The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-04-30
A Letter from Governor. wise.

"a LOOoSi AIOHi NONOInOE w iSNs
Ex-Governor Wise, whosewayof life
has fallen into the scre and yellow leaf,
has written letter on the duty of the
country, which will perhaps astonish
some of his old friends. We reprint n
portion of it:
The long agitation of the question of
slavery, its history before the war, and
the war itself, convinced me that an ex-
odus from African bondage was obliged
TO be by the Almighty hand of Provi-
dence. God knew what poor finite
minds North and South did not foresee
that nothing short OF fire and sword,
of war and its blood and yiolence,
could emancipatc negro slaves on this
continent, i'll country governed, as the
United States, in the form of constitu-
tional republics bound together by a
constitutional union. BY no steps in
normal times could Congress ever have
abolished slavery ;and the States would
never have commenced emancipation
by peaceful means, gradual or other
wise, for reasons which it would be IT.
ritating now to state. 1t is sufficient to
say that too many in the South fought
for nothing but the right of property
in slaves, and it is time that the North
was informed that BY far the most re-
spectacle portion Of the Southern pco-
pie fought for something far more pre-
cious than the legal privilege of being
the master of slaves. They fought for
the ltorc glorious privilege of sclf-gov-
crnmcnt. They were willing to cman-
cipatc slaves i'll their own time and own
way, but were not willing to elbow
Congress TO regulate their domestic
government and concern for them eth
CT as 10 slavery or anything else. Thus
there were double restraints against
emancipation which could not be re-
moved i'll time to prevent either disco
luton of the Union or civil war. The
war was a national necessity. permitted
by Divine Providence to prevent Gin
the end, l hopc.) greater evils than the
war itself. ........ ....
And | mark this view Of the case as
essential to guide all good Christians
and patriots in their endeavor 10 ease a
most glorious country, still suffering
from the awful conflict. and in the
greatest danger of losing civil liberty
for all races III the struggle to enamel
pate one race. The view | have taken
is a hcii0ccntITr one. 1t strives to reach
Gods throne, and to look thence out
upon the wGNs and the end. That He
ordered and directed and forced the re-
suit OF emancipation OF slaves in Amcli-
ca. knowing that there was 10 other
way to bring it about, and at the same
time save all that is precious, | have
not the least doubt. And | feel that he
who resists. or in any reasonable way
obstructs, the legitimate consequences
of this special providence, "kicks
against the prcks." This brings up the
question: I..I.
What should be regarded as the lie.
Ultimate consequences Ny answer is
peace. The old strife must cease and
be hushcd. Next. charity. liberation,
brothcrly and patriotic Kindness. 1t is
not for me to upbraid you or you me
for the oiicnses and injuries of the war.
Slavery was its cause, was our weak
ness if not our Wickedncss, and God
has purgod ont its sin and satanic in
iluence by fire and blood His fire and
blood, for the war was His if the sin
was mine. But woe unro those. on
either side. who shall cause the fires to
burn and the blood TO heat after the sin
and causes of woe have been burnt to
ashes. We must not keep the fires ig-
nitcd. The ashes must be allowed
to cool, and then. as from battlefclds.
the Green hcrbage may be made to
grow more luNuiiant than ever; so