Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-04-29
RECONSTRUCTION.
Testimony Of an Ex-Federsl Soldier in 0p-
pOsitioH to II.
Sound Reasons for his Attitude in a Letter
to Senator Fowler.
He Thinks II will be Better for the Negroes
as well as for the White People. If
Congress "Lets Tennessee
Alone"
The Less Congress has to do with Recon
struCtlOn, tue Better for the South
and for the Union.
From the Washington star.I

and for the Union.
From the Washington Stsr.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., April IS, 1870.
Hon. Joseph s. FoaDler, q. s. Senator:
Your esteemed favor of the 18th inst. 4
received, and you will please attribute
nv brief and imperfect reply 70 the mul
tiplicity OF my business engagements, anC
not TO any want of appreciation of thu
important questions you submit for my
consideration.
My answer shall be a general one, bu
substantially covering the ground tnnl
Gated by you, as I understand the severa
matters referred to.
You first refer to my political and mill
tarY antecedents, and rightly characterize
Esle 81 Republican During the exist.
ence Of the Whig party closely followed
Its fortunes under its <Zleat leader, WHO
vas the object OF nv political idOlatry
ard when the Republican party was born
and first organized in my native State Of
Michigan, under the leadership of those
sterling and able Republicans who now
50 worldly I'LL their places ia the Senate
Of the nited States, / at once east my
fortunes with them, and can refer - Ssto
both Of them as 70 my political status IN
ti1s State of Michigan.
So0E after she firing upon Fcrt Sum-
ser I abandoned the profession Of the lay,
and Joined tbs Boys in Blue" to wage
war against those EhO dared to fire on
the stars snd stripes, ana ! continued IN
the army until near the close OF the wal
in command, for = long time, Of the Third
Michigan cavalry, E-hosa deeds need no
suiOgium from me, During the latter
part of the rebellion nay regiment was
stationed In various parts OF West Zen
neseee, and had excellent opportunity
70 make the acquaintance of her people,
and was so fsvOTably impressed with her
genial climate, geographical advantages
and the general hospitality Of her people,
Uhat I determined to make Tennessee my
hsEla, and when discharged from the
servies located at Memphis, where ] have
since reaEined.
It is proper to state in this connection
rhst nv business Bas been very extensive
with the cOlOred people of the South. I
have thus bssl brought in close contact
with thousands Of cOlOred people, and
have had opportunities Of observing and
knowing them.
Educated in the belief that govern
alents should be so administered a. to Sc
..uEs equal and exact Justice to all, aud
l-ieELlE the position OF slavery abstractly
from a distance, l was always in favor of
carrying out the sublime truth enunci-
ztad in the Declaration Of Independence,
and Of making all men free before the law.
And when I came TO understand the col
Dred men, and saw the qualities they pos
ses> cd, noticed their good conduct dur
ingtT7, entire rebellion, their patience IN
Ter iniur,y and the absence Of all malice
toward their former masters, aud espe-
cisIlv their na -riotic devotion 60 the
Union. I felt sure that EaT early predilec-
tions and convictions wer6 correct, and
that such a race Of men were entitled TO
all the rights Of freemen. And ] now pre-
dict that in a very few years those who
have entertained a different opinion Will
be ashamed OF their pref udice aud sur
prised at their former blindness.
The colOred people of Tennessee are
now enjoying the benefits Of education
and are improving in a remarkable man
ner, and those who want work have
plenty Of il at about their own prices.
Indeed, l know some who, with the aid Of
their families, are saving as high as one
thousand dollars a year, and by their in
dustry, frugality, and general good con-
duet, command the respect OF all men. l
think the cOlOred men generally in Ten
uessee are conteuted and happy, and if a
few miserable demagOgues and political
adventures, who have no stake in the
country and live only by their wits and
she divisions of the people, would let
ghsm alone, the State of my adoption
= JIM SUN BAU1EAAL LAAE AANAAoAa 2 AAAAA PIC
Of a hssmOniOus aud united people, seek
ing their own true welfare and the glory
uf the American Union.
Permit me now TO speak of the Conted-
crate officers and soldiers in the State of
Tennessee and TO do them simple justice.
