Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1869-01-13
the cxtinguishmen5 Of his race in this
country-New York Herald. J
A Letter from Gen, Longstreet.

A Letter from Gem Longstreet.
The Atlanta Nev Era publishes the
following letter from General James
Longstreet
LYNcHBuRG, va, Nov. "a.
1ty Deaa. Sa-Many of our South
ern men seem to have lost sight of the
fundamental doctrine-the interest of
the people-in their zeal to maintain
their ideas Of consistency, which consists
in adhering to old truths, whether they
work for veal or for woe.S Iregret that
. / am not better prepared,to meet your
4 wishes for information in regard to the
future policy of our new President. Al
though L have had the pleasure of-seyz
eral interviews with him within the
last few years. | have not sought to
learn his appreciation of political ques-
tions of the present or of the future. |
regard his past seand decided char
acter as the surest guarantee Of his flu
ture course. The floating idea that
has attached itself to the minds of the
many that he may yet prove to be a
Democrat, is like many other specula-
tions that gain circulation and credence,
but only serve to deceive those who are.
credulous enough to indulge them. II
we recall to mind the events of the last
two years, we shallremember that Gen
eral Grants position at one time was
such as to insure his nomination for
President by the party that he might
choose as most in accord with his views
of public policy; and subsequent events
indicate that his personal popularity is
such as to have turned the balance in
his favor. 1t seems to me unroasona-
BILE, therefore, to expect to find him, at
this late day, seeking alliance with the
old party. His antecedents clearly
mark him as national man, and of
such he gives assurance Of his adhesion
to the party whose basis is the Union,
and that the influence of his admins
tration will be applied to its complete
and prosperous restoration. A fair
minded people must know, however,
that no individual unaided, can accom-
plish this greatpurpose. He must needs
have the assistance of the North, of the
South, of the East, and Of the West.
Having assurances Of cooperation from
other parts of the country, he only wants
that Of the South to complete the com
.bination which will give to his admin
istration a happy advent, and comforta-
Bile eanticipations Of its salutary progress.
That the people of the South desire
practical reconstruction, there can be
no doubt; but it seems to be difficult to
l:deyelopc that sentiment SO as to pro-
fduce practical results. Drifting along
in the channcl into which chance seems
to have thrown me, begin to find my
self, like many others, ready with my
theory. AS it may interest you, ! give
you concise statement of it. If you
find that you can make it useful, you
arc at liberty to do so. The wealth
of the South lies in its soil. If this
proposition is true, its sequents are
equally so.
l. Labor is essential to make that
wealth available. 9. To command la
Dor, laws must encourage and protect
it. Also their co-sequents. To encour-
age and invite labors evidences of pro
lection must be made manifest through
the oneration of law upon the labor that
we have. Hence, it appears that the
value of our lands depends upon our la
bor, our labor upon the law, and the
law upon us. A failure upon our part
therefore, to enact and enforce proper
laws will be as fatal to the interests o.
the owners of real estate as confiscation
And vet all that. Congress asks us tc
do is to avail ourselves Of the only means
by which we may avoid serious deprc
citation of our material interests. That
is, this will be the practical result Of re
construction, under national legislation
upon our interests. The moving cause
OF that legislation, probably, was Sc
curity for the future Here, we may
discover the line that should mark oul
connection with reconstruction. 1t be
gins and ends III our care for home in
terests 1t will be time enough to be-
gin to look into. the future when We
have provided for the present. Th'
politicians Of the old school seem anx
ious to impress upon the minds of ou
young men the Importance of rejectins
all propositions coming from the Re
publican party, Or else they dishono
their own blood, and the blood of thei:
fallen comrades. But gentlemen shoul(
remember that they only dishonor thei
comrades when they dishonor them
selves, and that there cannot be dis
honor in ready obedience to law and
: proper care for our own welfare. Oh
the contrary, to discard. the law ane
expose ourselves to unnecessary diff
cuIties is near akin to dishonor. 1t i
true that many worthy persons are dis
fanchised under the law, but the read
lest means of relief are through tn
law. 1 conclude, therefore, that inter
est and duty and honor demand tha
we should place ourselves in condi
ton to support the laws Of Congress
When we have done SO, we shall receive
). abundantly of help from the Executive
and from the other member of the gov
ernment. remain, very truly Yours
JAMES LONGSTREET.
Mr.. JonN H. DENT, Cave Spring
Georgia.
A negro philosopher, discussing tn
relations of races, said: f" You know d
} turkey he roost on de fence; an de COOS
he roost ON de ground. You pull d