American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-09-12
GEN. LEES REpGr.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS. I
WESr Va Auu Oh 1863 (

1 ~ WEsF VA, Aug 81, 1868
General-I have had the honor
to receive your letter of this date
and, in accordance with your sugges
ton, | have conferred with number
of gentlemen from the South in whose
Judgment | have 'contided, and who
are acquainted with the public senti.
ment of their respective States
They have kindly consented to unite
with me in replying to your commu
nication, and their names will be
found with my own, appended to this
answer. With this explanation we
propose to give to yOu what we be.
lieve in regard to the sentiments of
the Southern people in relation to
African slavery and the right of a
State to secede from the Union.
We express the almost unanimous
Judgment of the Southern people,
when we declare that we consider
that these disputed questions have
been decided by the war, and that it
is their intention in good faith to
abide by those decisions.
! At the close of the war the South.
ern people laid down their arms and
sought to resume their former rela-
tons with the L lited States Govern
ment. Through their State ConVen-
tons they abolished slavery and
annulled their ordinances of seces
sion, and they returned to their
peaceful pursuits with sincere pur-
pose to fulfill all their duties under
the Constitution of the United States,
which they had sworn to support.
If it were not tor the aid that
Southern agriculture affords them.
the people of the South wOald be DIES.
ttute of means of subsistence, and
become raupers, dependent on pub
lie bounty. Self-interest, even if
there were no higher III olives, would
therefore prompt the whites of the
South to extend to the negroes care
and protection.
The important fact that two races
are, under existing circumstances,
necessary for each other, is gradual
ly becoming apparent to both, and
we believe that but for he influences
cXerted to stir the passions of the
negroes, the rela tions OF the two
races would soon adjust themselves
on a basis of mutual kindness and
advantage.
1t is true that the people of the
South, together with the people of
the North and West, are, for obvious
reasons, opposed to any system of
laws which would place the political
power Of the country in the hands
of the negro race but this opposi
ton springs, not fl ON feeling of en-.
nifty, but from a deep seated con
viction that at present the negroes
have neither the iutelligence or other
qualifications which are necessary to
make them safe repositories of politi-
cal power. They would inevitably |
become the victims Of demagogues, |
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 |
obstacle to their prosperity; they
ask a restoration of their rights I'M
der the Constitution they desire re-
lief from oppressive miSrule, and
above all, they would appeal to their
for the re blishment |
n the Southern States of that which
las Justly been regarded as the birth
light of every American. the right
If elfgovernment. Establish that
IN firm basis, and we can safely
promise, on behalf of the Southern
people, that they will faith fully obey
lie Constitution and laws of the
United States, treat the negro with
kindness and humanity, and fulfill
very duty incumbent on peaceful
citizens loyal to the Constitution of
her country.
We believe the above contains
succinct reply to the general topics
in your letter, and we ven
.ure to say, on behalf of the Southern
people, and Of the officers and sol
iiers of the late Confederate army,
hat they will concur in all the senti-
nents which we have expressed. /
Approaching the patriotic means
which have prompted your letter,
lnd reciprocating your expression of
Kind regards, we have the houor to
be ...... .......... .....---
Very respectfully and truly 1
tSigsedbyl r r. LEE, and thrty-one otbers