Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-08-14
Letter from General Beauregard.

General Jubal Early's letter about the
situation of political affairs in Louisiana
contains extracts from letter written to
him by General Beauregard, in which the
latter says:
= Like many others, you think we have
time to wait, and allow matters to ADJUST
themselves quietly and gradually; but !
can assure you we are driven to the wall,
and ARE on our last legs" No one can
realize our sad distress unless be witnesses
our condition. 1t makes ones heart bleed
to think of the poverty and ruin which
are actually staring in the face OF most OF
our best people. | do not speak for my
self and family; for, thanks to my pro
fessional reputation, can manage to get
along comfortably enough here or else,
where, but refer 70 those thousands Of
planters who have no other resource than
Their industry and knowledge of the soil.
Take away from them their plantations,
and they will be perfectly helpless. Our
"unifcation" movement may not take
"like prairie fire." but it will surely sue
ceed in this State when viewed in its
proper light; for, after all, we only pro-
DO: to accord to the colored people the
political and civil rights guaranteed to
them bv our Radical constitution, on con.
aition that they will aid US in getting nd
Of those vagabonds who have plundered
us so numerically for the last five years.
In advocating this plan give up no prlnr
ciple, and wish to part with no friends.
believe now,. ,.as I did when | fired the
first gun in 1861, and one of the last in
1865 that the cause wesupheld was a just
and holy one; but we failed in our strug-
gle-were overpowered and conquered
and we have to submit to the OLD Galllcmax
i'm malheur aur vainc,ts. view our pres
ent condition in its practical light. If |
wereattacked by asetof highway robbers,
and some negroes could come to my as
sistance, oug ht l to refuse their aid because
thev are colored people? No, indeed |
would accept it, and give them probably
nv shirt with which to make a rope to
hang the scoundrels and thus | am will
ing 10 do for, the plunderers of Louisiana
This movement is not at all political, nor
do recommend it to other States .,not
similarly situated, where the inhabitants
are not boldly called upon by those in au,
thority (under the protection OF Federal
bayonets) to "stand and deliver" What
recommend to my people is simply "uni-
ication" to rid ourselves of those sunscru-
pulous carpet t-baggers who are running US,
and immigration to enable our planters
to change their extensive and expensive
plantations into'small, profitable farms, by
which also we will be able to turn our va
grant colored population into property
holders and taxpayers, thereby making
them useful, conservative citizens. My
frinds need not fear that l shall 90 further
in this movement than at first intended
/ am no politician, and have no desire to
occupy office, either Federal, State or mu
nicipal; no consideration at present lin
view of the position l have assumed) could
induce me to accept one iftendered. Those
who are absurd and unjust enough to com
pare me to an ex-C confederate officer whose
mourning we wear in our hearts, must
know qery little of me if they suppose |
am about to follow his example. | have
too high regard for my reputation (which
bclorgs not alone to mo- ever TO iorswear
the past, but, ct the same time, / claim
the right OF advising, to the best Of my
ability, my fellow-citizens of Louisiana
what is best to do to save themselves and
their State from utter ruin and desolatlon.
Having done so, my part is ended, and
theirs must commence.