The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-08-19
THE CAMPAIGN.
THE VIEWS OF AN EX. CONFEDERATE.
LETTER FROM COLONEL MoSBY-wHY II
SUPPORTS HAYES AND WHEELER.


SUPPORTS HAYES AND WHEELER.
The following letter has been written by
Colonel Mosby to a former Confederate
comrade, in reply to one urging him to
support Tilden:
WARRENToN, VA, August G, 1876.
M Dear Sri have just received your
communication inquiring if it be true, as
reported, that l am supporting Hayes and
Wheeler. 1t is true that | am cordial
and earnest advocate of the election of that
ticket, notwithstanding you say that all
the Southern people and especially the
Confederate soldiers are united in support
of the Democratic. | hope, however, that
in this you are mistaken, and that many
men in the South of sound conservative
and national sentiments will be found on
the other side; however this may be, it will
not divert me from my purpose. thought
you knew that I ceased to be Confederate
soldier about eleven years ago, and became
citizen of the United States. AS SOL
der | did conScientiOusly what | thought
was by duty; as citizen l shall do the
same thing as far as | know how. The
ground on which you urge me to support
Tilden and Hendricks is that they are the
candidates of the Southern people, and if
elected, will be under their control. Now,
it is because this thing is apparent that the
election Of Tilden is an impossibility. In
attempting to grasp too much the South
will lose everything. The sectional unity
of the Southern people has been the gov
far from its being remedy for anything,
it has been the cause of most of the evils
they have suffered. So long as it continues
the war will be a controlling element of
politics, for any cry in the South that unites
the ConfederateS re-echOeS through the
North and rekindles the war fires there.
Thus, every Presidential canvass becomes
a battle between the two sections, and the
South being the weaker must be the losing
party. To insist on keeping up this sec
tional fight may be very heroio-so was the
charge at Balaklava-but, in my opinion,
is just as reckless and just as unwise.-
The reconstruction measures necessarily
divided parties in the South on a color line,
for the issue they presented was the politi-
cal equality of the races. While the South
was opposing it the Republican party was
on the side of the negro. But since the
South has accepted it and incorporated it
in the platform on which it has mounted
its candidate | see no reason for continuing
to divide on an issue when mas become
extinct. Having adopted all the principles
OF party, ana sanctioned al its measures
L can see no oOJectioh 10 voting ior us can
diuaIe' 10 you ho' SEE 'nen, 'h'I 40 ions
as we keep up the llgnI Oh Ihe olo INES
Win the same aiiies anu 'he SAINT oa't'e
cries. !ne Noith WIZ NC Susproious Vi oui
good 1aitl, no matter IN "haC form we pro-
test II? All that the hePuollcahs propose
is to preserve what they have accomplished;
the Democrats are pledged not to disturb
what the Republicans have done. lou
cannot complain that the sincerity of the
pledges Of Governor Illden to execute GER
tain laws is dlstrusted when ms supporters
justify their opposition to Governor Hayes
on the ground that his party has enacted
these laws. 10 be consistent they should
go for repeating them if they come into
power. concur with you IN desire Tor
a change IN the policy OF the National Gov
eminent toward the South, but that can
only come from change IN the attitude
OF the southern people toward the admin
lstratlon. on say that no one IN the
South is supporting hayes out negroes ana
carpet-baggerS. l would be sorry TO tnlnK
this were so, but II 1t were L should still
vote for the candidate OF my cholce, and
would not let this class deprive me OF 1t,
| suppose they support Hayes because they
think it is to their interest to do so. |
think it would be equally to the interest of
all the Southern people to do the same
thing. But you say that even admitting 1t
would be better for them to do so, yet, as
it is notorious they will not, that ought
to surrender my individual convictions to
the will of the majority. l don't think SO.
1t is better Tor some TO go riSht imam lor
all 10 90 wrong. II thihS Iney are gong
wrong couiu oo ~ soou ny Soius WIN
the,l'. ,nes ins,S. on oiea .S 'n 6i
neIks uon iu n - T:,a ass''! 'n nIn. ,
SUES . Wv Soy w.. .n"' ,an1 60 ~ Go"raaa no
WIN oo unuo. .ne WV .a' VI Ine .'|,
aceS' II .naI 10 81 'lIn you nav. ~ no &c,
Vi mt; put suppose hayes 10 eieoteu' Win
soliu oou.n 's"ins1 "n"' "io you
going 10 40 Iien lou oo hot SEE now
Gut you VIII theh see 'he iorce vi my logic.
1t was Tor these reasons that ionr years ago
urged the southern people tilaI IL they
rea'iy oes'reo peace anu iecohc'i'at.on' 10
bury their passions ana resehthehtS ana
support the MAJ. VINO was hot oiiy 'he
representation oi an overwhelming liiaJol-
Ivy Vi Tue Noitn' ou. was .ne lli"sI po"ei
iui' as lie hau oeeh the 'i'ost generous u
our Toes. nave seeii ho cause " change
my opinions or 10 regret my course. Many
thlnss nave since occurred Wnlcn no one
depiores more .han 40 Dut you eau
never say dld IL. Inc responsibility Is
with those who adopted the fatal policy,
Anything to beat Grant. In the con-
illct they invited Grant to beat them
Having predicted all sorts OF evils to result
from the election of Grant they have done
all in their power to make their predictions