the inter
ests Of the people Of the South are for
law and order, and they must share our
fate of good and i'll. believe every one
I know, who reflects, believes that il the
people of the Southern States could be at
peace and their energy ann good will
heartily applied to repair the wastes Of
the war, organize their business, get the
freedmen pcaceably, prosperously and
contcntc'lly to work, invite capital, en-
terprise and labor from elsewhere TO cooe
freely among them. they would soon re-
build their ruined fortunes, multiply
many fold the value Of their lands, estab-
lish public confidence in our stability,
bring our government bonds to premium,
our currency to gold standard and assure
for themselves and the whole nation a
most happy and prosperous future TO .
ohivslsoms and magasWinoss dsvotinn IL
restoring peace and happiness TO our
common country. ] want to carry that
pledge high above the level OF party poll.
tics to the late officers and soldiers Of the
Union army In the North and tho West.
and to ask them TO consider It, and to
take the necessary action, confident that
it win meet with response SO warm,
blessings Very truly your friend,
(Signed. w. =. RosrcRAxs.
WHITE SULPHUR STRINGS, W..vuRaIxiA.t
a5u August 20, 1857.
General. I have had the honor to re
ceive your letter Of this date, and In &C
cordance with your suggestions l have
conferred with number Of gentlemen
from the South, in whose judgment !
have condded, aud who are acquainted
with the public sentiment Of their respec-
tive States; and they have kindly con-
sented to unite with me in replying to
your communication, and their names
will be found with my own appended to
this answer With the explanation we
propose to give you ~ to what VIC be-
lieve the Southern people, to whom you
refer. regard as the correct doctrine as to
African slavery, and as To the right of
States +, secede from the Union. We
express the almost unanimous opinion OF
that people when we declare 80 generous
and conlding, that We sl,all zee In its sun.
shine the rain bow Of peoce In our polit
ical sky, now black with cloudt and i'm
pending storm. know you are repre-
sentative man. and have reverence for the
Constitution and the Union and the wei
fare of the country, and what you would
say would bc endorsed by ninctcnths of
the whole people Of the South. But |
should like to have the signatures OF all
representative Southern men who concur
in your views, aud in expressions OF ftheir
concurrence from the principal officers
and representative men throughout the
South, when they eau be procured. The
concurrence Of opinions and will all tend
ing to peace, order and stability, will In
sure the Union soldiers and business men,
who want substantial and solid peace. and
cause them to rise above the level Of
party psjitics. and take such steps to
meet your as will insure lasting peace
with all its countless that we are cOnscrva-
tives, and that the question was decided
by the war, and that il 10 their intention
in good faith to abide by that decision.
At the close CT the war the Southern
people laid down theft arms and sought
to resume their former relations with the
United States Government, and through
their State Conventions they sbolislcd
slavery, and annullcd their ordinance Of
secession, and they returned 70 their
peaceful pursuits with sincere purpose
to fulfil all their duties under the Consti
Triton Of the United States. which they
had sworn to support. II this season In
Southern agriculture fails they will he des
titute OF means Of subsistence and bc~O 70
panpers dependent on public bounty.