Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-03-09
Address to tie People of the Southern
is States. HE

ASh1NSEON1 cSO. 'Io.-1n ne IouohloS
address has just been prepared by the demo
cratic members of the South and Southwest:
To the People of the tSouihern States
You have con6ded to the undersigned in
this conjunction OF affairs the delicate aud diff
ficult task of guarding in the federal Congress
your public interest. yoar rights aud your rep
u'at'on. You will, therefore, pardon the lib
erty We take of addressing you at period 50
critical upon matter affecting your destiny
aud that of your posterity. You cannot have
failed tn observe the persistent effnrts of some
"f the leaders of the republican party to re-
vive the auiulosity of the late war, whivh hap
PLY are FAST giving place to a spirit of cnncurd
and unity in every section of our common
country. II is impossible to predict certainly
the effect of these appeals to passion. We
believe that through the honest representation
of few upright and conscientious federal of
6cers and agents, an independent and able
public press, aud of many citizens without res
gard to party. the condition of the Southern
States and the real sentiment of the Southern
people are being gradually made known to our
fellow. citizens of the North. We hope for
their favorable decision when fully apprised
of all the facts. The great ends of good gov>
ernment will he reached when the people of
all sections forget that we have ever been
enemies. and come together again IA in early
days of the republic. emuating each other
only in devotion to the best interest of the
whole country. With this exalted purrnse in
view, there is nothing Inconsistent with the
honor and manhood of n brave people 90 re-
solve to suffer with heroic patience. whatever
be their provocatioms and wrongs, leaking
through the fearful present to hopeful future.
hats i
insults with dienitied moderation. Let every
white man in every neighborhood in the whole
South regard himself as commissioner of the
pc ice, maintaining the kindlieSt relations to-
wards the black man, remembering that the
responsibility Cor the extreme poverty towhich
we have been reduced, and the. corrupt gov>
ernmcnts to which his vnte has subjected US,
re>tS not much Hpnu them as the had men.
who, with the assurance Of federal support
have by appeals to his wort passions, sought
t. make him our enemy. While we labor hv
al honest means 10 convince him oi the truth
hat our interests and his are identical, and
that both must be preserved by good govern
nett, aud that those who stir M strife hctwecn
Us are tie enemies Of both races let us at the
same tune see that he is fully protected in his
guaranteed rights 10 vote as he pleasea in all
elections, Let continue to deal with him
honestly and fairly, aud let us continue corr
daily to invite to our midst those of any pn>
lltcaI party who either seek to know the truth.
"r I" tiud homes ON our soil. We do not ex>
acerate when We udmnnish you of the dis
hcartening fact that every disturbance. oVcry
homicide OF whatever character, by whom
soever committed, by black or white, repub.
Iican "r democrat, such rs are incident to
every community on earth, is perverted into
evidence of spirit of lawicsSncss and violence.
and purpose to accomplish political ends -
w" we'll know the gross injustice of such
charges. which have weight ouEy where ig>
norance of our true condition prevails
Strenuous efforts are now being made bY
those who nIisreprcsent yon to induce the pas
sage thr"ugh Congress of the most dangerous
measures. in order to irritate our people. to
drive to dcsnair and to provoke them to vi">
lent outbreaks. in order to fnrnisI an excuse
for applying tor military interference.
We express the hone that a majority of the
present Congress will not be fund ready to
sanction such legislation. If it he accom-
plishcd it would be against the protest not
only of democrats bat of the moral Worth and
state>manship here of The party in power. and
Of such republicans as Bryant Evarts. Charles
Francis Adams aud others, whose PATRIOTISM
and sense of justice are known tn the entire
country. We may. however, mistake. The
most extreme. oppressive end unconstitutional
measures may he imposed unon y"u In such
an event we would sppeal to the wisdom and
patriotism Of long suffering renric, Fy every
hope of the future. for continued furhearance
and hopeful reliance uron the virtue and sense
Of justice IF the american people for the u.
innate vindication Of our rights. the rro,cc-
'ion of our liberties and safety of our repub
ican form Of rovcrnmcnt