Col. J. J. Dickison, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 11.2, Florida
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[141] States bordering on the Gulf coast—the conditions were aggravated. It was a contest for the preservation of civilization, and in the end the intelligent citizens regained control of the States, because they had leaders with wisdom and prudence and determination to take advantage of suitable opportunities such as from time to time aided them to restore good government. When, as the work of restoration progressed, these representative men were sent by their States and districts to Washington, there were many who declared that those who had once been in arms against the government could not be trusted to legislate for its maintenance, and that their admission to seats in the Senate and House, and to other high places, threatened the permanence of the Union. But this personal contact of senators and representatives who were on different sides during the civil war has been a potent influence in bringing the sections into closer and more friendly relations; and whatever fears may have been entertained of the effects of the return of the Southern lead-ers to place and power in the national government, they have long since been dissipated.