The south-western., 1868-10-21
Letter from Ex-Governor Graham


The following letter from VIM. A. Graham, of NORTH
Carolina to Gen. Rosecrans was ected by the White
Sulphur conference:
HILLsBoRo, N. c., Sept IA, 1868.
To Gen eral W. S. Rosecrans:
Str-Admiring the noble spirit of patriotism, peace
and good will which dictated your letter to Gen. Lee
at White Sulphur Springs on the 26th ult., and pre-,
sumlng it might be acceptable to receive answers to
the inquiries therein made from extended cir
Gle of citizens of the Southern States than happened
to be convenient for consultation at the time of this
correspondence, beg permission to superadd my tes-
timony in hearty concurrence with the replies of Gen.
Lee and his associates on the topics embraced in your
communication
To be explicit:
l. The surrender of the Southern armies was real
surrender, made in honor and good faith has been
demonstrated by the fact patent to all the world that
in three and half years not sword has been lifted
against the government any plot for resistance to
it formed.
9. The claim off State under the Constitution, to
secede from the Union to nullify its laws, never
concurred in by majority of the people Of this State
has been abandoned by those who entertained it, as
settled by the decisive arbitrament of arms.
3. African slavery was surrendered up, result
of the war; in perfect sincerity; and there exists
purpose expectation of its reestablishment.
4. There has been, by general consent, concession
to the emancipated negro, of all the civil rights Of
white men, and there is hostile feeling on the part
mtted to be mutual interests and dependencies which
would ere this have been adjusted upon the ordinary
principles which regulate labor and capital in other
but for the unwse action of Congress and
the agitation of politicians, for the most part
comers from States of the North and West, operating
the preudces of the black through secret leagues
and combinations.
5. The people of the States of the South have in
teigent comprehension of the Constitution of the
United States as written, as ezpounded in its admins
tration for eighty years illustrated in judicial decs
IONS and as taught in the commentaries of Kent and
Story To this they resumed their allegiance after the
late unfortunate war; not merely n sincerity but with
a reasonable degree of cheerfuness and hope. And
their dissatisfaction and complaint is not against
the Constitution, but that its provisions have not been
observed and kept toward them, and that they
openly denied the rights of internal selt-government,
acknowledged in the Constitution, and proudly and de-
family, but righfuly, claimed and exercised by the
people Of the States north Of the Potomac and the
Ohio. Dissatisfaction on these grounds pervades
than fourtfths of the white men, comprehendng not
merely old secessionists and Democrats but the life
long followers Of Clay and Webster the supporters of
HARRISON Taylor, Fillmore and Scott, many of whom
resisted secession at every hazard until begun
and there was left to them only choice of Sides and
then, according to their opon of duty, went with their
States and section others who abandoned their
opposition, but expressed it freely throughout the
all of whom, without regard to abstract ideas of
restoration prescribed by the President in 1862 and
have since been anxious for return of cordiay
and harmony in every region of the Union They have
no power purpose to attempt redress by force but
they appeal to their fellow-ctzens everywhere for a
of true covenant of the Constitutor-of
that equality which, among States among indivd
lals, is principle Of equity, and which, in Amer
can Union, is incorporated into the Constitution and
made the supreme law of the land.
With these convictions Oh their mind they have hailed
rour intervention in behalf of solid and lasting
guilty that Of public benefacor being themselves
thoroughly persuaded that if the just and patriotic
nen of our several sections could but ntercommune
md understand each other reccncilement, harmony
md gradual to prosperity would be the
nd natural consequences. May Heaven aid your eff
ors this good end and reward you with its choicest
blessings.
Believe me, sir, with true respect
Your obcdent servant, W. A. GRAHAM.