The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-09-16
The Rosencrans Conference
WHITE SULpu UR SPRINGS,
WEST VIRGINIA, August &c, 1868.


GENERAL: Full of solicitude for the flu
tnrc of our country, I come, with my
heart in my hand, to learn the condition,
wishes and intentions of the people ofthc
Southern States-esrecalIy TO ascertain
the sentiments ofthat body Of brave, cncr-
gctic, self sacrificing men, who, after sus-
tanning the Confederacy 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.
SEQ that interpreting Estates rights
to conflict with national unity, has pro-
duced violent reaction against them,
which is drifting lis towards consolidation;
and, also, that so great q country as ours
even now is, certainly is to be, must have
State Governments to attend TO local do
tails, or go farther and fare worse:
1tis plain to us at the West and North
that tho continuance Of scmi-anarchy
such rs had existed for the last three years
in ten States of our Union, largely in
sthc danger eff centralization, swclls
our national expenditures, diminishes our
productions and our revenue, inspires
doubts of our political and financial sta
bility, dcprecates The value of our nation
al bonds, and currency, and places the
credit Of the richest below that OF the
poorest nation in Christendom.
We know that our currency must be
deprecated, SO long as our bonds are be-
low par; and that, therefore, the vast
business and commerce of our country
must suffer the terrible evil Of q fluctua-
ting standard Of value, until we canreme-
DIV the evil condition of things ut the
South. We also sec other mischief quite
possible if not probable TO arisc--such as
from failure of crops, {! loca! lnsurrec-
ton, and many other unforeseen contin-
gcnciites which may still more dcpreciate
our credit and currency, provoke discon-
tent and disorder among our people, end
bring demagogical agitation, revolution,
repudiation and q thousand unnamed evils
and viflanies upon us. We Know that the
interests of the people Of thc South are
for law and order. and that they must
share our fate Of good and i'll.
believcLevery one, know. who re-
fleets believes that il the people OF the
Southern States could be at peace, ard
their energy and goodwill heartily ap-
piled to repair tic wastes of war, re-or.
ranze their business, set the freedmen
peacefully, prospcrousy and contenlcdly
at work, invite capital. enterprise and
labo. from. elsewhere 10 come freely
amongst them, they would rebuild their
ruined fortunes; multiply manifold the
value of their lands establish confidence
in ourpolitical stability, bring our Govern
mcnt bonds to premium, our currency tc
a gold standard, and assure, for them
selves and the whole nations most happy
ard prosperous future. Seeing this and
how all Just interests concrr in the work
I ask tho officers and soldiers who fought
for tho Union-cvcry thinking man o.
the eroat West and North asks-why il
cannot bo done ?
We are told by thoso who have con
trolled the Government for the last 'onl
years, that tho poople Of the South Will
not do it; that if ever done at all, it must
be done by the poor, simple, uncducated
landless freedmen and tho few whites
who, against the public opinion and sen
timent or tie intelligent white people. are
willing to attempt to lead and mako their
living off the ignorant, inexperienced
colored people, mostly men who must be
needy adventurers, or without any o
those attributes on which reliance foi
] rood guidance or government can be