The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-08-10

we copy, from the Lynchburg, Va. NeSs,
tho following
Letter from Cen. J. A. Early;
EMBRACING 4 COMMUNICATION FROM GEN
ERAL BEAUREGARD, EXPLAINING AND
DEFENDING HIS POSITION.
LrNcHBUBG, July Goth, 1873.
To the Editors the Petersburg Appeal and Index:
Gentlemcn.-I find in your paper of to-
day, with your endorsement, an extract
from the Raleigh, N. c., Sentinel, severely
commenting on General Beauregard in
conn sction with what is known as " uni
an appeal in behalf of my old commander,
friend and comrade, against the condemna.
ton which is being heaped upon him by
persons who do not understand his posi-
ton and motives. am lately in receipt of
q letter from him, and take the liberty of
copying n portion of it. He says:
"Like many others, you think that we
have time to aUait, and allow matters to ad
just themselves quietly and gradually
bat can assure you that we are driven to
the wall" and are on our last legs No
ore can realize our sad distress unless he
witness our condition. 1t makes ones
heart bleed to think of the poverty aud
ruin which are actually staring In the face.
most of our best people. do not speak
for myself and family; for, thanks to my
professional reputation, I can manage to
get along comfortably enough here or
elsewhere, but I refer to those thousands
of planters who have no other resource
than their industry and knowledge of the
cultivation 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 1t will surely
succeed in this State when viewed in it's
proper light; for, after al, we only pro-
pose to accord to the colored people the
political and civil rights guaranteed to
dition that they will aid US in getting rid
of those vagabonds who have been plum
deripg US SO numerically for the last five
years.
"In advocating this plan l give up no
principle and wish to part with no friends.
first gun in 1861, and one of the last in
1865, that the cause We upheld was q just
and holy one; but we failed in our strug-
gle, were overpowered and conquered, and
we have to submit to the old Gallo maxim
| malheur auf rafncms. / view our present
attacked by o set of highway robbers, and
some negroes could come to my assistance,
ought l refuse their aid because they are
colOred peoplef No, indeed! would ac-
cept it, and give them probably my shirt
with which to make rope to hang the
scoundrels; and thus 1 am willing to do
for the plnnderers o. Loui-iana. This
movement is not at all political, nor do 1
recommend it to other States not similarly
situated, where the inhabitants are not
boldly called upon by those in authority
(under the protection of Federal bayonets)
to stand and deliver
""hat ! recommend to my people is
! simply 'unitication' to rid ourselves of
those INSCRIPTIONS carpet-baggers who are
running us, and immigration to enable
l rr,l, ,kn-- II. 4
expensive plantations into small, profitable
| farms, by which also We will be able to
turn our vagrant colored population into
property holders and taxpayers, thereby
making them useful, conservative citizens.
"My friends need not fear that 1 shall go
| farther in this movement than at first in
tended. l am no politician, and have no
desire to occupy office, either Federal,
State or municipal; and no consideration
at present lin view of the position have
assumed) could induce me to accept one if
rendered me. Those who are absurd and
unjust enough to compare me with an ex-
Confederate officer whose mourning we
wear in our hearts, must know very little
of me if they suppose 1 am about to follow
this example. / have too high a regard
for my reputation, (which belongs not
alone to me,) ever to forswear the past
advising, to the best Of my ability, my fell
low citizens of Louisiana what is best to
do to save themselves and their State from
utter ruin and desOlation. Having done
so, my part is ended, and theirs must COM
mence."
Now, submit that, however much we
may dissent from General Beauregard and
his co-adujutors as to the soundness of the
policy proposed by them, there is no good
and sufficient cause for impugning his mo-
tives, and casting upon him that grave
censure with which he has been visited by
some, nor for CHASING him with those who
have proved recreant to former princi-
pies.
We must consider tho terrible ordeal
through which the people of Louisiana are
passing, and recollect that we have not vet
been subjected to such q test.-Heaven
knows that have no federation for infidel-
ity to sacred principles or to the memories
of the past, and have taken occasion to
express to General Beauregard my decided
conviction that he has committed grave
mistake, and will be disappointed in the
results of his movement; but 1 have no
doubt of the entire integrity of his mo-
tives, and can take him by the hand as I
cordially aa nvar fna1ip that +hoo | .