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

the people of the South entertain no unfriend.
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.
Y, The idea that the Southern people are hos.
tile to the negroes, and would oppress them
if it were in their power toSdo 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 employmentwhich
Southern agriculture affords they would be
destitute of the means of subsistence, and be-
+come paupers, dependent public bounty. "a
sSelfinterest, even if there were no higher
mnot;ves, would therefore prompt the whites
Of the South to extend to the negroes care
and protection. The important fact that the
twpyraces 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, theirelations Of the two
races would soon adjust themselves on o ba-
Bis of, mutual kindness and advantage.
It is true that the people Of the South, to-
gcsher with the people of the North and West,
are, for obvious reasons, opposed TO any sys-.
tenn .ofilaws which would place the political
power of the country iu the hands of the ne
gro race. But this opposition springs from
no feeling of enmity, but from deep. seated
convection that at present the negroes have
neither the intelligence nor other qualifica-
tions which are necessary 70 make them
safe repositories Of political power. They
would inevitably become the victims of dem
agogues,' who for selfish purposes would mis-
lea6 them, to the serious injury ofthe 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 theiraprosperity. - ..sa =
They ask q rsstorationof their rights under
the Constitution. They desire relief from op
pressive misruie. Above all, they would up
peal to their country men for the:re-establish-
ment,inthe Southern States .ofsthat which:
has justly been regarded US the birth;right of
every American--the right of selfgovernment.
Establish these On d firm basis, and we con
safely promise, eonbehalf oCIhe Southern peo.
pie, that they will faithfully obey the :Ccnsti-'
tuition and. laws of the. United, State ;. treat
the negro with Kindness and humanity, and
fulfil every duty Incumbent on peaceful citi:
zehs; loyal toStheS Constitution of. their couh-
try. =, % 9'sa - % -.
/ We believe the above contains a: succinct
reply to the general topics embraced in your
letter, and we venture TO say, on behalf OF the
Southern people, aud the officers and soldiers
Of the late Confederate army, that they will
cucur. in all the ,sentimentscwhiehi!we have
expressed. = So -e4 .r-..s, >, ~,
Appreciating the patriotic motives which
have prompted your letter, and reciprocating
your expressions of.kiud regard, we'havea the
honor to be, very respectfully and truly,
r R: L. LEE Hirgiuia.., a,a
g. 4. BEAUREGARD, louisiana.
ALEX..H. STEPHENS, Georgia.
* s9oALEN.. .H:sH. STUART, Virginia. ~
C. NJ. CONRAD, Louisiana.
LINTON STEPHENS, Georgia.
A. T.-CAPERT0N, West Virginia.
JOHN sEGlIOLS,, virgilia.
F.S. STUCKDAhE, Texas.
+. W.:PICKENS,- South Carolina.
WM. j. ROBERTSON, Virginia.
JOS. r. ANDERSON, Virginia.
- WM. F: TURNER, West Virginia. -
CHI. SUiBER, South CaroIina.1a oa
E.FONTAlNE, Virginia.! ri j. i4t.
1.5,aIl!0HN LETGHERr ssEirginia.s4 -. ..
.m.%s.B. {. ADAMS. Mississippi. -. d.
WM.. GREEN, North Carolina.
.sa LEWIS f. HARVIl9,;; Virginia. '''e u
~ Z. N.aDANlEh,sJ sJR., Virginia. osr
ESUTRERLIN, Virginia. 5,
3. JAMES, Louisiana.
4 GOUTANT- -REATpEGARp, Tesoo.
= Sd. o. Il. NORTON, Louisiana.
isiT f.~PyBRANGH.' Georgia. ~ 9i'ilk 2
cd. H. TaRUSSEI4, : Geofgiss> y,-7o;s., :.
SAMUEL. DOUGLASS, Florida. s.
JEREMIAH MORTON, Virginia.
JOHN B. BALDWIN, Virginia.
, SaaGE0. W.B0LLING, Virginia. o =, e
T.S. FLOURNEY, Virginia. a9li.ss
JAMES LYONS; Virginia.
General w. S.. RoSEcRAxs, Minister to
Mexico, White Sulphur Springs, West Vir.
giuia. BE- >iTsi gn.Q7 so q 'sf-+. :
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