Whitelaw Reid: “What Duty requires us to take, an enlightened regard for our own interests will require us to hold.”

Public sentiment was against the sale of lands to the Yankees; “Get white laborers,” they urged, “and in a year you’ll make enough to be able to hold on to your lands.

Suppose it to be merely a war in defense of our own just rights and interests.

Isn’t it better to have the laws in some way take the matter out of their hands and make them work?

In November nothing could exceed the hatred which seemed everywhere felt to the freedmen.