The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-07-20

LIZ lOhohhit1 10 Gtlc lcttcI WHICH ny
Gen. RO5ccrans to Gen Robert E. Lee,
on the subject of reconstruction, in Sep
telnbcr last:
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, !
WEST VIRGINIA, August, 1865
GENERAL: Full of solicitude for the
future of our country, come with my
heart i'll my hand TO learn the condition,
wishes and intentions Of the people of
tic Southern States, and especially to
ascertain the sentiments Of that brave,
energetic and self-sacriIiclng class OF
men, who, alter sustaining the Confcdc-
racy 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. / see
that interpreting State rights to conflict
with National unity has produced vio-
lent reaction against them, which is drift
ing lis toward consolidation; and, also
that so great q country as ours, even
now, is certain to be, must have State
Governments to attend to local details,
or 90 further and fare worse.
1t is plain to us at the West and North
that the continuance of Semi-anarchy
such rs has existed for the last three
years in ten States of our Union, largely
increases the danger Of Capitalization ;
swclls our National expenditures di-
our productions and our reve-
nue.; inspires doubts of our political and
financial stability; .deprccates the value
Of our National bonds and currency ,and
places the credit of the richest below
that of the poorest nation in Christen-
dom. We know that our currency must
be deprecated so long as our bonds are
below par, and that therefore the vast
business and commerce of cur country
must suffer the terrible evil of fluctua-
ting standard of value until we can rem
edy the evil condition of things in the
South. We also see that other mischief
is quite possible, if not probable,to arise
such as from failure of crops, a local
insurrection, and many other unforeseen
contingencies, which may still further
depreciate our credit and currency, pro,
woke discomfort and disorder among ouI
people, and bring demagogical agitation,
revolution, reputation, and a thousand
unnamed evils and villainies on us. We
know that the interests of the people of
the South are for law and order, and
they must share our fate of good or evil
Ibelieve that.every one l know, who
reflects, believes that if the people of the
Southern States could be at peace, and
their energy and good will heartily ap.
piled to repair the wastes of war, reor.
ganizing their business, set the freedmen
peaceably, prospcrously and confidently
at work invite capital, enterprise and
labor from elsewhere to come freely
among them, they would soon rebuild
their ruined fortunes, multiply manifold
the value of their lands, establish public
confidence in our political stability, bring
our Government bonds to premium
our currency to a gold standard, and as
sure for themselves and the whole ma
tion a most happy and prosperous fu
ture.
Seeing this and how all just interests
concur in the work, ] ask the officers and
soldiers who fought for the Union, ask
every thinking man of the great West
and North why 1t cannot be done? We
are told by those who have controlled
the Government for the last four years
that if ever done at all, it must be done
by the poor, simple, uneducated, ,landlesS
freedmen, and the few whites who
against the public sentiment of the in
telIigcnt white people, are willing to at
tempt to lead, and make their living of
of these ignorant, inexperienced coloret
people-mostly men who must be needy
adventures, or without any of those at
tributes on which reliance for gooC
guidance or government can be placed
We are told that this kind of government
must be continued at the South until 81,
or eight millions of intelligent, energetic
white people move into it or move on
of the country.
Now, / think the Union army thinks
and the people of the North and West,
dare say, believe there must be, or there
ought TO be, a shorter, surer way to ge
good government for all at the South
We know that they who organized ant
sustained the Southern Confederacy fol
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 restore
themselves and our country to all the
blessings of which l have just spoken.
The question we want answered is,
care they willing to do it?P came
down to find what the people of the
South think of this, and to ask you what
the officers and soldiers who served ir the
Confederate army, and the leading peo-
pie who sanctioned it, think of these
things? / came to ask more: want tc
ask you, in whose purity and patriotism
1 here express unqualified confidence, ,and
as many other good men as you can con
veniently consult, to say what you think
Oft, and also what you are willing to dc
about it? ! want q written expression
of views that can be followed by con-
currcnce of action. l want to know il
you and the gentlemen who will join you
in that expression, are willing to pledge
the people of the South to a chivalrous
and magnanimous devotion to restoring
peace and prosperity to our common
country. l want TO carry that pledge
high above the level of party politics, tc
the late officers and soldiers of the Un
ion army and the people of the Nortl
and West, and to ask them to consider
it, and to take the necessary action, con
lident that it will meet with response
SO warm, generous and con6ding that W.
shall, in its sunshine, behold the rainbow
of peace in our political sky, now blacl
with clouds and impending storm.
know you are representative man IL
reverence and regard for the Union, tht
Constitution and welfare of the country
and that what you would say would bt
indorsed by nine tcnths of the whole
people of the South; but | should like
to have the signatures of all the repre-
sentative Southern men here who concur
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