The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-10
A Noble Letter .rron Con. 1Rossncra,

a Noble Letter 1ron Con. Eossncranz.
In reply to ar,inYitation to address
the late mass meeting at indianapolis,
Gen. Rosencranz wrote. the following
manly letter: .gsqs... 4. 1 3Sl;if
ST. MARTINS, Brown County, o.
A. September q, 1868.
General John Lore, Indianapolis, In
diana.
GENERAL: Indispensable duties pre-
vent me from attending the gathering
OF officers and soldiers at Indianapo-
lis, to which your letter invited me
on the 23d instant.
But beyond the great qualification
/ should experience in meeting so
many OF my old companions-in-ar in arms,
and mingling our memories of the
past with resolutions of future efforts
and sacrifices for the honor of the
land and flag we love, my presence
there would accomplish more than a
simple statement of my views on
| the chief issues which now aoitate the
country.
believe our free institutions and
highest material interests are in grave
peril. I shall, therefore, perform q
solemn and responsible duty to my
1ellow-soldiers and countrymen, who
love this nation more than party,
by stating what I think the most
vital issues before the public in the
approaching Presidential election.
Above all other expcnses--expen
ditures, taxation, bonds, "green-
backs" or anything else-stands that
of restoring the people of the South
ern States to hopeful, cheerful self
| government.
Restore them this, and as certainly
as day follows the sun, our political
stability viii ne assured; our financial
prosperity will speedily follow; the
value of property in the South will
increase; our public securities will go
to q premium; our greenbacks will
become par; coin and currency ac-
counts, with all their evils and COM
plications. will disappear from the
| books of our business men.
Believing with all my soul that the
preservation of our Government from
despotic changes. and all those inesti-
mableI blessings, depend upon this
restoration Of the Southern people to
wholesome, cheerful self government,
am equally certain that it can be
done, and dare pledge my honor and
life for them, that they will give and
observe all proper guarantees to re-
dependent issues; to protect, educate
and elevate the freedmen to the exer-
else of all the duties incumbent OH
them as good citizens under the
Constitution and laws Of the United
States.
And what more could be asked of
them, or what greater results could
patriotism desire for the country, than
depend upon this issue?
Not even the prosecution of the
war challenged more thorough re-
nunciation of party preferences and
personal dislikes on the altar Of cur
country, than does the attainment of
this great good.
The desolate and ruined South,
the oppressed Taxpayers Of the West
and North, generosity, mercy, love
of country, apprehensions of evils to
come, every motive that ought to
move the hearts of true and noble
men, appeal to us to say by our votes
we will stop that hopeless folly of
attempting to govern the Southern
States by what we call "loyal blacks"
and give the people, under just
guarantees, the right peacefully and
legally to proceed to recognize their
own government within the Union.
With such convictions, I hold the
man who would not express and act
upon them, traitor to himself and
his country, and despise the partizan
who would find fault with any rea-
sonable steps he might take to bring
about SO great good to the nation.
Recommending my convictions,
and the reason for them, to the judg-
ment of my fellow-soldiers and coun-
trymen, I remain, very truly, yours,
w. S. ROSENCRANZ.
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