Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-07-23
THE WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS
TREATY,

THE WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS
TREATY.
Grams and southern RelSe1s-Hoyy
Ola ROsey qualified himself to be a
Democratic Candidate.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. VA,
August, 1865.
GENERAL Full of soIicitude for the
future of our country, come aCith ma
heart IN Hly hand to learn the conditions,
lOfsAe8 and intentions of the people of
tue Southern States, especially 10 as
certain the sentiments of that body of
brave energetic aud self-sacrifcing
men, who after sustaining the Confed-
eI acy for four years, laid down their
arms, and swOre allegiance to the Gov
erument of the United States, whose
trusted and beloved leader you have
been. see that interpreting States
rights to conflict with national unity,
has produced a violent reaction against
them, which is drifting US toward con-
sOlldation {; and also that so great a
country as ours even now is, and is
certainly TO be, must have State gov
ernments 10 attend TO local details, or
go further and fare worse. II IS plain
co US, at the West and North, that the
continuance of semi-auarchY, such as
has existed for the last three years, in
creases the danger of Capitalization,
swells our national expenditures, di-
Cninishes our productions and our rev.
enue, insures doubts of our political
and financial stability, depreciates the
value OF our national bonds and cur
rency, and places the credit of the rich
est below that of the poorest nation in
ChristendOm. We know that our cur
rency must be deprecated so long as
our bonds are below par, and thai,
therefore, the vast business and c1n-
meTce of our country must suffer the
terrible evil of a fUctuating standard
of value until we can remedy the evil
condition of things at the South. We
also see other mischief quite possible,
# not probable, to arise, such as from a
failure of crops, n local insurrectIon,
and so many other unforeseen coutin-
gencies, which may still more dPpreci-
ate our credit and currency, provoke
discomfort and disorder among cur peo-
pie, and bring demagogical agitation,
revolution, reputation, and il thous-
and unnamed evils and Villainies on US.
We know that the interests of the pstr-
pie of the South are for law and order,
and they must share our role of good
or i'll. 1 believe every one know, who
reflects, believes that if The people of
the Southern States could be at peace,
and their energy and good will heartily
applied to repair the wastes of war,
recognize their business, set the freed
men peacefully, prosperously and cuu-
tentedly at work, invite ca pital, enter
prise and labor from everywhere to
come freely among them, they would
soon rebuild their ruined .OItunes, null
tiply manifold the value of their lands,
establish public confidence in our pO-
litical stability, bring oar Government
bonds to q premium, oar currency to q
gold standard and assure for themselves
and5the whole nation a most happy and
prosperous future.
Seeing this and how all just interests
concur in the work, 1 ask, the officers
and soldiers who fought for the Union
ask, every thinking man of the great
West and North asks, why it can not be
done. We are told by those WHO have
controlled the Government for the last
four years that the people of the South
will not do it that If ever done at all
IT must be done by the poor, simple, un-
educated, landless freedmen and the
few whites, who, against the public
sentiment of the intelligent white peo-
pie, are willing to attempt to lead, and
make their living of these ignorant,
inexperienced cOlOred people mostly
men who must be needy adVenturefs
or without any of those attributes on
which reliance for good guidance or
can be placed. We are told
that this kind of government must be
eight millions of Intelligent, energetic
white people give in to it, or move out
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, shorter surer way
to get good government for all at the
South. We know that they who organ
Ized and sustained the Southern Con-
iederacy 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
and the power to employ, pro-
rect, educate and elevate the poor freed
men, and restore themselves and our
country to all the blessings of which
have just spoken.
The question we want answered is
are they willing to do it ? I came down
to find what the people If the South
think of this, and TO ask you what the
officers and soldiers who served in the
Confederate army, and leading people
who sustained it, think of these things.
come to ask more. I want TO ask
you, j71 1OhOSe purity and patriotism Z
here cypress unqualified confidence, and
as many good men as you can cOnve-
niently consult, to say 1Ohdt goa think of
1t, and also aCbat yOE are aOjEEjGlg to do
GbOlLt6t. l want a written expression
of views that can be followed by a con-
curTence OF action. want to know i'll
you and the gentlemen who will Join
in that expression, are willing to pledge
the people of the South 10 a ChiT6lrouS
and magnanimous devotion to restor-
ing peace and prosperity to our COM
mon country. l want to carry that.
pledge high above the level of party
politics, to the late officers and soldiers
of the Union army, and to the people
of the North and West, and to ask
tn II Ia fol be
necessary action, confident that it 9OiH
meet 1Cith q reSpOnce so 2CGTB, generous
and conJidinQ, that we shall zee V S
sunshine tbs rainbow of p ace in our
pol tic Il ky, now black with clouds
and impending storm.
I kR0lC yOW are q representative man ia
Difference and regard for the Union, the
the Constitution, and the aCeLfdq'e Of the
country, and that what YOU would say
would be indorsed by nine-tenfns of
the whole people of the South, but
should like to have the signatures of
all the representative Southern men
here who concur in your views, and ex-
pressiOns of their concurrence from the
priLcipal officers and representative
men thIoughoub the South when they
can be procured. This concurrence Of
opinions and wills, all tending to peace,
order and sta bility will assure our Union
soldiers 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 a lasting peace,
with all its countless blessings.
V'ry truly, your friend,
w. S. RosBCRANs.
To General r. E. Lee.
GEN. LEES REPLY-HE DICTATES CON
DITIONS AND MAKES KNOWN HIS
WISHES BUT DOES NOT SAY HE WILL
FORGIVE RoSECRAES,
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
WEST Va, August 26, 1863.
GENERAL I have had the honor to