These men were as earnest and sincere
in the advocacy Of their peculiar views as
were the officers and soldiers Of the Union
army. They stsked life, liberty, property
and political rights upon the result of the
coStest; they were brave, resOlute, de-
termi9ed foe, and achieved great results
under most uufaYOFsble circumstances.
The issue was the right Of State secession,
a doctrine fatal TO the Union, but imbUed
n their minds through 8 long series of
wears by their trusted political leaders,
and they were beaten, almost anuihilstsd,
1pOn the appeal to the sword; they have
their defeat, laid down
their arms, and submitted themselves 20
the mercy and nsgnRnimity of their con-
gUerOrs.
Now, what have they since done in this
- taIe 10 show that they were not sincere
I'M heir submission to the authority Of
the Feta eral Government They have in
terposed 70 obstacles to the execution Of
me laws. boy, ever obnoxious they might
be to them.
IN some instances bitter enmities, en-
gendered by the war, Gai growing out Of
4 most unnatural and frEtFieidal state Of
things, have been terribly a3eaged; but
this is only in very exceptional cases, spd
the surprise of every thinking man IS,
that so little bitterness remains, and that 4
We are almost on the eve Of universal
and harmony.
Ths ku-kluX Khan was organized as ]
hear fnO1n those who have no reason to
uisiead me- to frighten petty thieves and |
n, svent their trayersing the country at
5igb,>S but having been diverted to i'm
1rSS.7,ay o'Riects, and made use Of by bad
- Tor Nase purposes, have all been
sbandoned. aid 1 don't believe there Is
me such organizst ION 10 Tennessee. Such
mere ephemeral secret organizations can
not long exist among Ifse people jealous
Df their rights ,.
which united ali the elements Of the great
Republi party and the war Democrats
in favor of the election Of the soldier
statesman who now so quietly and en-
GENTLY rules the nation.
Let rs alone: permit us to govern our
selves; to harmonic discordant elements,
10 reconstruct and renOvate our waste /
places; 70 rebuild our broken railroads |
and construct new ones; and do not treat |
as as aliens and strangers, unworthy of
your confidence and trust, but help US In |
Il, matters pertaining to the protecting
oowet of the Federal GOveFnRent; in the /
establishment of improved mail aRd tele- |
graph facilities: in the erection Of leyees I
~ confine the great Father OF Waters 1
within proper hounds; in the reclaim alton 4
u the rich cotton lands of the South, /
.hns opening new and waste fertile fields 1
'or richly remuneratiYe labor; in pro- 4
yiding for the prompt adjustment OF the /
ust claims of the loyal citizens OF tbs 4
south. Thess, with other kindred meas
ifes, we call upOU our Republican Con
yress 70 favor, as tkey Will endear the
south 10 the Republican party and
strengthen the bond Of uniCn between
he States.
1 do not urge this line of policy, be-
,ause doubt the power Of Congress or
he Federal Government 70 repress inter
lal disorders and incipient revolutions in
states or Territories OF the Union. Not
it all The power exists, and should,
y hen necessary, be exercised with strong
land. But there Is now no sIbch state Of
htn0s IA Tennessee as viii justify its ex-
.rcise. II Congress doubts my state
nent OF facts, it can very readily solve
ne difficulty and remove all reasonable
=, Its on the subject by the inn
oa5ia, = appointment Of a Joint Com
,l{s.{o,, consisting Of representative men
= IN ,-,rIia.- and let this Commission
I 80 :. s.i,,,nassas, and by ocular demonstra-
ion and the swor,r statements OF ber clti-
Ems. lei them satisi" themselves ana re-
.oTt 10 Congress the reai state Of the facts.
,et this be done, and then \ there ,.s. = suc1
conflict Of races, such danger 10 ne sn1
roperty from unlawful combinas-, ,Ons ,t,- "
al men that the ordinary State authCSi'y
annot check and control, say for one,
nd l but echo the sentiments Of all good
itizeus. put the State under Federal or
Military authority until she learns TO be-
ave herself. But before you do this, be
ure that the facts viii Justify the exer-
ise of such extraordinary powers, or
-ou viii not leave a remnant Of Republi-
anism worth preserving in the state.
~ H.. nos,r-aea hos "a do with this