, 1866-09-25
HENRY WARD BEECuER.

:, = - ---------
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
Important Letter from Rcv. Edward
Bcechcr. d. D.. to UlA Hrothcrs
GA1xsBuno, Ill, September 81, 1855.
Rev. II. ". Beeehc1:
MY DEAR BROTHER am gri0ved to be
Obliged to address you in this public manner
on your views Of the great question Of re-
construction now before the American pco-
pic, an moved to do 1t, by the great In
tercsta Involved, aud as IL seems to nc, cn-
dangcrcd, by your influence, as flr as that |
influence extends.
You insist mainly on an immediate restor-
alton of the rcvoltcd States to the Union Us |
essential even to the welfare of the freed
men: you say In effect, let them be restored,
tranquilllzcd, p1ospcrcd and chcercd by
SUCCESS In business aud commercial enter l
prise, and 1t will MI rebound to the freed.
mans benefit, as truly as to that Of the State
and the nation.
Your whole letter implies this false as-
sumption, TINT there ufc some who are not
In favor Of speedily restoring the seeded
States. It Is an argument against such.
You try to prove that In our system there Is
''no place for State but In the Union,' aud
TINT "tlc Fcdcrnl Government Is unfit to
exercise minor, pu1ice and local government"
and that 1t Is vain to attempt 10 govern dis
organized and dlsordercd States by M army.
1t is indeed true that there arc millions Of
loyal men who nrc opposed to restoration
OF certain kind Of States, with certain
powers, either immediately or Ut any future
time. And they oppose 1t because 1t will
neither tranquillize society, nor, benefit the
freedmen, but will tend to disorganizc the
nation, enalavc the freedmen and plunge
us into mother civil war.
But II Is not true that even the most 1adl-
cal Republicans are opposed to the immcdl'
ate restoration Of true republican States,
whose spirit and principles are those, not OF
that spurious Democracy that dlshonors the
name, but of true Christian Democracy,
bascd on the law Of benerolcnce aud Justice,
In wlltcl. all men are equal In rights and
franchises before all embracing, all Gu
nnblIng, all protecting law.
But there arc States TO the restoration Of
which nil true Republicans arc intlcxibly OPP
posed. They arc opposed to tho restoration
Of white arlstocracics, organized by usurpcd
Presidential Tower, made up Of those once
prominent III the rebellion, rcstored to polit-
ico, II6c and mower hv prcstdcnt5n1 narf,on
for the occnsIon and Invested as a reward
or their rebellion. with tvo.fold or three.
fo1d no1,tfcal noTer above that of common
loyn, men and able and WILLING, and In
tcn1,n,r. hy State 1eris1atjon nm ware, con.
ttacts' yarraucy. and testimony In courts Of
law. n remand the freedmen 10 n worse
1,ondare than TINT from which they have
been delivered.
They are opposet. to surrenderfor Into the
,,ower OF such States. those of the white
population who. exposed 10 peril and death.
remained loyal In the great conflict, to be
dIshonored, excluded from Office and iuflu-
cncc. hnnted down with odium, exilcd or
slain. They are opposed to the treachcrous
and dastartIly surrender of the loyal blacks
who nerl1led their lives in the war for the
national life~to thc uncontrolled authority
or sncf olirarch1cs. 10 he str;nnea or Nc
,,ylt If heo7,nc arms rcdrcca a tho conl;.
t;on nr s1avcs n tbe commnn1tv ;r mt ~,
uo,t,e,,lar masters, cxnosc3 To ncrsccnt1on
and ,,1oo1x mass,crcs ond str;nucd -of IN
no1i,,co1 novcr ~ sc1r5ofsnce, II tbcra +
onvthino morc 3;svrcceful IN a creot not;on
1norc ;1rscrv,nr NJ fhc ,nd,rno,ion Of man
kind nn5 Of Laval cItizena and faithful dc
| flanders of tho Rcnnh1fc in ia honr n cvtrem
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