The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-01-14
Editorial Correspondence Of the Houston
Telegraph .',.
NEW ORLEANS. Dec. 80, L

New ORLEANS, Dec. ~, 1865.
Yesterday evening while sadly reflect
ing upon the unhappy condition of the
South, which has been turned over BY our
victorious Northern brothers to the rule
and domination Of negroes, renegades,
and carpet-baggers, wandered from the
suburbs of the Crescent City down the
banks of-the Father of Waters to the
memorable plains of Chamettc, where
united Americans triumpied in battle
over tho boasted ruler of the sea-.
A tree was pointed out to me as the
identical .one nnder which the brave
Packcnham yielded up his spirit to the
God who gave it there, under its ample
shade, l reclined, and INDUCED, not in
pleasing "reminiscences OF past and by
gone days, when the sun in It's course
shone upon no country more free, more
fortunate and more happy than my own
dear native sunny South, but in sad and
gloomy anticipations Of the. mad and
reckless legislation Of the present delec-
table Congress of the, United States, and
the present sweet scented constitutional
convention Of Texas. Not the shadow
of hope tor wise and proper legislation
by either body could l reasonably imag-
inc, and weariel BY the long walk and
unpleasant thoughts, l soon fell into -
sound sleep, when there appeared to me
the following vision, suggested no doubt
by real convictions of my mind and judy
ment: - .G.yr
I,saw sitting before me the President
elect Gen. u. Grant, engaged III ear
nest conversation with our great South,
ern general, Robert E. Ice, and heard
the following dialogue between them:
Gen. Grant.-"I desire you to give me
your opinion as to the wisdom and pro-
priety of the present reconstruction Of
the Southern States"
Gen. Lee.-"I am no politician, Mr..
President but defeated soldierof lost
cause, and I am called rebel and traitor
to the best government the world ever
saw Why do you consult me as to
your actions?"
Gen. Grant-"Sir, we have had great
revolution aud most terrible civil war in
our country, iu which brothers fought
against brothers. and fathers against
sons. You went with Virginia and the
SOUTH went with the Union and the
old flag! But, sir, i do>net look on you
us traitor. nor upon the brave soldiers
whom you commanded so long and so
well, us bad mon. There were good and
bad men on both sides, and our country
lost good men who were Confederates: as
we'll us Fcderals
cit was MY singular fortune to lead the
Union army 10 victory, but l wish a
union of mutual interests, mutual rights
and mutual love!
"Thc policy of my administration shall
be the peace, prosperity AND happiness Of
the wholc,country, but You must all aid
and assist me-, Now you know the con-
dition of the South, and whattlegislation
will be best to bring about individual Sc
curity, agricultural development, and
loyalty to the government, all of which |
desire from the bottom OF my heart. Do
YOU understand mc?'
Gen. Lee.-"Yes, sir, and am happy to
hear you express such a glorious policy.
1t you carry it out your name will go
down to postcrity side BY side with that
of ashington-he as tho Father and
| gu uS lliC CdNlOuI vi GbC ~ iiN IL.
"As to reconstruction in the South, my
candid opinion is that the Congressional
plants perfect failure. The Southern
people shonld be permitted to select their
law makers and representatives, and not
have carpet>baggers and their former
slaves to legislate for and represent them
'Thc Union men III the South were
few during our civil war; of carpet-bag
gers we had none, while our negroes were
the happiest people in the worli. Now
to eniranchise the negro, disfranchise
white men, and thus give control of pub
lie affairs inthe Southern States to s. mi
nority, will make the minority in those
States hate the government and people
who thus tyrannize over them. The slave
ry questions, which WAS the cause of our
civil war. is now out of the way, and the
Southern States would not, day, if they
had the power, cre-establish it, and |
doubt not by returning to the Southern
people the right OF selfgovcrnmcnt, that
they will give you and your !administra-
tion their most cordial support, otherwise
| need not refer your eXcelency' to the
coat of arms of dear Old Virginia, my
believed, unfortunate, bleeding Mother"
As the hero uttered these words his
eyes filed with tears, and Minerva, in
pity, envcloped the warrior in thick
cloud to which General Grant respect
fully waved his hand, as he did to me
when he spoke the well remembered
word, Nothing And / awoke to find
it nothino but dream. j. NJ. NJ.
In Cambridge, Massachusetts, the
police officers arrest all children found in