Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-14
The Purposes Of the Southern People-An
Eloquent vindication by Hon. Herschel
" Johnson

Hon. Herschel V johnson, the Demo.
cratic candidate for Vice President OF
the United States in 1860, in recent
letter addressed to the Democratic Exec
utive Committee of Troup county, Ga.,
eloouently vindicates theSouthern people
from the unscrupulous charges of Radi-
cal orators and presses. he says:
The position, designs and sentiments
of the Southern people are grossly mis-
represented Why and with what motives
/ shall not attempt to say. 1t may be
from honest ignorance of the truth, or it
NAV be with the design TO influence the
people of the North in their choice be-
tween the two opposing candidates, and
thus to prevent our restoration to our
rights in the Union. But from whatso-
ever consideration, we are misrepre-
sented. / know it is so, so far as the
people of Georgia are concerned, and |
fully believe it in reference to those OF
the other States. 1t is asserted that we
are ready and willing at any moment to
renew the war, and are rebellious against
the Government. No facts exist to sus-
tain such a charge. On the contrary,
the conduct of our people since the sur
render demonstrates its falsehood. We
have acted in good faith. True, we OPP
posed the reconstruction scheme of Con-
gress; but we did so, first, because We
had already organized our State Govern
ment under the Presidents policy; and
secondly, because the scheme was un-
constitutional and fatal to our every
interest-social, civil and political. Was
there any crime in this, and especiarly
when it is remembered that Congress
graciously invited Us to accept or disap-
prove it, though with threats of confsca'
ton and disfranchiseme if we did the
latter7 But the scheme has been con-
summated in Georgin, and what IS our
| department now2 Are we armed, or
ganixed, and drilling like the negroes
Are we Offering any forcible resistance to
the State Government that has been
| formed for MS under the dictation of the
bayonet7 No, not at all Wereoognize
and obey il as the Government de fdcto
established in lieu of that which was ac-
ceptable to the people, but overthrow by
military power. If we deny its validity,
de jure, we appeal, not to force, but to
the ballot t-box-to the patriotism and
| Justice Of our countrymen-for redress.
We have had enough of bloodshed. We
desire nothing so much as peace-the
peace of concord and fraternity-the
peace of constitutional Union.
We are charged with the design TO re-
NIT the negroes back to bondage. Per
hsps the poor, deludsd creatures, having
their apprehensions excited by designing,
bad men, are preparing to resist such an
attempt. This may possibly explain
their military organizations and secret
| drilling But they, and all the world,
may rest assured that no such design ex-
lists among the people of Georgia. The
| loss of capital invested in slave property
was a heavy blow, and the de-
raueement of our labor system checked
our prosperity, and was felt throughou,
the whole country; but We have in good
faith admitted 10 IL. We could not, II
We would, aud would not, il we could, re-
duce the negroes again TO bondage. We
consider their freedom as a fact accom-
plished, never 10 be disturbed. We re-
cognize slavery as stsked upon the issues
of secession, and that being decided
against rs. - realize that the institution
fell with il. Hence, the Consultation
formed by the seeding States, under
President Johnson's policy-eyery one
Of them-coutainei the prohibition Of
slavery. Great as is the loss in property
70 the people Of the South, caused BY
emancipation, the change Is not void Of
some compensatory features IL has re-
lieved slave-ovuers Of q weight Of respon-
sibility that was burdensome; Il has
freed Us from the slanderous tongues and
pens Of the pseudo-philanthropisis Of the
world; and il ought 10 silence forever
he urangle over the question Of the ne