The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-09-04
COL, MOsBY's LETTER
The Views Of q Fighting
Confederate.

The following letter has been writ
ten by Colonel Mosby 10 former Con-
federate cunrade in reply to one urging
him to support Tildeu =
WARRESToN. Va, August 6, 1876
Ny Dear Sir-I have just received
your communication inquiring if it be
true, as reported, that am supporting
Hayes aud Wheeler. It is true that |
am a cordial aud earnest advocate Of
the election of tina! tiOket, notwilhstand-
ing you say that all Southern people
aud especially the Confederate soldiers
are united in support of the democratic.
| / hope however, that in tbs you are
mistaken and that many men IN the
South Of sound conservative and ma
,ional sentiments will be louni CT tue
other side; however this may be, twill
not divert me from my purpose. l
tb. ught you knew that ceased to be
q Confederate soldier about clever
years ago and became citizen Of ihe
United States. As a soldier did wta!
couscientionsly thought was my duty;
as citizen I shall 10 the same as far
"a | know how. The ground on which
sou urge mo to support Tildea and
Hendricks is tia. they are the oandi.
dates Of The Southern people and j
elected will DO under their control.
Nov, it is because this thing is sppar-
eut ,ha. the election Of 1ildsn is an i'm
possibility. 10 attempting to grasp
TOO much tho South will lose every
thing. Tho sectional unity Of the
Southern people has been che govern
ing idea and baae Of their politics
So far from its being remedy fer any.
thing it has beel the cause Of most Of
the evils they have suffered. So long
as it continues the war will be q con-
trolling element Of politics, for any cry
in the South that nnites the Coptedcr-
ates re.echoes through the North and
rekiudles tho war fres there. Thus,
every Presidential canvass becomes a
battle between the two sections and the
South being The weaker must te the
losing party. To insist on keeping up
, this sectional fight may be very heroic
SO was the charge at Balaklava-5ut il
my opinion, is just as reckless and just
as uuwise. Tho reconstruction meas
ures necessarily divided parties in tic
South on a color line, for the issue
they presented was tho political equal
ity OF the races. While the south was
opposing it tho republican party was OF
the side Of the negro But since The
, South has accepted it and incorporated
, it in the platform on which it has noun
ted Its candidate I see no reason iol
continuing to divide on an issue Nhicl
has become extinct. Having adopted
all tue principles Of party aud sanct'
Toned all its measures, | eau see no Oh
lection TO voting for its candidate. DE-
you not see, then, luat MS long as w
keep up the fight on the old lpss. With
the same allies and the same battle oricl
!, the North will be suspicious Of oul
good faith, DO matter in what form ",
protest il! All that the republican,
propose is to preserve what they bay.
. accomplished; tho democrats ar,
pledged not to disturb what tho rcpub.
iiclns have done. You cannot com
plain that the sincerity Of tic pledge.
Of Gov. Tildin to execute CERTAIN law.
is dlstrusIed when bis supporters jus
:. tify their opposition TO Governor Huye,
on the ground that his party enacted
, lheso laws. To b, consl>ten. they
should 60 foI rcpealiu. thcm il they
come into power. concur with you
. in desire for change iu the policy o.
tho national government toward the
South, but that Can come only frOm II
change iu the attitude Of the Southern
people toward tho administration. You
say that no ono in the South il sup
porting Hayes but negroes and carpet.
buggers would be sortJ to think
this were 50. but it it were | should
, still vote for the candidate Of my choic,
and would not let this class deprive me
of it. suppose they support Iluye,
because they think it is to their utter.
est to do SO. I think it would be
equally to the itto;cst Of all the South
ern people to do the same thing BuI
you say that even admitting ID would
be better for them to do SO, yet, as /, il
notorious they will not, that | ought tc
surrender my individual convictions tc
tue will Of the majority. l don't ihiuli
so. 1t is better Tor sumo to 60 right
than for al. to gowrong. IT. think they
are going wrong l could do no good BY
going with them. If they iusis. on
breaking their nesks l don't intend |,
assist them, Besides, you say II Til.
den is elected he will be under til:
cOntOl Of tho COnfederates. ii that is 81
then you will have no need Of me
Blu: suppose Hayes is elected, with .
I solid South against him-What are 20.
going to DE-. then7 You do not sct
now, but you will sec then the force o
my logic! 1t was for thsse reasOu,
that four years ago urged tho South
Urn people shatif they really desired
peace aud reconciliation to buy thOil
passions and rescntmeuts aud support
the maa who was not only the repre-
sentation Of an overwhelming mnjorit,
Of the North, but was the most power
full, as hC had been the most generous
OF our foes. | hive seen no canSe n