Year: 1865

patronage. Indeed do not at all ovcrstate
the case. have sought information on this
subject in all quarters where thought it was
possible to obtain it, aud the result OF my
inquiries is before you.


let me now bring to your notice one or
two additional views Of this matter which,
am sure, cannot fail Of their effect upon a
mind as BEAUTIFULLY constituted as know
yours to oe. The people Of the North are
not willing to trust US Of the South with the
exclusive control Of this affair, because they
believe, aud we cannot possibly convince
them TO the contrary, that. should they
permit us to become represented again in
the two Houses Of the Federal Congress,
before we shall have carried into operation
fully the arrangements which they have
heretofore stipulated in behalf Of the colored
race, we would aftcrward openly resist the
execution Oh the compact or AT least at.
tempt to eyade its provisions; and some
imprudcnt movements which have recently
occurred in the South have greatly tended,
fear, to aggravate this unfortunate feeling
of distrust. Moreover the people Of the
North are almost the exclusive holders Of
the bonds which represent the vast debt
which has grown out Of the prosecution of
the war, and they are apprehensive that If
tuC tAfIC'SC VI Tue elcctlNt IIancnlFe Is HiIl-
tied to the white population Of the South,
the whole voting power of our section may
be hereafter welded in favor of repudiating
that debt. We shall never be able to satisfy
them that this debt will be safe without the
counterpolse OF negro suffrage. The feelings
of the whole bondholding class ARE deeply ex-
cited on this subject, and nothing can give
them satisfaction but the formal adoption Of
/ . ha 4 I,l
Upon the whole, then. | must confess that
entirely agree with the enlightened and
conscientious editor of the New York
Tribune in holding that the true policy, for
the South as well as for the North. is
embraced in these words, which are evident
| ly bee rDiDg steIeotyped upon the whole
! liberal mind Of the country: Universal suff-
rage ard universal amnesty.


! The exercise of noble magnanimitv to-
ward the unfortunate South, such as Julius
Caesar, Marcus Aurelius. or a William
the Third Of England would not have been
ashamed to oWp. is now being advocated by
| many of the first intellocts ia the North.
and more sound aud manly reasoning, and
touching and elevated rhetoric, are being
expended in our behalf hy our new friends
there than any occasion has called forth ior
many years past. Let us, beserch you.
meet this general and unexpected display
in kind and becoming manner Let Us
cast aside as unworthy Of US end Of the
great interests which it is our business to
serve, all silly and affected f4stidiousness
all false prlde all .cheming and self'h dill


atOriness and embrace the present oppor


tunity of renstatng ourselves in the dearly


priced rights of American citizenship, and
in building up anew the strength and unity


and true honor of our beloved America. =


Our true friends and future allies in th'


North are those who are now pleading in ou


behalf for justice and for kindly and pol


itic forbearauce as to the past. IT we fai


not to be equrl to the demands OF the pres


ent critical exigency, we shall in few shor


years ut most find ourselves once more hap


py, and safe, and prosperous. For am no


among those who at all doubt the complete


success OF the new system Of labor now be


ing introduced in the South; nor do agre


with those who apprehend any great injnr.


Of any kind as likely to arise from the pro


posed extension Of the elective franchise L


both classes of our Southern population


alike. | donht not at all that with prope


Judgment, diligence and thrift, Southern


plantations will be as prosperous under tn


new system OF agricultural labor as the


ever were under the old enc and | am de
, cidedly of opinion that there will be as littl


of fraud and unfairness in our election


hereafter in the Southern States and upo


the whole as judicious and beneficial an ez


ercise of the right of suffrage, as there ha


ever heretofore been. Demagogueism an,


corruption will not be mere likely to obtai
dangerous ascendancy among us than


former days; and since it is fixed fact, thu
persons of African descent are hereafter
be free. it will be far better to make friend


and neighbors, and brethren Of them, tha
, to retain them in our midst as pariahs
helots. Our true interest is in assimilatin
eur whole Southern population in poli1c


rights, in settlement, in mental culture.
!, Just and affectionatc neighborShip, and
! true and loyal brotherhood. AT any rat
!, this experiment is proposed to us under CT
|, cunstances which do not permit US safely
|. decline its trial; and We shall be worse tn
madmen If we reject the opportunity TEL
, dered to us of at once escaping from II
! fearful domination of military power, sI
returning once more to the veneratcd rig|
4 trial by Jury, the regular administration
y Justice by civil tribunals, and all the aecu
toned arrangements known to a state OF r
z publican freedom.


. remain your friend and fellow citize
; Ii. S. FooTE.