Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-09-11

otates OF our Union, largely increases the
danger Of centralism, swells our national
expenditures, diminishes our production.
and our revenue, inspires doubts of our
political stability, depreciates the value Of
our national boads and currency, and place.
the credit Of the richest below that Of the
poorest patton In Christendom.
We know that our currency must be de-
preciated so long as our bonds are below
par, and that, therefore, the vast business
and commerce Of the country must suffer
the terrible evil of fuctuating standard
Of value until we can remedy the evil con.
dtion Of things at the South. We also see
other mischief quite possible, II not prob.
able, 70 arise, such as from a failure OF
crops, "a local insurrectioD, and many other
unforeseen contingencies, which may still
more depreeiate our credit and currency,
provoke discomfort and disorder among our
people, and bring Pedagogical agitation,
revolution, reputation, and a thousand un-
named evils and villaines upon us. We
know that the interests of the people of the
Southare for law and order, and that they
must Share our fate of good and i'll.
l believe-every one know who reflects
believes-that If the people of the Southern
States could be at peace, and their energy
and goodwill heartily applied to repair the
wastes of war, reorganjze their business, set
tho freedmen peacefully, prosperousy and
contentedly at work, invite capital, enter
prise and labor from elsewhere to come
freely amongst them, they would soon re-
build heir ruined fortunes, multiply many
fold TIE value of their lands, establish pulic
confidence in our political stability, bring
our government bonds to premium, our
curreIcy to gold standard, and assure for
themselves and the whole nation q most
happy and prosperous future.
Svting this, aud how all Just interests
concur IN the work, l ask tho officers and
soldiers who fought for the Union, ask evry
thinking man OF the great West and North,
why Il cannot be doneY
We are told by those who have controlled
government for the last four years that the
peope of the South will not do it. That, II
ever done at all, it must be done by the
poor, simple, uneducated landless freed
men and the few who, against the public
opinion aud sentiment Ul the intelligent
Whit people, are willing to attempt to lead,
and make their living off these ignorant,
inexperienced colored people, mostly men
whcmust be needy adventures or without
any Of those attributes on which reliance
forJood guidance or government can be
PLACED. We are told that this kind Of gov.
ernnent must be continued at the South
until six or eight millions of intelligent, en-
ergitic white people give into or move out
of he country.
Now, / think, the Union army thinks, and
people of the North and West, dare say,
believe, there must be, or there ought to be
a shorter, surer way to get good govern
mmt for all the South. We know that they
who organized and sustained the Southern
Ocofederacy for four years against gigantic
efbrts, ought to be able to give peace, law,
orier and protection to the whole people
Of the South. They have the interest and
ths power 10 employ, protect, educate and
el,vate the poor freedmen, and to restore
themselves and our country to all the bless
ings of which l have just spoken. The
question want answered is, "Are they
wiling to do it?"
came down to find out what the people
Of the South think of this, aud to ask you
What the officers and soldiers who served
i the Confederate army. and the leading
people who sustained ii, think Of these
hingsi
| come to ask more. want to ask you,
il whose purity and patriotism l here
express unqualified confidence, and as
many good men as you can conveniently
consult, TO say what you think of il and
also, what you are willing to do about it
] want written expression of views that
IAN be followed by concurrence Of action.
Z want to know il you and the gentlemen
Who are willing to join in that written ex-
preston, are willing to pledge the people
Of the South to chivalrous and magnani-
NOUS devotion to restoring peace and pros
perity to our common country. | want to
carry that pledge high above the level OF
party politics, to the late officers and SOL
ders OF the Union army, and to the people
OF the North and West, and to ask them TO
consider IL, and TO take the necessary ac-
ton, confident that it will meet with re-
Spouse so warm, so generous and confiding,
that we shall see in its sunshine the rain
bow of peace in our political sky, now
SO black with clouds and impending
storm.
know you are representative man in
reverence and regard for the Union, the
aud the welfare of the country,
and that what you say would be endorsed
by nine-tenths OF the South, but / should
like to have the signatures Of all the repre-
sentative Southern men here who concur
In your views, aud expressions of their con-
currono5 from the principal officers and
representative men throughout the South,
when they can be procured.
This concurrence of opinions and Wills,
all tending to peace, order and stability,
will assure our Union soldiers and business
men, who want substantial and solid peace,
and cause them to rise above the level OF
party politics and take such steps to meet
yours as will insure a lasting peace with all
its countless blessings.
Very truly, your friend,
w. S. R0sEcRANs.
Gen. r. f. Lee, White Sulphur Sprlnsg,
West Virginia.
White Sulphur Springs, West Va,
Aug. rs, 1868.
General have the honor to receive your
letter OF this date, and in accordance with
your suggestion, have conferred with a
number Of gentlemen from the South, in
whose Judgment | have coniided, and who
are we'll acquainted with the public seDti-
ment In their respective States. They
have kindly consented to unite with me in
replying TO your communication, and their
names will he found with NY own append
ed 10 this answer.
With this explanation we proceed to give
TO YOU candid statement OF what We be-
iieye 20 I've tue sentiment OF tho Southern
people in regard TO the subject TO which
you refer.
Whatever opinions may have prevailed
In the past In regard TO African slavery, OF
the right of State te sscede from the
Union, we believe we express the almost
unanimous judgment of the Southern peo-
Die when we declare that they consider
that those questions we're decided by the
war, aud that i is their intention, in good
faith, TO abide by that decision AZ iee
clos. of the war the Southern people laid
down their arms aud sought 10 resume their
fosmer relations with the United States
goyarnment.
Through their State conventions they
shoIIshed slavery, and annulled their oTdi,
$50. - s,.casSion and they returned Il