Year: 1868

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, |


w. VA, August, 1868.


GENERAL:-FulI of solicitude for
the future OF our country, I come
with my heart in my hand to learn
the condition, wishes and intentions
of the people of the Southern States,
and especially to ascertain the senti-
ments of that brave, energetic and
self sacrificing class of men, who, af-
four years, laid down their arms and
swore allegiance to the Government
of the United States, whose trusted
and beloved leader you have been. 1
see that interpreting State rights to
conflict with National unity has pro-
duced violent reaction against them,
which is drifting US toward consoli-
dation; and also that so great coun-
try as ours, even now, is certain to be,
must havo State Governments to at
tend to local details, or go further and
fare worse. ~ ...-.~g --.-.


1t is plain to us at the West and
North that the continuance of semi
anarchy, such as has existed for the
last three years in ten States of our
Union, largely increases the danger
of Capitalization swells our National
expenditures diminishes our produc-
tions and our revenue; inspires doubts
of our political and financial stabiIi-
ty; depreciates the value of our Ma
fiOOaI bpnHs on6 oT1rraDnyy .pd y,Ioooe
the credit of the richest below that Of
the poorest nation in Christendom.
We know that our currency must be
deprecated SO long as cur bonds are
below par, and that, therefore, the
vast busidess and commerce of our
country must suffer the terrible evil
of fiuctuating standard of value
until we can remedy the evil cOndi-
JiOn of things at the South. We also
see other mischief quite possible, if
not probable, 10 arise; such as from a
failure Of crops, q local insurrection,
and many other unforeseen contin-
gencies, which may still more derre-
| ciate our credit and currency, provoke
discomfort and disorder among our
people, and bring demagogical agita-
tion, revolution, repudiation, and a
| thousand unnamed evils and villain
les on us. We know that the interests
of the people Of the South are for law
and order, and they must share our
fate of good or evil.


believe that every one I know
who reflects, believes that if the peo-
pie of the Southern States could be at
peace, and their energy and good will
heartily applied to repair the wastes
of war, recognizing their business,
set the freedmen peacefully, prosper
ously and contentedly at work inYite
capital, enterprise and labor from
elsewhere, to come freely among
| them, they would soon rebuild their
ruined fortunes, multiply manifold
the value of their lands, establish
public confidence in our political
stability, bring our government bonds
to a premium, our currency to a gold
standard, and assure for themselves
and the whole nation a most happy
and prosperous future. -..


Seeing this and how all just inter
ests concur in the work, I ask the
officers and soldiers who fought for
the Union-ask every thinking man
of the great West and North-why it
cannot be done? We are told by
those who have controlled the Coy
eminent for the last four years that
the people of the South will not do it;
thatif ever done at all, it must be
done by the poor, simple, ,uneducated,
landIess freedmen and the few whites
who, against the public sentiment of
the intelligent white people, are will
ling to attempt 10 lead, and make
their living off of these ignorant, in
experienced colOred people-mOstly
men who must he needy adventures,
or without any of those attributes on
which reliance for good guidance for
or government can be placed. We
are told that this kind of government
must be continued at the South until
six or eight millions of intelligent,
energetic white people give into it or
move out of the country.


Now, I think the Union army
thinks, and the people, of the North
and West, [ dare say. believe there
must be, or there ought to be, shor-
ter,surer way to get good government
for all at the South. We know that
they who organized and sustained the
Southern Confederacy for four years,
against gigantic efforts, ought to be
able to give peace, law, order and pro-
lection to the whole people of the
South. They have the interest and
the power to employ, protect, educate
and elevate the poor freedmen and
restore themselves and our country
to all the blessings of which 1 have
just spoken. ...... ....


The question we want answered is,


care they willing to do IT? I came
down TO find what the people OF the
South think of this, and to ask you
what the officers and soldiers who
served in the Confederate army, and
the leading people who sanctioned it,
think of these things. L came to ask
more: l want to ask you, in whose
purity and patriotism | here express
unqualified confidence, and a many
other good men as you can convent
emily consult, to say what you think
of it, and also what you are willing
to do about it! want a written ex-
preston Of views that can be followed
byS concurrence of action, l want


to know if you and the gentlemen


who Will join you in that expression,
are willing 10 pledge the people OF


the South to a chiValrOus and mag
unanimous devotion to restoring peace


and prosperity to our common coun-
try. want to carry that pledge high


above the leytl Of party politics, to
the late officers and. soldiers of the