Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-09
THE QUESTION OF THE DAY.
A Letter from h Hon. Charles Sum.
e to the Editor of the New York
independent.
BosToN, October %

Boston, October %.
DEAR MI. EDITOR: l rejoice that the
Independent has placed itself firmly on the
sure ground of equal rights. 1t is natural
that a journal which has from the begin
ming so bravely and constantly opposed
slavery IN all its pretensiOns should now
insist that these pretentions shall be tram
pied out, so that nothing shall be left to
breed future trouble. This can be done
through the establishment of equal rights.
To my mind there never was a duty plain
er or more instructive. 1t is as plain as
the moral law, and it is as instructive as
self-defense. If the country fails to do
justice now, it will commit a crime, where
guilt and will strive for
mastery. On this head it is enough
to say that it is a debt We
W to u s~aviours and benefactors.
But here all the instincts of ~self-defense
harmonic with justice. For the sake of
the whole country, which suffers from
weakness in any part for the sake of the
states lately distracted by war, which
above all things need security and repose:
for the sake Of agriculture, which is neg
lected there; for the sake of commerce.,
which has fed; for the sake of national
credit, whose generous trust is exposed TO
Reputation and, finally, for the sake of
reconciliation, which can be complete only
when justice prevails, we must insist on
equal rights as the condition of the new
order of things. So long as this question
remains unsettled there can be no true
peace. Therefore we would saw to
the merchant who wishes to open
trade with this region to the capital
list who wishes to send his money there:
to the emigrant who wishes tofind a home
there; begin by assuring justice to all
men. This is the one essential condition
of prosperity, of credit, and of tranquility.
Without this, mercantile houses, banks. |
and emigration societies having ANYTHING
to do with this region must all fail, or at
least suffer in business and resources. To
Congress we must look as the guardian
under the Constitution of the national
1 do not doubt its full power
this whole subject; nor do 1 doubt its
1uty to see that every pretended govern
nent organized by recent rebels is treated
IS a present nullity. President johnson
poke well when in Tennessee he said that
in the work of reorganization, rebels
must take back seats, leaving place to
hose who have been truly loyal" There
5 the keynote Of a just policy, which l
rust Congress will adopt. 1t is difficult to
the mischief which has already
'nsued from the experiment which has
'een made. Looking at the positive loss
0 business and the productive industry
# the country, it is painful. Looking at
he distress which it has caused among
oval people by the revival of the rebel
pirit, it is heartrending. Looking at it
n any way, it is a terrible failure. It will
e for Congress to apply the remedy.
Geanwhile you have the thanks of good
for your loyalty to the cause and
our strenuous efforts in its behalf. Go
n, L entreat you; do not hesitate,
l am, dear sir, your humble fellow-la-
'orer, CHARLES SUMNER.