" Nothin but the
certainty that I wood at last hev that Post Offis at the Corners kept me
from goin up. Singler 'tis wat slender ties hold us to earth!
The Secretaries wuz apinted, and then the committees--two on each from
the South and one from the North, wich wuz consiliatin. I wuz put on the
committee on credenshals, Randall, the Postmaster-General, bein the
Northern representative. We hed our hands full. There wuz a rush made on
us, so many claimin seats that we locked the doors for two hours to
decide what shood be the proper qualification for a place. Finally we
agreed to admit ez delegates,--
FROM THE NORTH--all Dimocrats who had bin arrested by Linkin's minyuns;
all officers who hed resined rather than to serve in a Ablishun war, and
all Republikins who cood show a commishun ez Postmaster and sich, and
(this wuz considered necessary to guard agin imposition) who wuz willin
to take his solemn oath that he wuz a steadfast bleever in everything A.
Johnson hed did sence Janooary, '66 (ceptin sum small items wich wuz
specified), and all he wuz doin, and all he mite do.
FROM THE SOUTH--all who cood show a officer's commission in the late
Confedrit army; all who had receeved a pardon from A. Johnson, and all
who hed lost their niggers in an unholy war, wich inclooded all present.
This decided upon, the work wuz done.
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