Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-01-21
From the Atlantic New Era, December "a.

General LOngStreet'S Views.
Below we publish a letter adj
dressed by General James Long
street to citizen of this State, In
which the ''war horse OF Lees
army calmly and clearly set forth
his views upon political matters.
We hope our readers will peruse
the letter carefully that they may
fully understand the precise views
entertained by this renowned and
much abused gentleman.
''LYNcHBURG, Va, Nov. "a, 1868.
"My Dear Sir: Your letter of
the goth ult., after following me to
various points, reached me. Now,
l am glad to hear from you, and to
learn that our mind is prepared to
accept opinions that are most likely.
in their application, to develop and
advance the interests of the people
Many of our Southern men seem to
have lost sight of the fundamental
.doctrine-the interest ofthe people
in tneir zeal to maintain their ideas
of consistency, which consists in
adhering to old truths whether they
work Tor veal or woe.
regret that am not better pre-
pared to meet your wishes for in
formation in regard to the future
policy Of our new President. AL
though have had the pleasure of
several interviews with him within
the last few years, have not sought
to learn his appreciation Of political
questions of the present or OF the
future. I regard his past course
and decided character as the surest
guarantees of his course. The
floating idea that has attached itself
to the minds Of the many, that he
may yet prove to be a Derlocrat, is
like many other speculations that
gain circulation and credence, but
only serve to deceive those who
are credulous enough to indulge
them. If we recall to mind the
events Of the last two years, we
shall remember that Gen. Grant
position, at one time, was such as
to insure his nomination for Presi
dent by the party that he NIGH
| choose as most in accord with his
views of public policy; and subse
quent events indicate that his per
sonal popularity is such as to have
turned the balance in his favor. l
seems to me unreasonable, there
fore, to expect to find him, at thi:
late day, seeking alliance with ths
old party His antecedents clearly
mark him as national man, and a.
such he gives assurances of his ad
hesion to the party whose basis il
the Union, and that the influence O
his administration will be applied tx
its complete and prosperous restora
ton
| A fair-minded people must know
however that no individual, unaided
can accomplish this great purpose
He must needs have the assistance o
| the North, Of the South, Of the Eas
and of the West. Having assur
ances OF corporation from othe
tparts OF the country, he only want
that of the South to complete th
combination which will give to hi
administration happy advent, an
comfortable anticipation of salutar,
progress.
That the people of the Sout
desire practical reconstruction ther
: can be no doubt; but it seems to b
difficult to develop that sentimen
A"f "fse-as to produce practical results
4 Drifting along in the channel int
which chance seems 70 have throw
me, 1 begin to find myself, lik
;, many others, ready with my theory
AS it may interest you, 1 give you
concise statement of it. If you fin
that you can make it useful, you ar
at liberty to do SO: s-qs, f-....
The wealth Of the South lies
h. its soil.
/ If this proposition is true, il
seqnents are equally so.
l. Labor is essential to MAX
that wealth available.
2. To command labor. law
must encourage and protect it.
Also their co-sequents
70 encourage and invite labo
tevidences of protection must
made manifest through the oper
ton of law upon the labor that v
Ihave. pr ~ @ @
Hence, it appears that the val'
2 of-ear- lands depend upon our labo
q our labor upon the law, and Il
law upon us. A failure upc
our part, therefore. to enact and
enforce broper laws. will be as fat
to the interests of the owners
real estate as coniscation. Al
yet, all that Congress asks US to