The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1876-08-19
Hon. WILLIAM A. WHEELER,
OF NEW YORK.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
The Mos0y and Rhett Letters.


Two important letters upon the political situa-
ton from prominent Southerners and well known
ex-Confederate officers, one from Col. John s.
Mosby, Of Virginia, the other from R. Barnwell
Rhett, Jr., of South Carolina, have recently ap-
peared in leading journals, and from their pecu.
liar interest are likely to obtain very wide cir
culation. Col. Mosby warmly espouses the cause
of Hayes and Wheeler, earnestly declaring his
purpose to support them and the Republican
party. He presents his views at considerable
length, forcibly showing good. practical COM
mon sense and a just appreciation of affairs. BE
addresses himself more especially to people of the
South contending that their best interests lie in
continued rule of the Republican party with
Hayes and Wheeler at its head. Col. Mosby's
letter is reply to Southern friend, comrade
in the Confederate army, who urged upon him
to vote for Tilden and Hendricks. The friend
had heard that COL NJ. intended to support Hayes,
and asked of him if the report was true, being
much surprised, as Tin his belief all the Southern
States, and especially the Confederate soldiers,
are united in support of Democracy" Col. Mos
by says she ceased to be Confederate soldier
about eleven years ago and become citizen of
the United States" As soldier he did con-
scientiously what he thought was his duty, and
''as citizen shall do the same thing as far as
know how" "The grounds on which yeu
urge me, he says in reply, ito support Tilden
and Hendricks, is that they are candidates of thu
L. L.
their control" ''Now," remarks Mosby, sit is
because this thing is apparent that the election Of
TIlden is an impossibilly. Inattempting to grasp
too much the South will lose everything. The
sectional unity of the Southern people has been
the governing idea and bane of their politics.
So far from it being a remedy for anything it has
been the cause Of most Of the evils they have sui-
fered. 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-echos
through the North and re-kindles the war-ires
there. Thus every Presidential canvass becomes
q battle between the two sections, and the South
being the weaker must lie the losing party. To
insist on keeping up this sectional fight may be
very heroic-so was the charge at Balaklava-
but in my opinion it is just as reckless and just
as unwise."
We might go on and make other quotations
from this very able letter in which the author
forcibly argues reconstruction and other measures
necessary to place harmony and prosperity SO
plainly that he who runs can read and be con-
WINGED that the time has not yet come to entrust
the management and destinies of our Republic to
party chiefly composed of these who few years
ago fought to destroy it.
The letter written by Mr.. Rhett in advocacy of
Tilden and Democracy, is of an entirely opposite
unreenting and impractical character. 1t advo-
Gates precisely what Col. Mosby has so clearly
shown to be wrong, dealing in bitter, harsh cpl
thets, as if every Republican and every Northern
man was a carpet-bagger or low scalawag A
better campaign document in aid Of Hayes,
Wheeler and Repubicanism could scarcely be
had. 1t is thoroughly calculated to kill the very
cause IL advocates