The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-08

Ediers who fought for the. Union-'
every ithinking man OF the great
West and North asiss++why it cannot
Ibe donep s,,,,,surY ~ ~
We are told BY b those, those, who have ,sts
controlled the Government for the
last four years, that The people of the
South will do it; that If ever done
at all, il must be done by the poor.
simple, uneducated, lsndisss freed
men and the few whites who, against
the public opinion and sentiment of
the Intelligent white people, are
willing to, attempt to lead and make
their living off the ignorant, unex-
peienced colored people, mostly
men who must be needy adyenturere,
or without any of those attributes
on which reliance for good guidance
or government Gun be placed. We
are told that this kind of government
must be continued at the South until
six or eight millions of intelligent,
energetic white people give into it,
or move out of the country.
Now, I think, the Union arm,
thinks. and the people of the North
and West, 1 dare say. believe there
must be, or there ought to be, q
shorter and surer way. to get good
government for all the South.
We know that they who organized
and sustained the Southern Confe-
deracy for four 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 to employ, protect, educate
and elevate the poor freedmen, and
to restore themselves and our coun-
try to all the blessings of which I
have just spoken. The question we
want answered is-"Are they willing
to do it?"
[ came down to find out what the
people of the South think of this,
and to ask you what the officers and
soldiers who served in the Confede-
rate army. and the leading people
who sustained it, think of these
things.
l come to ask more. I want to
ask you, in whose purity and patriot
ism here express unqualified conf
dence, and so many good men rs you
conveniently consult, to say what
you think of it, and also what you
are willing to do about it. want q
written expression of views that can
be followed by q concurrence of
action. I want to know if you and
the gentlemen who will join you in
that written expression are willing to
pledge the people of the South to q
fchivalrous and magnanimous devo-
ton to restoring peace and prosperi-
lty to our common country. I want
to carry that pledge high above the
level of party politics, to the late
officers and soldiers of the Union
army, and the people of the North
and West, aud to ask them 10 consi-
der it, and to take the necessary
action, confident that it will meet
with response so warm, so generous
and confiding, 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 respectable man
lin reverence and regard for the
Union, the Constitution and the well
fare Of the country, and that what
you would say would be endorsed by
nine-tenths of the whole people Of
the South; but I should like to have
the signatures of all the representa-
tive Southern men here who would
concur in your views and expressions
of their concurrence from the princi-
pal officers and representative men
throughout the South, when they can
be procured.
This concurrence of opinions and
wills, all tending to peace, order and
stability, will assure our Union SOL
diers and business men-who want
substantial and solid peace and
cause them to rise above the level of
party politics, and take such steps to
meet yours as will insure o lasting
peace, with all its countless blessings.
Very truly, your friend,
W. S. ROSENCRANZZ.
General r. E. LEE, White Sulphur
Springs, West Virginia.
WHITE SULPHUR SpRINGs,
q WEST VIRGINIA, August 26, 1868.
GENERAL: have had the honor to
receive your letter of this date, and,
in accordance with your suggestion,
have consulted with O number of
| gentleman from tho South IN VIII ~, =