The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-05


Grams Correspondence Full
PartIculars. s@
NEW YoRK, Sept. 4.-The following letters
have just boon made public;
WHITE suLruus srsIN1s,- W. YA,l
GENERAL. Full Of soiicitstiSn foii The he wei.
ny y' S 81 70 snnn SS "a
intentions OF the people OF the Southern
States, especially to ascertain the sentiments
riacing men, who, after sustaining tho con.
federacy for four years, laid down their arms,
and swore allegiance TO the Government OF
the United states, whose trusted and beloved
/ see that interpreting " States rightsn to
conflict with national unity has produced a
violent reaction against them which is drifting
US toward consolidation, and also that so great
a country as ours even now 10, certainly 10 to
be, must have State governments to attend to
local details, or go farther and fare worse.
II 10 plain to us at the West and North that
the continuance Of semi-anarchy, such as has
existed for the last three years In ten states
of our Union, largely increases the danger Of
centration, swells our national expenditures,
diminishes our productions and our revenue,
inspires doubts Of our political and financial
stability, depreciates the value Of our national
the Richest below that OF the poorest nation In
christendom.
We know that our currency must be deprc-
ciated as long as our bonds are below par, and
that therefore the vast business and com mercc
OF our country must suffer the terrible evil OF
q huctuating standard of value until we can
remedy the evil condition of things at the
south. We also see other mischief quite pos
sible II not probable to arise; such as from a
failure OF crops, q local instruction and many
other unfore,een CONTINGENCIES, which may
provoke discomfort and disorder among our
people, and bring demagogical agitation, revo-
luton, population and thousand unnamed
evils and villainies upon us. We know that
the interests Of the people of the south are for
law and order, and that they must share our
fate OF good and Ill.
Ibelieye-eycry one know, who reflects, be-
lieyes-that the people OF the SouthernSta tcs
could be at peace, and their energy and good
will heartily applied to repair the wastes Of
war, reorganize their business, set the freed
men peacefully, prosperously, and contentedly
at work, invite capital, enterprise, and labor
from elsewhere to come freely amongst them,
they would rebuild their ruined fortunes,
establish public confidence IN our political
stability, bring our Government bonds to pre-.
MUM, our currency to . good standard, and
most happy and prosperous future. Seeing
this, and how all just interests concur In the
work, ask the Officers and soldiers who
s sIess ss North
be donef
We are told by those who have controlled
the Government for the last four years that
the people OF the South will not do It, That
II II was done at all II must be done by the
poor. simple, uneducated, landless freedman
and the few whites who, against the publ C
people, are willing to attempt to lead and
make their living OFF OF the ignorant, mex
perienced colored people, mostly men who
those attributes on which reliance for good
guidance or government can be placed. We
are told that this kind Of government must
%Ions OF ipseIsent White p e,sh
give into II or move out Of the country.
Now, think, the Union army thinks, and
the people Of the North and West, dare say,
believe, there must be, or ought to be, shorter,
surer way to get good government for all AT
We know that they who organized and sus.
years against gigantic efforts, ought to be able
| to give peace, law, order, and protection to
the whole people Of the south:
They have the interest and the power 10 EN-.
ploy, protect, educate, and elevate the poor
freedmen, and to restore themselves and our
country to all the blessings Of which | have
Just spoken. The question we want answered
Is: !" Are they willing to do iti'
l came down to lind out what the people OF
the South think OF this, and to ask you what
confederate army, and the leading people who
| sustained 1t, think of these things.
| l came to ask more. want to ask you, In
whose purity and patriotism I here expires,
| unqualified confidence, and so many good NJ en
| as you can conveniently consult, 10 say what
you think Of It, and also what you are willing
| to do about IL.
Iwant written expression Of views tina,
can be followed by n concurrence of action.
| want to know II you and the gentlemen who
will join you in that written expression, are
| chivairous and msgnanimous devotion TO re
| storing peace and prosperity to our common
| country. want to carry that pledge high
above the level Of party politics to the lat,
| officers and soldiers Of the Union army, and
| the people OF the North and West, and TO ash
| them to consider 1t, and to take the necessary
H. tl.a
| Spouse SO warm, SO generous, and conndinl
that we shall see in Its sunshine the rainbow
OF peace In our political sky, now black with
| clouds and impending storm.
| know you are Representative man, in rev
GRANGE and regard for the Union, the Consti
tuition, and the welfare OF the country, Rnt
that what you would say would be indorsed b.
but should like to have the signatures OF al
| the representative Southern men here whit
concur In your views, and expressions of thei
| concurrence from the principal officers ant
representative men throug bout theSouth whcl
| they can DO procured.
This concurrence OF opinions and wills, al
| tending to peace, order, and stability, will as
sure our Union soldiers and business men, VIII
want substantial and solid peace, and caus
them to rise above the level OF party politics
sure a lasting peace with all its counties
| blessings.
Very truly, your friend, ~
Gtne'si i. E. Lee, Waite Sulphur SSriSs'' We
Virginia.
WHITE SULPHUR sPRISos, ". yA,l
GENERAL l have had the honor to receiv
your letter Of this date, and In accordance wit
your suggestion, have consulted with nun
Der Of gentlemen from the South, In who's
judgment l have conhded, and who are me
aeqlainted with the public sentiments q thei
scented to unite with me In replying to you
communication, and their names Will be foun
with my own, appended to this answer.
with this explanation we are proud to Civ
you n candid statement OF what we believe Il
be the sentiment Of the southern people In re
gard to the subject to which you refer.
i Whatever opinion may have prevailed Il
the past in regard TO African slavery or tn
right Of State to seoede from the Union
we believe we express the almost unanimou
=, judgment Of the southern people when W
tions were decided by the war, and that 1t l
their Intention, In good faith, to abide by tina
decision. At the close OF the war the souther
people laid down their arms and sought /
resume their former relations with the Unite
States Government.
ished slavery and annulled their ordinances q
secession, and they returned to their peace
ful pursuits with sincere purpose to mlh
their duties under the Constitution OF the I'm
, ted States which they had sworn TO support
their action In these particulars hAd been me
In spirit of frankneas aud cordiality, we b,
lieve that ere this old irrltations would hay
I passed away, and tho wounds In iiiGted by III
| war wOuli In great measure, have bee
healed. AS far as we are advised, the peopl
OF the south entertain no unirendly feelin
toward the Government of the United state
but they complain rat their rights, under III
Constitution, are withheld from them In III
administration thereof.