The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-08

suits with q asincere purpose to fulfill
their duties under the Constitution OF
the United States, Nhich5 they, had
sworn TO support. II their action in
these particulars had been met in q
spirit OF frankness and cordially, we
believe that ere this old iryitations
would have passed away and the
wounds inflicted by the war would,
in o great measurey have been healed.
AS far as we are advised, the people
OF the South entertain no unfriendly
feeling toward the Government of the
United State, but they complain that
their rights under the Constitution
are withheld from them in the admi-
nistration thereof. Ill.,,
The idea that the Southern people
are hostile to the negroes, and would
Cypress them if it were in their
power to do so, is entirely unfounded.
They have grown up in our midst,
and Ne have been accustomed, from
our childhood, to look upon them
with kindness. The change in the
relations ef the two races has wrought
no change in our feeling toward
them. They still constitute the i'm
portant part of our laboring popula-
tiop. Without their labor the lands
of the South would be comparatively
unproductive. Without the employ
ment which Southern agriculture
affords, they would be destitute of
the means of subsistence and become
paupers, dependent upon public
bounty.
Self-interest, even if there were no
higher motives, would, therefore,
prompt the whites of the South to
extend to the negroes care and pro-
lection. The important fact that
the two races are, under existing cir
cumstances. necessary to each other,
is gradually becoming apparent to
both, aud, we believe, but for inf1u-
ences exerted to stir up the passions
of the negroes, the relations of the
two races would soon adjust them
selves on basis of kindness and
mutual advantage.
1t is true that the people of the
South, together with the people of
the North and West, are, for obvi-
GUS reasons, opposed to any system
of laws which would place the politi-
cal power of the country in the hands
of the negro race. But the opposi-
tion springs from no feeling of enmi-
ty, but from n deep-seated convic-
ton that, at present, the negroes
have neither the intelligence nor the
qualifications which are necessary to
make them safe repositories of polit-
ical 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 restoration of their
rights under the Constitution. They
desire relief from oppressive misrule.
Above all, they look to their coun-
trymen for the establishment in the
Southern States Of that which has
justly been regarded as the birth
right of every American-the right
of self-government. Establish these
on q firm basis, and we can safely
promise, on behalf of the Southern
people, that they will faithfully obey
the Constitution and laws of the
United States, treat the negro with
kindness and humanity, and fulfill
every duty incumbent on peaceful
citizens loyal to the Constitution of
their country.
We believe the above contains q
succinct reply to the general topics
embraced i'll your letter, and we ven
ture to say, on behalf of the South
ern people, and of the officers and
soldiers of the late Confederate
army, that they will concur in all the
sentiments which we have expressed.
Appreciating the patriotic motives
which have prompted your letter,
and reciprocating your expressions OF
kind regard, we have the honor to
be, very respectfully and truly,
4. 3. LEE, Virginia.
G.. T. BEAUREGARD, Louisiana.
ALEX. III. STEPHENS. Georgia.
ALEX. H. II. STUART, Virginia.
G. NJ. CONRAD, Louisiana.
LINTON STEPHENS. Georgia.
A. T. CAPERTON, West Virginia.
JOHN ECHOLS, Virginia.
+. s. STOGKDATiE Tayas