The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-07

Governor Andrews Letter % the Rad.
Teal Meeting at Bost0n-The Votes
Of the Southern Negroes Wanted-A
Frank Admission. a
At the radical meeting held on Wednes-
day in Faneuil Hall, Boston, addresses
were made and letters read from several
leading men of the party, on the question
arising relative to the reorganization Of
State Governments In the South. Speeches
were made, as already reported by tele-
graph, by Hon. Theophilus Parsons, Hon.
Richard 81. Dana, Jr., Henry Ward Beech
er, Senator Pemeroy, and George Z. Lor-
ing. Among the letters received was the
following from Governor Andrew:
& 10 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
as,l BosToN, June IS, 1865.
Ny DEAR SIR-I have received your note of
this date, inviting me to speak ut the meeting
to be held at noon on Wednesday next in Fam
euil Hall That is impossible LIST, because it
is too late to prepare anything appropriate for
an occasion SO important without neglecting
the ordinary duties which command me; I'd,
because 1t is not likely shall be able even to
am making ready to reach the cars, as am
at this moment can ] write more than this
brief apology.
It is not my belief that any one of the seced-
ing States the time has yet arrived when its
State government can be re-establiehed with
safety. Whether the white man only vote or
whether the colored man also votes, ! regard
the movement at the present moment with in.
expreesble concern. It has taken Us four
years to conquer the rebels in all of them. /
would not run the risk-gr@t or small-of al.
lowing the same class of men to beat MS by an
appeal to fraud. They appealed to force and
were. conqured. Let rs hold on to the power
we now have to do right, to protect the loyal,
to rebuild the State, to re-establish society. to
secure the liberty Of the people and the safety
of the Union. Let it be used with parental
kindness and in the temper of Cancellation.
But hold on to the power, and, in the fear of
God let it be used. It was bought with the
blood of more than quarter of million of he.
roes and patriots, who have given up their
lives for their country. Let Us see to il, that
BY no error Of ours, such torrents Of human
the South needs time for concentration.
Therefore, think no reconstruction win be
successful now, and, therefore, as q radical be-
lever In the suffrage for all men Of competent
capacity, irrespective of color or national orig.
in, the less regret that colored men are not
now permitted to vote in the South. ! do not
believe their voting would prevent the failure
which seems most likely TO result from these
experiments, and we may be glad not to have
them involved in the catastrophe. They win
vote by and by. Their votes win be wanted
just a. their arms were wanted. All people
will yet see that poor and ignorant as they are,
they are on the right side, and that they can
be neither cheated or bullied into its betrayal
Or desertion. Meanwhile they will be gaining
in knowledge and in admitted capacity to ex-
ercise the political functions of citizenship. All
the North win by and by agree that the theore-
teal superiority Of the white masters which did
not prevent them from committing the NEST
monstrous Of all the blunders and crimes of
history, renders them In the eyes Of practical
statesmanship inferior material for good citi.
zens to their humble and unlearned freedmen.
I deeply deplore the necessity of raising
men II the South thus eariy had bou s that
the last vestige of heresy on that question
might be first eradicated from New England,
where 1t even now retains q foothod. had
hoped that the poor freedmen might have the
opportunity of o brief future, unprejudiced by
becoming Immediately the subject of political
controversy. For one, however, still hope
and believe that there need be no strife nor
temperate, philosophical, and statesmanlike
treatment Of grave questions has become easy,
because it is Of controlling and absolute ne.
cessity. We are to have an era of calm, wise,
and yet brave and hopeful counsels. The PEG.
pie cannot afford other. They must and win
resume control of public affairs-sometime
too much entrusted to accident And then the
prejudices of tradition and the caprices of pol
itics wiz be alike disregarded.
Allow me to add-that in the end, although
for the present it may seem otherwise to casual
observation, / do not expect to find the DELHI
crate judgement of the President who is an
able stateman and an honest patriot. differing
with that of Massachusetts herself In his re.
ply TO my own remarks, introducing to him a
large delegation Of gentlemen from Massachu-
sets, the President declared his intention to do
bis utmost to make the country permanently
free" The logic Of events Is irresistible Thus
far freedom has been constantly gaining, and
1t has held whatever it has gained. With pa
tient, hopeful and manly courage on our own
part the future is secure.
lam, faithfully and respectfully. yours.
H5 JOHN A. ANDREW.