Year: 1867

US cultivate such steady attachment to the
Union that the expression of sentiment Of
its probable disruption under any circum-
stances would fall upon our "cars like the
sound of fire-bell at midnight"


have written more than intended. The
rainy day has cause me to be affected with
u cdcoethes seri6endE Before conclude
must ask, when will the people of the South
awake to their true condition, and fully To
alize the situation of affain9 The present
abnormal state of affairs is very detrimental
to our best interests As long ss it continues
--as long as treason, hanging, confscation,
and such things as frighten and hurt too, are
talked about, distrust will keep capital and
men from coming to us. Our LAND, which 10
nearly all we have left, cannot advance in
price. Will the people submit to and COM
ply with the requirements of the late act
for the more efficient government Of the
Rebel States ~ Will whipped people
never cease to twaddle about rights which
they could not get by ighting7 Have
men lost their reason, and has Judgment fed
to british beastsl" Will the people continue
to listen to the old secessionists who have
never guessed at the truth since Breckinridge
was defeated9 Shall such men and their
new allies be permitted still further to injure
us by their obstinacy, and to cause our lands
to be parcelled out to the negroes, as Mr..
Reverdy johnson says will be done if we do
not accept of the terms now offereda I am
glad to see little yielding now on the part
of some. 1t is evident that they do not ex-
actly know what is to be done with thelu.--
1t is natural, too, for some persons to sur
mise that Congress might do something more
in certain contingencies. For the first time,
think am beginning to peer through the
darkness and to see the end. Much, how.
ever, must depend upon the seleofions to Of
flee which President johnson may make. In
any event, Union men should be ready for
action at the proper time in view of peace
and a final settlement of all our troubles. It
has always been evident to me, and now Il
must be to all that nothing can be gained by
delay. 1t is useless for us to say what we
are in favor off, tor what We are opposed to-
Men sometimes must let policy alone govern
them. The Howard amendment has been
proposed and rejected. The same thing is
again presented. doubly rectifed, with great
deal more The scales will now surely fall
from the eyes of blinded men, Our para
mount duty is to 60 back by any open road
to the Union, where we were prosperous and
happy as long as we clung to it, and only
became poor and miserable when we for
sock it.


presume that about ten thousand men
are disqualified from holding Office, or vo-
ting according to Sherman's act. When and
how Congress will remove the disability az
to any know not. In certain cases, doubt
not that it will be done, and perhaps the
modus operandi will soon be made public.


In conclusion, however, feel entirely cer-
tain that a refusal for the present to remove
the disability from any fre-eater and hater
of Union men would be Tor the good of the
country. The doctrine of. pardon first and
repentance next is not to be found in the BIZ
ble 4gFg JOHN b. ODOM.


jackson, March 9Th, 1867. H.. a