New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-22
TME HON. O. A. r. NICHOLsON On
RECONSTRUCTION.
To ths Editor Of The N. Y. 1ribunG

eaptiop--' FURTHER STRIFE-CAN IT NOT DE AvoiDEDr
~ irst mprs ,sion was that ought to decline to com
ply with his request tho ground that have no po
tical status myselfbeonging to one OF the classes
excepted the benefits Of Amnesty in the late froc
la-nation OF President Johnson. / SO wrote 10 my
friend On further reflection 1t has occurred TO NE
that BY possibility my views might be productive
some good-and, if that wond not DO Jnshned III
Withholding thom account Of my Individual ponts"'
disabilities iaay benefit others though cannon oe
benefited myself have therefore concluded 10 state,
directly to Yourself tho impressions mlde on my nina
by the article referred to- and leave the disposition 10
be made of nv letter 20 yonr discretion.
Ieompre hend your editorial Alright, you deem II
malta, ~ vital importance that tho colorei men Of the
South. WHO have succeeded to their freedom ~ 'ne
failure OF the late attempted revolution should be al
,ted to the enjoyment Of the elective .ranchisei but
that Won prefer TO see end attained by the voluntary
action Of the late of these "o1red men, rather
than by the rerposition OF executive or military OF
congressional action. do not understand you as dchy'
Ing the Constitutional right Of the Fedora Government
20 irterpose in this matter but as maintaining that
woad be prudent to abstain from such interpos
ton and rely the efficacy of moral slaiion IN secur'
ng the enfranchscment Of the colored man. Inc pru'
Dental considerations ugcd by You against the policy
OF forcblc or Congressional Acknowledgement seem ~
nc TO be nnanswerably strong. Iyou conld succeed III
crushing out the Split Of "nterneddlHg when man
Tested Itself In the late Boston meeting yon VIII have
laid solid foundation for The restoration OF those IRA
trnal relations VIII ch essential % tho piosper! OF
the Union II folly to hope for genuine peace SO long
NJ this pragmatcsl disposition prevails in tho North
At the South fear that Boston or Puritan prasmaH
ealne,s IL an ncuabe diseases but 4; the great power
.tfr..F nc IA ms
il, We should still cherish hopes for the future. Csndor
cor,pos me to add that yol de,ract much ron yonr
capacity for good when you fall into that tram Of
thought which that While slavry existed tie
"iafgs,ry o. IA South reesssary rested on an arch com
rossa Of The eorhii, The rero!rer, and ne 6!oodhoHrd
Tho only union worth preservng-the union Of hearts
a. well Of n rcsiscan never bcrestored by ls'ump
lions which ninety nine ont Of every hundred m'n IN
The South feel to be gross misrepresentation.
Ias1ne that there IS now no higher standard OF pa
trio,ism than that which lays it down AS TIC duty oil
every mGn public ami private. To ezeyi alt ismiuenoe
toward hArmon'zin the lis'en"ios and notifying the
rrt,ohs aud e1asperaions which stand in tie way OF
n, ulon % tho States II ought 20 be borpe IA mind
that the southern people are not yet returned to that
equilibrium Of mind, which wond enable them 10 Wit
ness with Indifference or composue, such nenfesta-
trI OF lhtflUfAtlG laAA VI b"' hit'
or must say as that in which you ros,e ihe oil mis-
representation a. 10 oowhidcs. revolver aud blood
lolnd.." The South has surrendered to the over.
whemlng power u tho North. You must know That
defeat IS not produced that amabe temper OF inind
which iuclines ,hc Southern man submit unresiingly
TO new sgrosions or old calum les. II seems 10 Inc
that . m,guaninous victor wouil take pleasure in
soo,hing the acerated feelings Of hi, fowioe or at
lest that he would avoid all needless causes OF fresh
irritation
know tha, the people OF tho North have tho power
10 enfranchiso tho colored believe the solid
men" 81 Boston have the power to require this to be
done hy the Military and by Congress The same power
that struck the shackles from the slave can arm him with
the ballot OF course. do not speak VI Constitutional
power but oftNat physical power which rests on over
yheining numbers and neYhsus.ibe resources, and
also Of that moral power which the solid men OF hos
ton" exercise the Government at Washington
That the colored will be either enrnnchsci or er
terminated have no sort Of doubt; /: is simply q
qreition Of time The end may b. accomplished with
out delay By rcsorng 70 fOrcc-by marshaing the
armies ~ lin and enforcing the demand. But this. be
eide other probable caamties necessarily involves
the Illustration Of the Federal Constitution ard tho de-
ftucton rights Of tho States to control the elect
i've franchise
These ought 30 be weighty objections 10 that pollcy
but aa no, sure that you would sympaihlze with me
In that sentimental least appreh,nd that yon would
not refuse to sanction the policy o. enfranchifng the
colorel man the bsyonets poilt by Presidential
ukasc or Congressional act" II you lid OF indulge the
hope that the end cond be attained by the youn
tary action Of Southern men.
II the people Of the North could be persuaded TO eIer
else some degree Of patience md to leave the people Of
I tha m breafh hing. SMELL believe the
elective franchise would be extended TO the colorc man
quite rs extensively il has been done In some OF the
Northern States. do not know that the Southern
PEOPLE absolutely claim the right to decide who shall
and who shall vote. Before the war; they certainly
did claim the right and based the claim upon Consti.
tutionnl authority But they in sort OF tran
siton stats-they have been defeated in their darling
object Of independence, and dependent upon the
victorious North for such rights may be conceded ~
them Whether they to be allowed Of the atri
butes Of sovereign States be treated dependent
provinces or territories they waiting anIousy 10
fad out II they TO occupy their old relation OF
States 10 the Federal Union they!wou naturally claim
the right Of fixing and regulating the elective fran.
chse-sor without this right they could not DO regarded
ns States OF course 60 not undertake TO predict
thorfavey the extent to which the elective franchise
would be granted to the colored otizenssomo States
woud be liberal and others restrictive in their policy
but al would be governed by that policy which should
be deemed most conducive to the general happiness
and all would. no doubt extend the right OF voting,
more or less, to colored freemen.
You must not forget however that the Northern
people are somewhat premature in pressing this ques
tioH Of Negro suffrage-I mean, in pressing "the
ruling caste at the South" to indicate oir willingness
! On nj. Iisat ha I,