Year: 1875

To the People of the Southern States

 You have confided to the under signed in this juncture of affairs the delicate and difficult task of guarding in the federal congress your public interest, your rights and your reputation. You will, therefore, pardon the liberty we take by addressing you at peri od so critical, upon q matter affec- ting your destiny and that of your posterity. You can not have fail ed to observe the persistent eff forts of some of the leaders of the republican party to revive the an imosities of the late war, which happily are fast giving place to a spirit ofconcord and unity ill ev- cry section of our common coun- try. It is impossible to predict certainly the effect of these ap- peals to passion. We believe that through the honest representa- tions of few upright and con scientious federal officers and agents, and the independent and able public press, and of many citizens without regard to party, the true condition of the southern states and the real sentiment of the southern people are being gradually made known to our fel- low citizens of the north. We hope for their favorable decision when appraised of all the facts. The great ends of good govern ment will be reached when the people of all sections forget that we have ever been enemies, and come together again as in the ear ly days ofthc republic, emulating each other only in devotion to the best interests of the whole coun- try.

 With this exalted purpose in view, there is nothing inconsist- ent with the honor and manhood of a brave people to resolve to suffer with heroic patience, what ever be their provoctions and wrongs, looking through the fear ful present to hopeful future, and repelling unjust epithets and gratuitous insults with dignified moderation. Let every white man in every neighborhood in the whole south regard himself as a commissioner of the peace, main taining the kindliest relations to- ward the black man, remembering that the responsibility for the ex- treme poverty to which we have been reduced and the corrupt governments lis votes has sub- iected us to, rests not so much up on him as upon the bad men who, with the assurance of federal sup port, have, by appeals to his worst passions, sought to make him our enemy. While we labor by all honest means to convince him of the truth that our interests and his are identical, and that both must be prcserveda aby good government, and that those who stir up strife between us are enc mics of both races, let us at the same time, see that he is fully pro tected in his guaranteed rights to vote as he pleases in all elections Let us continue to deal with hlm honestly and fairly, and let Us  continue cordially to invite to our midst those of any political party who either seek to know the truth, or find homes upon our soil.

 We do not exaggerate when we admonish you of the dishearten- ing fact that every street disturb ance, every homicide of whatever character, by whomsoever com

 mitted, by black or white, republi

 can or democrat, such as are mel dent to every community upon th'

 earth, is perverted into evidence

 of spirit of lawlessness and ylo

 lence, and a purpose to accom- pllsh political ends. We wei

 know the gross injustice of sucl charges which have weight wher : ignorance ofour true condition pre- vails. Strenuous efforts are nov being made by those who misrep

 resent you to induce the passag . ........ ,f ,,,grn Janonpnn