Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-10-14

WIN SEhN lIE RETURN THE DESIRE OF
THE SOUTH TO-DAY.
The following letter, written by Gov.
ernor Wilt, of Louisiana, to a gentle.
man in Illinois, has been handed for
publication to the World. In connection
with an interview, printed below, with
Senator. elect Randall Gibson, of Louis
lana, now in this city, it may be taken
as the voice of Louisiana in regard to
the bugaboo of the rebel claims, as we'll
as sundry other matters of great imme.
diate public interest:
STATE or LOUISIANA, EXECUTIVE De-
PARTMEST, New ORLEANS,
December 2l, 1850.
Wm. Tan Norris, SayJrook, Mclean County,
Illinois.
SIR: / have received and carefully
considered your letter of September II
and the inclosed extract from printed
interview with "Judge Southworth. :"
originally from the Chicago Inter. Ocean.
The words put into the mouth of the
Judge are untrue from beginning to end
in every particular-so absurdly false
that cannot see what good they can
do to the Republicans in Illinois or
elsewhere. Yet. from personal observa.
tion during late prolonged tour in
the West and Northwest, | am more
than ever convinced that, on the part
OF many, deep and bitter prejudices
are cherished against the people of our
Southern States which time alone can
cure. They may survive for a score of
years longer among the bigoted and
ignorant, although generous and intel.
ltnont Nnrthar., .NaAnIa
OF sentiments so unworthy of them as
citizens of q common country who
should be at peace in fact as we'll as in
name. | must say here that people
who will believe one.half of what
Judge Southworth is represented as
having said are so grossly benighted
that no denial, no facts, no argument
can change their notions. All the cur.
rent charges made against Southern
white men by Republican speakers and
writers are for the ignorant classes only.
These charges are easily made and for
the past dozen years Republican speak.
ers and writers have shown great inyen.
tion in framing them and remarkable
perseverance in urging them. Rest
assured, sir. that the supply will always
he equal to the demand, and that there
will not be lacking manufacturers to
furnish or political hawkers to peddle
out their ISLANDERS against the Southern
people so long as they are known to
influence ignorant voters. These reck.
less and grossly untruthful charges
against us, although a thousand times
proved false, will be ten thousand times
repeated throughout the Northern
States until the day of the election.
While willing to aid in dspelling
practical benefit from any denials we
may make against political defamation
but as an evidence that appreciate the
spirit which prompts intelligent North.
ern men like yourself to defend us.
will briefly comment on some of the
more common accusations.
FEst-The Southern people have nev.
er at any time asked for the payment
of their debts, or of any portion of
them, by the Federal Government.
Each Southern State has now a Demo.
cratic Legislature, and most OF them
have had Democratic legislatures for
several years, but no resolution has
been adopted or proposed in any South.
ern Legislature asking from Congress
remuneration for property destroyed by
war or for slaves emanoipated. No
Southern journal has set up any such
claim. For some years have been in
immediate intercourse with thousands
of my fellow.citizens of this and other
Southern States, but | am yet to hear
the first man, old or young, urge this
doctrine or express the hope that such
debts viii! be paid by Congress at any
future time. Nor do they murmur at
bearing their share of the Federal debt,
the interest of which, to large extent,
Is paid out of revenues based upon
Southern exports. They desire peace.
full, constitutional and economical ad.
ministration, and this they hope soon
to have; but they seek no bounty from
the Federal Treasury and they will
shrink from no burden which such a
Government may impose.
AS for Louisiana it was much damag.
ed by the war, but our State was damae.
ed quite rs much by misrule under the
carpet. t.baggers-to the extent of more
than s200,000,000. Under pacific ad.
ministration of the Federal Govern.
ment and honest and efficient home
government our people hope to repair
the injuries suffered from intruders
after the war; but be assured that they
will not seek this reparation from Con.
gress.
Second--It Is charged that Southern
voters are kept from tho polls BY
violence. In December, 1879. an cleo
tion was held in Louisiana for State
officers, members of the Legislature.