Year: 1867




Since your publication Of my letter
many qncstisns have reached mo as to
tho prospects Of our political future and
our outcs at this crisis. NV former
letter was intended to meetall questions,
and was as much in detail as mere
soldier should venture, in field entirely
new to him. I have no inclination,
howovor, TO avoid duties or responsible.
Us, whatever may be the form in which
tAoy are presented.


But 10 attempt, at this time, gene.
raj discussion Of tho merits and demerits
of all matter that is thought to be mate.
rial to the subject, which absorbs our
interest, would require moro time and
labor than are at my disposal. Besides
such discussion would leave us Just
where our armies surrendered. must
ask, therefore, that those who arc in.
chned to consider my views will excuse
the "bluntncss Of soldier"


The surrender Of the Confederate ar
mics III 1865 involved


|. The surrender Of the claim to the
right Of secession.


2. The surrender Of the former DO
lltlcal relation Of tho negro.


3. The surrender Of the Southern
Conicdcracy.


These issues expired upon tho fields
last occupied by the Confederate armies.
There they should have been buried
The soldier prefers to have the sod that
receives him when he falls cover his
remains. The political questions of the
war should have been buried upon the
fields Chat marked their end. Our most
cherished objects Of this earth, blood OF
our blood, life Of our lie, ,rnot duly de-
posted as ordained by an All-wiso Prov.
ldcncc, become offensive. So must it be
with this dead matter. 1.-THE last func.
raj rights OF the Southern Confedcracv
have not been performed, let us, with
due solcmnty, proceed to tho discharge
of that painful duty, and let us deposit
IN the same grave the agony of our
grlcl, that we may tho better prepare
ourselves for return TO the duties of
this life.


1t may bowel to remark that our
efforts at reconstruction will be vain
Mn!ehs WI clnhnil: in The enterprise with
the sincerity OF purpose which will COM
mand success. Great deeds are not
accomplished by the cold support of
indifferent approval they must be built
Of "terner stuff" We must apply
ourselves with diligence, and with
united resolution, If we hope to lift the
darkness that threatens our future, and
secure comfortable issue from the
difficulties that surround us.


The Fabian policy seems to be the
one most in favor amongst us; familiar.
ly termed the system of "masterly in.
activity" This policy has achieved
a great notoriety from tho fact that a
great Roman general. (Fabius Maximns)
at the head Of well organized and
we'll disciplined army, by bis superior
strategy and tactics, delayed the pro.
gress Of the march Of the Carthagcnans,
and saved Rome. That we can assume
to be in a condition to employ "master-
ly inactivity" without the organization
Of a political party, or even tho organi.
2aton ola political club, is beyond my
understanding. We might better be
hkcned unto the bird that conceals its
head in the sand, and at once begins to
grieve at the danger to its pursuers, who
are now left alone in the vast des-
crt.


Before wc undertake to change the
course of impending dangers, we should
endeavor to remove all obstacles that
may be likely to impede our progress
in the work Of reconstruction. The
chefof these is tho opinion that pro-
walls, to somo extent amongst our peo
pie, that wo cannot do wrong, and that
Northerncrs cannot do right. T have
doubt but tho same feeling, with regard
to themselves, may be found amongst
the Northern people. Both sections
are laboring under misapprehensions
which they should strive TO corfect.-
Both are subject to the frailties of hu-
man nature, and each should extend
charity ifthcy expect it in return. Let
us, then, begin to dispel tho delusion,
and sec If we can establish our claim to
greatness.


1t is now too lato to 60 back to look
after cur rights under the law and the
Constitution. 1t is Of no practical i'm.
portance for us to know whether we
have been deprived orLhese rights by
lawful or unlawful process. We know
that they are gone, and that the only
available law is martial law, and the
only right power. The moro we seel,
for law, when there is no law, the great
cr will be our confusion. Law at bestls
q slow processby which to recover lost
possessions; to attempt to recover them
under doubtful laws and against power
is futile.


Some think that tho question of re.
sistance is admissible in deciding our
course ofaction. But this is grave
error, even if wo had the power to 70.
sist and reasonable hope of successful
resistance. For when people should
resort to tho violence of war they should
bc prepared TO show to tho world Just
cause of war. What cause can we claim
unless we say that wo did not know
what we were fighting for in the wal
just ended.
Onr dntu rocoluoa ,kealf ,,lo t,,1