The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-04-03
Letter of 81. NJ" to President Grant.
EXCHANGE HOTEL,

EXCHANGE HOTEL,
MONTGOMERY, ALA, Feb. q, 1873.
20 His Erccllency, President Grant:
KIND FR1END-The pleasing reflection of
the sympathy shown me when last met you
at Galena, ILL.,, in October, 1868, prompts me
to address you this note.
see by the associated press dispatches that
you have in contemplation tour over the
Southern States. Having travelled in the South
for the last few months, and knowing the feel
ings of the Southern people towards you as the
Chief Executive of this nation, can assure
you that cordial reception awaits you, and
that your presence here will have beneficial
effect towards reconciling the prejudices which
has been engendered during the late war.
have, during my present tour, made great
many appointments to address the people Of
this section ON my principles of Truth and Re-
Cancellation, but realizing that views which do
Justice to the motives and patriotism of the
Southern people must resist the general preju-
dices of the North, 1 prefer to more fully ex-
plain them there before ask foil recognition
By the press of the South. The Southern peo-
pie have truly been misunderstood in the late
conflict, and they cannot be reconciled whilst
their true motives are spurned with contempt,
their patriotism disregarded, and their gallant
dead lie in dishonored graves.
They accept, philosophically, the situation
in which the fortunes of war have placed them,
and entertain no idea of again contending for or
what they sincerely thought was right They
have been reconstructed from basis of preju-
dice, they should now be reconciled by the in
fluence of Truth. Their views of right must
be held sacred or union of feeling cannot be
effected. The triumph of the Federal army
over the Confederate established no principle
of Truth. The soldiers of both armies were
fighting for Washington's principles, as pure
patriots with total disregard of each others
stand point Hence, they will have to change
stand points, and come to the truthful conclu-
sion that they were both right, the way they
viewed it, and both wrong because they viewed
it wrong. And on no other basis can recon-
ciliation now be effected but that of equal honor
and glory meted out to Federal and Cofederate
alike. Had the Confederate army triumphed
over the Federal, (which would have been Ger.
tain had they held the resources of the latter, J
the North would not have changed, and could
not have thought any less of their noble dead,
and you, as the gallant commander of that
army, would have contended for the sincerity
of your principles the same as the South do
now for their Lost Cause.
The act of secession placed you in the Presi-
Dental chair; without it, you would now be an
humble citizen in the private walks OF life.
sincerely trust you will, in this hour of your
triumph and exultations feel toward the South
as the lamented President Lincoln did "char-
ity for all and malice for none."
Without secession, three millions OF blacks
would now be slaves, and by the sanction OF
government which never thought OF their
abolition on philosophical principles that OF
| purchase, but held the Union of the States, with
slavery recognized as constitutional right par
amount to their liberty. Their freedom was
thus compromised, and they have achieved it
by the blood of both armies, hence their sym
pathies must be equal in respect to the dead
who fell as martyrs to principle of misun-
derstanding by which they became free. have
tried for the last twelve years to take philo-
sophical view of the struggle, and trust you
will by next December, recommend such
measures to Congress that will secure the same
pension to the Confederate soldiers as is now
awarded to the Federal, and as time more fully
lifts the veil of prejudice which has enshrouded
the South, at the close Of your second term as
Chief Executive of the nation, / think it would
be philanthropic for you to say to the impov-
erished Southern people, you deserve pay for
portion, at least. if not ALL of your slaves,
which they would now hold had they listened
TO the demands of the North. However great
this may resist the prejudices of the Northern
people at present, truly deem it truthful
aud unprejudiced view Of the claims Of the
South, and stand ready to assume all the re-
sponsibility of prejudice which it may engeudeE
by self-martyrdom, loving truth for truths sake.
| No one can imagine, without seeing, the pow
erty of a great portion of the Southern people
thousands once wealthy are now pennilesc, and
the kindness aud generosity of the great mass
of the people of the Southern States Is only
eqnalled by the heroic: fortitude and energy
which they display in rebuilding their desola-
ted country laid waste by war, the battles
having mostly been fought on Southern soil.
Thousands of old grey headed men can here be
seen, men with their forms bending to the
tomb, that could once command their thousands
Of dollars, with nov scarcely the necessary
| means for scanty subsistence, and in this
struggle for constitutional liberty it should be
remembered distinctly, that the South did only
| what she,North would have done had they been
| similarly situated.tfs 81 ti ,la}4.G &c..
II appears in the providence of God that
this war was to have been. It was fortunate
| for few, unfortunate for thousands. Among
the former You can truly be classed. The aim
| of ali, both North and South, should now be TO
become reconciled Let the past be buried in
oblivion, and let disinterested truth be the
basis from which all should now calmly reason.
The South has been impoverished and the
| North enriched by this war. Honor and pa.
triotism is all the South have left, and this
should now be- held sacred. ,: ..
Trusting you. will not postpone your intended
visit, and that will have the pleasure of see
! ing you before I go North, ! with pleasure
! subscribe myself your true friend for the cause
Of Truth and Reconciliation, ~ ~
McCutchenville, Wyandot Co., Ohio.
| DIR. Radway, proprietor Of Railways
Ready Relief and Other patent medicines, is