The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-09-08


pended to this answer. With this sxpana.
zion W. proceed to give TO You candid
statement Of what We believe TO be the
sentiment Of the southern people in re.
gard 10 the subject 10 which you refer
Whatever opinions may nave prevailed in
the past 10 regard to African slavery, OF the
right Of q state to socedo from the union,
We believe we express the almost unanimous
Judgment Of the southern people, when we
declare TINT they consider that those qaes.
tons we're decided by the war, and that It -
their intention, N good hath, .o.ab,de by that
decision.
At the close Of the war the southern pee.
ur lald down their arms and sought to re.
,umc their former relations with the United
states government
Through thor state conventions, they
abolished slavery and annulIed their ordinan.
CO. Of secession, and they returned % their
peaceful pursuits with sincere pui pose to
llfi all their duties under the constitution
or tho uited States, which they had sworn
to suppO. II heir action in these parlcu.
,.r, had been met in spirit Of I'anhness
and ayrdality, we believe that ere thus OLD
rl tations would havepasscd away, and the
wounds inflicted by the war woulu have been
in great measure healed A far az we
are advised, the people of he south enter
tain no IN. 'endly feelings towp"d the gov.
,rnment of the United States but they com.
p,ain that their tights under the constitution
aro Withheld f,ora them in the administration
| thereof.
The idea that the southern people are hos
| tie TO the negroes, and would Cypress them
| if il we're in their power to do so, is entirely
unfounded They have grown up m our
midst. and we have been accustomed .-om
childhood to look upon them III kindness
| The change IN the relations OF the TWO races
| has wrought no change in our feelings toward
them. They still constitute the iIpo. ant
| rar, Of our labo ng popuiai on. W Lthou'
their labor the lands OF he south would be
| couparatisely unproductve; without the
| employment which southern agI culture at
rords they would be destitute Of the means
| Of subsistence, and become paupers, Deepen
| dent upon public bounty. Setlnterest, even
| If there were no higher motives won d there
fore prompt the whites Of he south TO OK
tend to the ne. ocs care and protection
under existing circumstances Necessary Il
each other. is gndio'y becoming apparen
10 both. aud w. be- eve that but for the III
Huencc. eXcr,ca To- sir up the passions o
the negroes, the relations Of the two race.
would soon ADJUST themselves on . basis q
mutual kindness and advantage. II IL tfu,
that the people Of the south, together VIII
the people Of the west arc, for GbWous rea
sons opposed 10 any system Of laws "hlc!
would place the political power Oh the co4n
, ,ry IA the hands Of the negro race nut TIL
/ opposition SPRINGS from no feeling OF enm'
Is, but iron r. aeep.sca;el convection that a
present the negroes have neither the INTEL
| gence nor other qualifications winch are nee
egsary 70 make them safe repositories OF pc
f litcui power. They would inevitably becUm
? the victims Of Gemag1gues who, for SELLS
. purposes, w2a.t miseGd them 70 the seriou
injury OF the public.
, The great want Of the south IL pe8c,
| The people earnes!y desire tranquility al
the restoration Of the union. The
I deprccata disorder and cXcitemeu
4 aq the most serious obstacles
rre,r prosperity. They ask restoration
C their rights ndor the constitution. The
j desire redef from oppressive msrul
d ! Above all they would aFgeal 10 their cou
b. lrymgn Tor the 70 establishment in the sout
" crn states Of iLat which has Justly been !
=. .ardnd a, H.. urthriaht Of every Amere
Or tine ri-h. Of self government istohll
.. these on q firm bass and We con- sat,
i promise. on behalf Of the southern peop
that thew will faithfully obcv til" coust