Year: 1867




WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE
| April I'D, 1867.


GEN. 3. j. HILL:


Dear Sir: Since the close of the wa
we have observed the political contes
which has been going on in our State
with the deepest so!icitude; and, afto
careful analys of the conflict be
tween the parties struggling fSA the su
premacy, we have come to the conclu
sion that all the issues hinge upon
single central idea, and that it is tht
political status Of those who acted Will
us in the late war. The Radical party
purpose riveting upon us the chain OF
perpetual political slavery, while tho
Conservative patty is battling for oul
Constitutional freedom. We believe
that the result Of the present campaign,
viii be in all probability final deter
mination of our status. The Radical
party in Tennessee proposes for us q
political vassalagc far more onerous
than Radical Congress, representing
4 Radical North, proposes for oul
Southern brethren; if that party is sue
cesstul, in our view no hope is left US
Hitherto, for obvious reasons, W,
deemed it the preferable policy forthost
IN bonds like lls to remain silent spec
tators while the contest progressed
cut we are now convinced that the tinc
'as come when it is the bounden duty
Of every patriot to stand firmly by the
right and make war upon injustice up
til the :cur;cd thing is put away from
among the people.


The Ostracised class to which we be.
long has suffered all manner of villif.
alton and Misrepresentation at the
nands of the Radicals without al at
tempted vindication. This we have
done, trusting that are turning sense OF
justice would persuade them to aban-
don their warfare upon us, but our for
bearance, instead ofexciting their gen
erosity in our favor, seems only to have
increased the ferocity of their coward.
ly attack.


We are told by some who claim to
he our friends that We should still per-
sist in our inactivity, hut We arc Aspos
cd to question either the judgment
or patriotism fthose who 50 advise.
We have arrived at this conclusion for
the reason that the Radicals are EN-.
ploying every appliance to make enm.
ty between the white man and the black
man which in our judgment must cul
inmate in war of races. They are
seeking to bring about this result by Il
stud ed and persistent course Of mis-
representation of our class. The white
mar, and the black man of the South
must he friends or enemies, and We he.
lie re that the interest of both races de
nands that they should remain friends.
If the white man treats the black man
with injustice it is impossible for the
black man to be the friend of the white
man cnmity and its unhappy conse-
1uences must follow. We desire to
ave.t such result, and We are of the
opinion that it can he done only by
planting ourselves firmly and honestly
upon the platform Of equal civil and
political privileges to all men. Believ-
ing that our Country's good requires
it we have determined to bury the dead
issues ofthe past out Of sight, and il
we can exert any influence now, it shall
be given most heartily to the support
of the living issue which involves the
freedom and equality ofour down trod
den class with all other citizens of the
State. We feel, Sir, that this is a work
which is worthy Of the utmost exer
tions of every true patriot. Standin.
upon this platform we will enter tht
campaign triply armed having our quar-
rel just, and if we will do our duty sue
cess will crown our efforts. The blacl
man now holds the balance of power il
our State, and by misreprcscnting US
the Radicals hope to make him an aux
iliary in expressing us. The black MAJ
is credulous, and unless we 60 to him
and demonstrate his interest to hin
they will mislead him. Tho Radica
hates us and will continue our persist
ent enemy, but the black man las NJ
enmily toward us, and will stand by ou
common interest unless driven from i
by the fears excited by the dcsignin.
Radical. II we still take tue pains t,
satisfy the black man that we are hi
friends, he will be our friend, but th
Radical is exerting every appliance t.
e itrap and deceive him, and if We still
fold our hands while the Radical 10 a
| work We are lost. The black man wa
born and reared among our class, ant
knowing us WI, i, he will con6de in u
| if we invite and deserve his confidence
and therefore, though disfranchisel, v,
can WELD . tremendous power in th,
present contest. Our ali 10 at stake
and we must stand shoulder 70 shoul
der with un8ipching devotion, rsmem
bering that he who 10 not for US i
against US


We address this letter to you for th,
reason that your long and brilliant ser
vice in the late war has made your rec