The National tribune., 1906-06-14

force of arms, drove out insolent in
truders and took possession of our own
forts and arsenals, to resist your claims
to dominion over masters, slaves and
Indians al of whom are to this day,
with a unanimity unexampled in the
history of the world, warning against
your attempts to become their masters.
You say that we tried to force Ken
lucky and Missouri into rebellion in
spite of themselves. The truth is, my
Government, from the beginning of this
struggle to this hour, has again and
again offered, before the whole world,
to leave it to the unbiased will of these
States, and all others, to determine for
themselves whether they will cast their
destiny with your Government or ours;
and your Government has resisted this
fundamental principle of free institu-
tions with the bayonet, and labors daily
by force and fraud, to fasten its hateful
tyranny upon the unfortunate freemen
of these States. You say we falsified
the vote Of Louisiana. The truth is,
Louisiana not only separated herself
from your Government by nearly a
unanimous vote of her people, but has
vindicated the act upon every battle
field from Gettysburg to the Sabine, and
has exhibited an heroic devotion to her
decision which challenges the admira-
ton and respect of every man capable
Of feeling sympathy for the oppressed
or admiration for heroic valor. You
say that we turned loose pirates to
plunder your unarmed ships. The truth
is, when you robbed us of our part of
the navy, we built and bought a few
vessels, hoisted the flag of our country,
and swept the seas in defiance of your
navy, around the whole circumference
of the globe. You say we have expelled
Union families by thousands. The truth
is, not a single family has been expelled
from the Confederate States that / am
aware of: but, on the contrary, the
moderation of our Government toward
traitors has been a fruitful theme of
denunciation by its enemies and we'll
meaning friends of our cause. You say
my Government. by acts of Congress-
has confiscated all debts due Northern
men for goods sold and delivered The
truth is, our Congress gave due and
ample time to your merchants and
traders to depart from our shores with
their ships, goods and effects, and only
sequestrated the property of our enc
mics in retaliation for their acts, de-
claring US traitors and confscating our
property wherever their power ex-
tended. either in their country or our
own. Such are your accusations. and
such are the facts known of all men To
be true.
ExflIng Population.
you order into exile the whole popu-
iatior Of a city; drive men, women and
children from their homes at the point
of the bavonet, under the plea that il
is 10 the interest of your Government
and on the claim that ii is an act of
kindness TO these families of Atlanta.
Butler only banished from New Or
leans the registered enemies of his Gov
ernment, and acknowledged that he did
II as a punishment. You issue sweep
ing edict, covering all the inhabitants of
a city, and add insult to the injury
heaped upon the defenseless by assum-
ing that you have done them a kind
ness. This you follow by the assertion
that you will make as much sacrifice
for the peace and honor of the South
as the best born Southcrncr' And be-
cause i characterize what you call a
kindness as being real cruelty you pre-
sumo TO sit in judgment between me
and my God: and sou decide that my
earnest prayer to the Almighty Father
TO save our women and children from
what you call kindness is a 'sacrilegious.
hypocritical appeal
You came into our country with
your army. avowedly for the purpose of
/ subjuga ting free white men, women and
children. and not only intend to rule
over them. but you make negroes your
allies, and desire to place over us an
| inferior race, which we have raised
/ from barbarism to its present position.
| which is the highest ever attained by
that race in any country in all time. !
must therefore decline to accept your
statements in reference to your kind
ness toward the people of Atlanta and
your willingness TO sacrifice everything
for the peace and honor OF the South
and refuse to be governed by your de-
cision In regard to matters between my
| self. my country and my God.
| "You saw. let us fight II out like
men To this my reply is-for myself
and j believe for all the true men, ave
and women end children I'm my coun-
try-we win fight you to the death, Bet
| ter die thousand deaths than submit
| to live under You or YOUR Government
and your negroe allies!