The National tribune., 1884-03-27

discussing some OF the events which had cc-
currea during the war for the Union. an elderly
gentlemen. among Others who were present on
the veranda, gave them very marked atten-
tion H sat with his broad-hrimmed hat
on. smoking a long-stemmed pipe. His age
was perhans sixty years though be was still
active and vigorous. The doctor and the cap
tain knew froa his whole appearance that he
was well-so DO farmer and aLormer slave-State
man AT : favorable opportunity, when IL atd
not seem like intrusion. he said:
I" You two gent emen glt along mighIy
smooth ia vaur talk bein on opposite sides In
the wa. as J take il :,
..0h. me- replied Captain Adams, not rnwill-
ing 10 have some talk with the man; " we were
both on the same side. But he was a surgeon,
and attended the wounded of both sides alike,
and he's kind OF neutral he thinks both
sides were right tin their own honest opinion,)
and that the war had TO come. and now they
should kis and be friends"
Dunno bnt he's bout half right about the
matter said the man. :" My names Ihoms.
live hack here ten or twelve mile and was
bitter secesh. But gGess i didn't know {
all"
"were you in the serviceg" inquired the cap
tain.
We'll, no; but they put me in prison all
the same"
"who put you in prison?"
"Coloncl Cyarlin He gobbled up more'n a
hundred CT us and put US IL our own court
house. sir. under g'ysrd, in this very town"
"Nhy did Colonel Carlin do that :"
"He said we was disloil; an / ispose he
was right bout that. But he told US if we'd
give bond FOR our good behavior he would let
US GO ay
Some Of EN- did, but ] swo' I'd be cussed II
give any boad. ] reckon ] was fool laugh
ing). ] thought the whole Object of the wa
wur to free our niggers. an ] thought that
would be ruin-I say l thought 50. i know
better now kin hire niggers cheaper than
I can own EN-"
"Yes. ] suppose that is So" replied the cap
tain And then the doctor spoke:
Nou are an intelligent gentleman. Have
you not now learned that the North did not SO
TO war to Tree the negroes2"
Good many of 'em did" replied the old
man the abolitionists did"
Yes some Of theIn-net al. But / think
that large maioritv-a very large majority
Of all WHO volunteered in the war on the Union
side were not abolitionists. Most of them were
opposed 10 the slave system of organized society
and a large proportion were opposed TO slavery
itself, and anxious to sec it ah0lished-when j!
conid lie done legally and constitutionally
But believe that nine men out of every ten
who went into the Union army were al hrs
willing TO stand by the South as long as the
Sonth Eould stand by the Union"
~And lei eta have slavery" inquired tht
old man.
"And let asm have slavery-yes. But
slavery and no slavery could not continually
exist side by side peaceably."
Why didn't the North let Us 20 of to our
selves. tAonYH
Fer the very reason which led you 10 wisl
to 90 OF TO yourselves - self-interest. W.
couldn't spare you."
"Cussed If that amt honest. anyhow" re
sponded the farmer. But didn't your folk
ali turn abuiitionists befo the wa ended ?"
Al guess they did-nearly all II was
simple question Of victory or defeat. We hat
to abolish slavery or get whipped"
The farmer laughed heartily and assented L
this Then he asked the doctor IL he sHpposel
the North and the South would or could eve
again be good friends
Certainly they viii. They cannot help il
TIE people Of the South have ali the blessing
aud benefits Of onr free government that "
have. We al stand as equals We must be
come rec0nciIed IN tbs very nature Of thing:
1t is injustice and inequality after war whic
keep men enemies Here victors and the van
qDished fare alike, and there is no more e&us
for discOrd"
The old man was much moved He took I'll
doctors hand, and said Good night, strar
ger; baiieEe you are right ] can 20 TO see
On that. anyhow" And he went in and wer
10 bed, followed soon after by the doctor an
Captain Adams
ITO be continued