Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 13 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 13 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
“Do not let yourselves be deceived by the influences which
reach you. These influences are energetic, active, spare no
pains or expense to accomplish certain purposes. I know this
people well; I was born and reared with them; they are far more
hostile to the Government to-day than they were in 1860. Every
demonstration in the State since the surrender has been, in one
shape or another, that of hostility to the Union; and every new
concession they make is simply made with the hope of thereby
obtaining that degree of independence which follows, as they
understand and expect it, the resumption of the _status_ as
States again.
“The elections are just over. The Secessionists were united
to a man,--hopeful, active; the Union party disorganized,
discouraged, and dispersed among the Secessionists. President
Johnson and Governor Parsons are responsible for it. The
enemies of the Union have defeated us, horse, foot, and
dragoons, in all parts of the State. The stanch favorites of
our party are defeated everywhere.
…
“In a word, the friends of the Union are completely under; the
successful party are the Secessionists and renegade Unionists,
enemies of the Government. It is to the Union party of the
North that we are to-day indebted for being able to _live
here_.”
The person who is styled Provisional Governor of Alabama thus in a
late message alludes to Rebel trophies, and stirs the ashes of the
Rebellion:--
“Several of these had been deposited in the executive
department, and were not removed when the Capitol was
evacuated. They were not destroyed, however, by those who took
possession of it, but came to my hands as the representative of
the State for the time being, and are now carefully preserved
and ready to be delivered to the governor elected under the
Constitution. We should preserve these sacred souvenirs of
the courage and endurance of those who went forth to battle
under their folds, and who manfully upheld them with their
life-blood.”
With such a person in high office, we could expect little else than the
barbarism which rages there.
* * * * *
From Alabama pass to Mississippi, and there the same hideous scenes
are renewed. Here is the testimony of a citizen of that State, once a
slave-master, in a private letter:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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