Year: 1868

GENERAL Full of solicitude for the Fl


ture of our country, | come with my hea


in my hand to learn the condition, wisht


and intentions of the people of the Soutl


ern States, and especially to ascertain I'll


sentiments of that brave, energetic and Sc


sacrificing class Of men, who, after sustain


ing the Contederacy for four years, lai


down thnir arms and swore allegiance I


the Government Of the United S'ates


whose trusted and beloved leader you hav


been. | see that Interpreting State right


to conflict with National unity has produc


ed violent reaction against them, which


drifting toward consolidation; and ais


that so great country as ours, even now


is certain to be, must have State Govern


ments to attend to details, or go fufthe
and fare worse.


1t is plain to us at the West and Nortl
| that the continuance Of semi-anarchy, sucl
as has existed for the last three years il
ten States of our Union, largely increase
the danger of cen,ralizatlon;' swells our Ma
tional expenditures; diminishes our produc
| tIODs and our revenue; inspires doubts o
our political and financial stability; deprc
ciates the value Of our National bonds anC
currency, aud places the credit of the rich
est below that of the poorest nation ii
Christendom. We know that our currency
must be deprecated so long as our bonds
are below par, and that, therefore, the vast
business and commerce Of our country mus
suffer the terrible evil Of fuctuating stan.
darJ of value until we can remedy the evi
condition of things at the South. We also
see other mischief quite possible, if not
probablr, to arise; such as from failure Of
crops, local instruction, and many other
unforeseen contingencies, which may still
more depreciate our credit and currency,
provoke discomfort and disorder smong our
people, ard bring cemagogical agitation,
revolution, repndjation, and thousand un-
named evils and viliaiuics on us. We know
that the interests Of the people of the
South arc for law and order, and they must
share our fate Of good or evil,


L believe that every one know who re-
fleets, believes that if the people of the
Southern States could be at peace, and their
energy and good will heartily applied to re-
pair the wastes OF war, reorgatiaing their
business, set the freedmen peacefully, prose
perously and contentcdy at work; invite
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 id our Political stability
bring our Government bonds 60 premium
our currency to gold standard, and assure
for themse!v es and the whole nation, most
happy and prosperous future.


Seeing this aud how all just interests con-
cur in the work. ask the officers and sol
diers who fought for the Union, ask every
thinking man OF the great West and North
why it can not be done? We are told by
those who have controlled the Government
for the last four years that the people of
the South will not do it; that ii ever done
at all, it must be done by the poor, simple,
uneducated, landless freedmen. and the
few whites who, against the plblic senti>
mcht Of the intelligent white people, are
willing to attempt L. lead, and make their
living off of these ignorant, inexperienced
culorcd pcope-riostl men who must be
needy adventurers, or without any of those
dance 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 peo-
pie give into it or move out Of the country.


Now, | think tie Union army thinks,
and the people of the North and West, |
dare say, believe there must be, or there
ought to be shorter, stirer way to get
good government for all at the South We
know that they who organized and sustain
ed the Southern Confederacy for four years
against gigantic efforts, ought to be able to
give, peace, law, order and protection to the
whole people of the South. They have
the interest and the power TO employ, pro-
tect, educate and elevate the poor freedmen
and restore themselves and our country to
all the blessings OF WI irich have just spoken


The question we want answered is, Are
they willing to DO it?' | came down to
find what the people Of the South hink of
this. and to ask YOU what the officers and
soldiers who served in the Confederate
armv, and the leading people who sanction
ed it, think Of these things? came to ask
more. want to ask you, in whose purity
and patriotism | here express unqualified
confidence. and as many other GOOD men as
YOU can conveniently consult, to say what
YOU think of it, and also what you are will
ing to do about il! | want written .ex-
preston of views that can be followed by a
concurrence of action. / want to know if
you and the gentlemen who will join you in
that expression, are willing to pledge the
people of the South to a chivalrous and
magnanimous devotion to restoring peace
and prosperity to our common county
want to carry that pledge high above the
level Of party politics, to the late officers
and soldiers OF the union army and the
people OF the North ana Wes,, ana to ask
tnem 10 cQNSlueI IL, ana 10 TAKE tue neCeS-