Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-04-22
HONEST YET.

When our late war was over and Co
lumbia triumphed over secession, and the
red white and red was folded, never more
to float on the soft Southern breeze, and
its followers who had so proudly held 1t
to the sky were dismayed, driven to the
wall and forced to cry out from the "last
ditch" "Hold, enough % when Lee,
their favorite Rob-" had dismounted,
unbuckled his straps and presented his
blood-stained sword to the Union chief;
when all this was over, and the boys In
blue were on their Northern tramp, with
their tune changed from Dixie Land
to "Home. Sweet Home" there was at
least one man among the vanquished host
engaged in honest meditation, making
up his mind to take things as they were
and make the best of it." He had
fought bravely for the cause he believed
was right, but he now saw he was beaten
and there was no help for it, that per-
haps after all he might have been in the
wrong, and instead of sitting sulkily
down and knitting his brows,-running
out fiery tongue and using venomous
pen to pour out curses and encourage
hatred toward the government-he &C
knowledged that to the victcrs belonged
the spoils and said, 60 on gentlemen, do
as you please, have nothing to say, but
shall endeavor to abide by your decision
and be loyal. He addressed letters to
different parts of the South, advising the
people to go to work, accept the situation
and earn an honest living; and his in
fuence done much towards restoring
peace and harmony and cooling off the
smouldering fires of secession. In con-
sequence of this action he was severely
criticised and cursed by his former friends
and companions in arms, but on the 9TH
err hand he was applauded by all law
abiding and peace-loving citizens thro'-
out the country, and more especially by
those of the South who had seen war in
its worst form and knew how to appre-
ciate quiet and peaceable time. We
refer to Gen. Longstreet, one of the first,
if not the very first, among his associates
to become reconciled to the new order of
things. President Grant was so well
pleased with his frankness and honesty,
that after he was placed in the Presi-
Dental Chair, and to show to the coun-
try that he cherished no spirit of revenge
against any who were so honest as to
come forward and express their regret
for the past and desire to do all in their
power towards aiding reconstruction,
nominated Gen. Longstreet surveyor of
the port of New Orleans, an Office which
he held, giving entire satisfaction, until
lately. In consequence of the Louisiana
political muddle,-which by the way is
such complete ''muddle'' that few out
side of New Orleans seem to understand
much about it-he has resigned his posi-
ton. Immediately upon hearing this,
some of the "sore-heads," without even
stopping to make inquiry or investiga-
ton, proclaim from the house top that
Longstreet was for Cincinnati and against
Philadelphia. 1t was said he had writ
ten letter to certain Senator, and
this was all they knew about it. The
letter has since been hunted up and pub
lished. 1t is dated New Orleans, March
%, and is written to Senator w. P. Kel-
logg of Louisiana and instead of being
against Grant he is in favor of his re-
election. The last paragraph of the let,
ter reads as follows:
"All things considered, l am constrain.
ed to say that think the people owe il
to themselves and to the President to re.
turn him to the office he has filed SC
well and with such entire good faith.
| remain, very respectfully and truly
yours,
IAMrc -