The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-09-15

Of gentlemen from the South, in whose judgment
7 have confided and who are well acquainted
with the public sentiments of their respective
States They have kindly consented to unite
with me in replying to your communication, ana
their names will be found with my own appended
to this answer.
With this explanation we proceed to give you
a candid statement of what we believe to be the
sentiment of the Southern people in regard to
the subject to which you refer.
Whatever opinion may have prevailed In the
past in regard to African slavery or the right OF
State to secede from the Union, we believe we
express the almost unanimous Judgment OF the
Southern people when we declare that they con-
slider that those questions were decided by the
war and that it is their intention, IN good faith,
to abide by that decision. At the close OF the
war the Southern people laid down their arms,
and sought to resume their former relations with
the United States Government
Through their State Conventions they abol-
ished slavery and annulled their ordinances OF
secession; and they returned to their peaceiul
pursuits with sincere purpose to tuihl thelr
duties under the Constitution of the United
States, which they had sworn to support. 1t
their action in these particulars had been met
in spirit of frankness and cordialty, we believe
that ere this old irritations would have passed
away, and the wounds inflicted by the war would
in great measure have been healed. AS Tar
as we are advised, the people of the South enter
tain no unfriendly feeling toward the govern
ment of the United States, but they complain
that their rights under the Constitution are with
held from them in the administration thereof
The idea that the Southern people are hostile
to the negroes, and would Cypress them If 1t were
in their power to do so, is entirely unfounded
| They have grown up in our midst, and we have
been accustomed from our childhood to look
upon them with kindness. The change IN the
relations of the two races has wrought no change
in our feeling toward them. They still constl-
tute the important part of our laborlng popuia'
ton. Without their labor the lands OF the
Soutl, would be comparatively unproductive
Without the employment which Southern aSrl-
culture affords, they would be destitute of the
means of subsistence and become paupers, de-
pendent upon public bounty.
Sclfinterest, even if there were no higher
motives, would therefore prompt the whites OF
the South to extend to the negroes care and
protection The important fact that the two
races are, under existing circumstances, neces-
sary to each other is gradually becoming appar-
ent to both, and we believe, but for influences
exerted to stir up the passions Of the negroes,
the relation of the two races would soon adjust
themselves On a basis of kindness and mutual
advantage.
1t is true that the people Of the South, to-
gether with the people Of the North and West,
are for obvious reasons opposed to any system OF
laws which would place the political power Of
the country in the hands of the negro race. But
the opposition springs from no feeling OF enmlty
but from deep-seated conviction that at pre-
sent the negroes have neither the intelligence
nor the qualifications which are necessary to
make them safe repositories Of political power
They would inevitably become the victims OF
dcmagogues, who for selfish purposes would mis-
lead them to the serious injury Of the public
The great want of the South is peace. The
people earnestly desire tranquility and the res
toration of the Union. They deprecate disorder
and excitement, as the NEST serious obstacle tc
their prosperity.
They ask restoration Of their rights under
the Constitution. They desire relief from op
prcssive misrule. Abovc all they look to THEN
countrynen for the establishment in the South
crn States of that which has justly been regarded
! as the birthright of every Amcrican-the right
Of selfgovernment. Establish these on a firm
basis, and We can safely promise, on behalf o.
the Southern people, that they will faithfully
obey the Constitution and laws of the United
States, treat the negro with kindness and hui
mainly and fulfil every duty incumbent OF
peaceful citizens loyal to the Constitution o
their country.
We believe the above contains a succinct re
ply to the general topics embraced in your letter
and we venture to say Oh behalf Of the Southern
people and Of the officers and soldiers of the late
Confederate army, that they will concur in al
the sentiments which We have expressed.
Approaching the patriotic motives which have
prompted your letter, and rccfprocating your ex
r pressions Of kind regard We have the honor tt
be- very respectfully and truly,
R. f. LEE
| CT Beaurcgard Louisiana; Alex Ii Stephens
Georgia; Alex II II Stuart, Virginia; NJ Con
| rad, Louisiana; Linton Stephens. Georgia; A ]
Caperton, Vest Virginia; John Echols, Virginia
, S Stockdale, Texas; " Pickens, Soutl
| Carolina; VIM Robertson, Virginia.; jos |
} Anderson, Virginia; VIM T Turner, West Vir
5 ginia; c |! Subcr, South Carolina; E Fontanc
Virginia JOHN Letcher Virginia; B G Adams
} Mississippi; w J Green, North Carolina; Levi
f Harvie, Virginia.; p V Daniel, Jr., Virginia
: W L Sutherlin, Virginia; A James, Louisiana
: Toutant Beaurcgard, Texas; NJ II Norton
[ Louisiana; I 2 Branch Georgia; FL I Russell
| Georgia. Samuel j Douglass Florida; perennial
5 Morton, Virgi:iia John B Baldwin, Virginia
i George " Boiling, Virginia; T S Flourney, Vir
, ginia; james Lyons, Virginia.
| To Gen. W. S. Rosecrans.
, Ges~ Hon Horatio Seymour, it is said, is largel
interested in the Elk Mountain Cheese Factor,
in Buncombc county, n. G..
por71vian C17ana