The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-09-23

2 South. We also see other mischi
5 quite possible, if not probable, to arisr
; such as from failure Of crops, loc,
insurrection, aud many other unforsee
contin ngencies, which may still NOR
depreciate our credit aud currency
provoke discomfort and disorder anon
our people, and bring demagogical agi
tation, revolution, Reputation, and
thousand unnamed evils and viIlainie
on u.s. We know that TIE interests q
the people of the South are for law ant
order. and they must share our fate o
good or evil.
l believe that every one 1 know VIII.
reflects, believes that if the people o.
the Southern States could be at peace
and their energy and good will heartily
applied to repair the waists of war, re-
organizing their business, sat the freed
men peacefully, prosperously and cor
tentedly at work invite capital, enter
prise and labor from elsewhere, to come
freely among them. they would soon
rebuild their luined fortunes, multiply
manifold the value of their lands, es
tablish public confidence in our political
stability, bring our Government bonds
to premium, our currency to gold
standard, and assure for themselves and
the whole nation, most happy ard
prosperous future.
Seeing this and how ell just inter
ests concur in the work, ask the off
GERS and soldiers who fought for the
Union, ask every thinking man of the
great West and North-why it can
not be done? We are told by those
who have controlled the Government
for the last four years that the people
of the South will not by it; that if ever
done at all, it must be done by the poor,
simple, uneducated, landlessl freedmen,
and the few whites who, against the
public sentiment of the intelligent
white people, are willing to attempt to
lead, and make their living off Of these
ignorant, inexperienced colored people
mostly men who must be needy ad-
venturers, or without any of those
attributes on which reliance for good
guidance or government can be placed.
We are told that this kind of govern
ment must be continued at the South
until six or eight millions of intelligent, J
energetic white people give into it or
move out of the country. 81
Now, think the Union army thinks, |
and the people of the North and West,
dare say, believe there must be, or
there ought to be, shorter surer way
to get good government for all at the
South. We know that they who or,
yanized and sustained the Southern
for four years against gi-
yantic efforts, ought to be able to give
peace, law, order and protection to the
xhcle people of the South. They have
he interest and the power to employ,
EDUCATE and elevate the freedmen and
estore themselves and our country to
III the blessings Of which 1 have just
poken.
The question we want answered IS
fAre they willing to do it?" I came
lown to fud what the people of the
South think of this, and to ask you
THAT the officers and soldiers who served
u the Confederate army and the lead.
ng people who sanctioned it, think of
hese things? 1 came to ask more.
want to ask you, in whose purity and
atriotism I here express unqualified
onfdence' and as many other good men
S you can conveniently consult to say
That you think of it, and also what l
ou are willing to do about it want
written expression OF views that can /
c followed by concurrence of action.
want to know if you and the gentle
len who will join you in that express
IN, are willing to pledge tie people of
be South to chivalrous and mag t
animous devotion to restoring peace '
nd prosperity to our common country ! f
want to carry that pledge high above c
he level of party politics, to the late t
ficers and soldiers of the Union army
nd the people of the N5rth and West, c
nd to ask them to consider it, and to /
Ike the necessary action, confident t
hat t. will meet with a response so a
arm; generous and con6ding, that we !
hall in its sunshine behold the rain c
ow of peace in our political sky, now
lack with clouds and impending storm.
know you are a representative man in '
avcrence and regard for the Union, r
he Constitution and the welfare of the r
country, and that what you would say
ou'd be indorsed by nine-tenths of the
hole people Of the South but should
Ike to have the signatures of all the
Southern men here who
oncur in your views, and the express
ms of their concurrence from the prin
ipal officers ond representative men
,roughout the South, when they can
. procured. This concurrence OF
Dinions and wills, all tending to peace,
rder and stability, will reassure our
MON soldiers and Congressman who
ant substantial and solid peace, AID
luse them torise above the level of po'
les and take such steps TO meet yours
will insure lasting peace with al! its
,untless blessings. g.
Very truly. your friend,
W S. ROSECRANS.
o General R E. LEE, White Sulphur
Springs, West Virginia.