Middletown transcript., 1868-09-12
EXPOSITION OF SOUTHERN SENTIMENT
Correspondence Between General Rose Grams
and General Lee.


Correspondence between General Rose Grams
and General Lee.
WHITE SULPHUR' SpRINGs WEST VIRGINIA, |
August 25th, lSGS. !
GENERAL Full of socitude for the future of
our country, | come with my heart in my hand |
to learn the condition, wishes and intentions of
the people Of the Southern Statcs--cspccially TO
ascertain the sentiments of that body of brave |
energetic and sell-sacrificng men, who after
sustaining the Conicdcracy for four years, laid
down their arms and swore allegiance TO the
Government of the United States, whose trusted
and beloved leader you have been
sec that interpreting ''State rights TO con-
| tiict with national unity has produced violent
reaction against them which is drifting us to-
ward consolidation; and also that SO great coun-
try as ours even now is--certainly is to bc-must
have State Governments to attend to local details
or go farther and fare worse.
1t is plain to us at the West and the North that
the continuance of scmi-anarchy, such as has cX-
listed for the last three years i'll ten States Of our
Union, largely increases the danger of concentra-
ton, swclls our national expenditures, diminishes
our production and our revenue, inspires doubts
| of our political and financial stability, deprcci-
atcs the value of our national bonds and curren-
| cy, and places the credit of the richest below
that Of the poorest nation in Chrisendom.
| We know that our currency must be dcprecia-
| ted so long as our bonds are below par, and that
| therefore the vast business and commerce Of our
country must suffer the terrible evil Of tluctua
ting standard of value, until we REMEDY the
evil condition of things at the South We also
see other mischief quite possible, if not probable
to arise--such from failure of crops, a local
| insurrectiOn and many other unforeseen contn-
gencies which may still more dcpreciate our
credit and currency, provoke discomfort and dis
order among people and bring demagogical
agitation, revolution, rep, iation, and II thou
sand unnamed evils ana viIlanies upon us. We
know that the interests of the people of the South
are for law and order and that they must share
our fate for good and ill.,.
] belicve-every one | know who reflects be-
lieves-that if the people of the Southern States
could be at peace, and their energy and good
will heartily applied to repair the wastes of war,
rcorganize their business, set the freedmen peace
fully, prosperousIy and contentcd at work, invite
capital, enterprise and labor from elsewhere to
come freely amongst them, they would rebuild
their ruined fortunes, multiply manifold the
value of their lands, establish public confidence
in political stability, bring our government
bonds to premium, our currency to gold STAN
dard, and assure for themselves and the whole
, nation most happy and prosperous future.
Seeing this and how all just interests concur
in this work, | ask the officers and soldiers who
fought for the Union-every thinking man of the
} great West and North asks-why it cannot be
, done.
, We are told by those who have controlled the
Goyernmtnt for the last four years that the pco-
pie Of the South will not do it, that, if ever done
at ALL it must be done by the poor, simple, uned-
ucated, lalrdlcss freedmen, and the few whites,
who, against the public opinion and sentiment OF
the intelligent white people, are willing TO at
tempt to lead and make their living off the ignor
ant inexperienced colorcd people, mostly men
. VINO must be needy adventurers, or without any
of those attributes on which reliance for good
guidance Of government can he placed. We are
told that this kind of government must be con-
tinued at the South yntil six eight millions Of
info tn int,
i move out of the country.
Now think, the Uniou army thinks, and peo-
, pie of the North and West dare say believe,
: there must be, or there ought to be, Il shorter,
surer way to get good government for all at the
| South.
We know that they who organized and sus-
S tained the Southern Contederacy for four years
: against gigantic efforts, ought to be able to give
peace, law, order and protection to the white peo
pie OF the South
= They have the interest and power to employ
Il protect, educate and elevate the poor freedmen
II and to restore themselves and our country to al
n the blessings of which have just spoken. TIL,
y question we want answered is: care they will
u ing to do it?'
1t came down to find out what the people of thu
+ South think Of this and to ask you what the Off
GERS and soldiers who served in the confederate
army and the leading prope who sustained i
think of these things.
II came to ask morc l want to ask you, n
m whose purity and patriotism have expressed un
-, qualified confidence, and many good men a
- you can conveniently consult, to say what yov
Le think oft, and also what you are willing to d
j. about it.
l. want a written expression of views that Cal
Il be followed by a concurrence of action. | wan
~ to know if you and the gentlemen who will ioil
- you IN that written expression are willing t
lie pledge the people of the South to a chivalrou
n and magnanimous devotion to restoring peac
and prosperity to our common country. | wan
to carry that pledge, high above the level of par
ty politics, to the late officers and Soldiers of tn
. Union army and the people of the North an
of West and to ask them to consider it, and to tax
a the necessary action, confident that it will NEE
!" with Il response so warm so generous and conf
lS ding, that we shall see in its sunshine the rain
he bow OF peace in our political sky, now blac
in with clouds and impending storm.
know you are representative man, in reyel
t. ence and regard for the Union, the Consttutio
Us and the welfare of the country that what yo
s. would say would be endorsed by nine-tentlis
f. the whole people in the South but should lii
- to have the signatures of all the Representative
IL Southern men here who concur in your view:
and expressions of their concurrence from I'll
principal officers and represen tative through
al out the South when they can be procured.
~ The concurrence Of opinions and wills all tent
re ing to peace, order and stability will assure on
he Union soldiers and business men who want sui
If stantal and solid speech, and cause them to ris
H. above the level of party )litas, and to take sue
y steps to meet yours as will insure lasting peat
q, with al its countless blessings.
IL Very truly, your friend,
10. w. S. R0sECRANs.
~, General R. E. LEE, White Sulphur Springs, We
~ Virginia.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VA, /
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