The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-12

dissent. But this sudden CONSERVATION,
and this late discovery of the nature Of my
opinions, seem sufficiently surprising. |
could not ask q better service than the
rcprinting Of that sermon of October last
which first brought upon me the criticism
of the Tribune and the Independent.
/ foresaw that, in the probable con-
dition of parties and the country, we could
not carry suffrage for the freedmen by i'm
mediate political action. When the abiest
and most radical Congress OF our history
/ came together, they refused to give suffrage
to negroes even in the District OF Column
/ bia: and only in an indirect way-not as
political right, but as the hoped-for re-
sui, Of political selfshncss, did they pro-
vide for il by an amendment of the Con-
stitu,ion. What was prophecy with me,
Congress has made history. Rclinquishing
political Instruments for gaining the full
cnfranchiscment of men, l instantly
turned Ia moral means and enunciating
/ the broadest doctrine of manhood suffrage,
/ gave the widest latitude to that, advo-
eating the rights of black and white, of
| men and women, to the vote. If any man
has labored more openly, on broader
principle, and with more assiduity, do
not know him. More ability may have
been shown, but not more dircctncsS oil
purpose, nor undertaking consistency.
| attribute the recent MISUNDERSTANDING,
in part, to the greater excitement which
now exists, to the narrowing of the issues,
and TO the extreme cXacerbation which
Mr.. Johnson's extraordinary and injudi-
cious speeches have produced. To this
may be added my known indisposition to
Join in criticism upon the President, and
the fact that l urged modified form OF
that policy which he, unfortunately for its
success, holds.
{ Upon Mr.. Johnson's accession | was SUI
premcly impressed with the conviction
that tie ,ehoie problem Of reconstruction
,rOuld practicaNy pir0t or the harmony Of
.Nr. Johnson ant Congress. With that we
could have secured every guarantee and
every amendment of the Constitution.
Had Il united government said TO the
South, promptly backed up as it would
have been by the united North, VIII
Siarcty re mast take oat Of tie Constitution
,rhateca Slacay PIT IN, and PIT IN ~hotcrG'
>iacay, for is o,rn support, p"t 0m,' there
can scarcely be doubt that long before
this the question would have been settled,
the basis of representation in the south
conturmCd to that in the north, and the
principle, the most fundamental and i'm
! portant OF all, might have been established
in the Constitution, viz: that ma,hood and
.fm citizenship are ide"tjcol.
Such great changes required two things,
viz Promptncss aud UNITY OF CorNsELS.
To secure these / bent my whole strength.
| urged the purgation Of the Constitution.
! reasoned against mutual dStruSt, and
plead for unity Of governmental action. |
did all that knew how to do TO confirm
the President in his war-bcgottcn zeal
against slavery TO prevent such suspicious
and examinations as would tend to revive
in his mind old prcjudiccs, and bring on a
relapse into his former hatred OF northern
fanatics. thought understood his nature,
and the extreme dangers, at such IA critical
time, of irritating a proud, sensitive and
pugnacious man Of southern sympathies,
( little in sympathy with northern feelings
OF ideas, and brought into the very leader
ship of those men and that train of princi-
plies which he had all his life hated and de-
nounccd. That he was sincere and tena-
cous would make the case all the more
difficult. thought forcsaw that divi-
sion between him and Congress would be
the worst disaster that could befall us :;
that the praCticdt test of true statesman
ship just then was not to be found in theo-
ries or philosophers, however sound, but in
securing and confirming Mr.. Johnson III
his then dispositions.
Upon the assembling of Congress went
TO Washington. found southern men ly-
60 .G. Iylr nd
pealing TO his Observation-Disclosures (for he
is a man of kind and tender heart), disarm-
ing his war rage by utter submission.
/ found northern men already uttering
suspicious OF his fidelity, and, conscious OF
power, threatening impeachment. The
men who seemed alive to this danger were,
unfortunately, not those who had the ma
nagcmcnt Of affairs. Bad counscls pre-
vailed. The North denounced and the
South sued; We see the consequences.
Long after ] despaired of seeing the
President and Congress harmonious, felt
it to be the duty Of all good men to leave
no influences untricd to lessen the danger
and to diminish the evils which are sure
to come should the President, reboundiug
I from the Republicans, be caught by those
men who were in sympathy and counsel
with the South throughout the war.
shall not attempt to apportion blame where
both sides erred. 1t is enough to say that
unity secured at the seat Of government
would have been 4 noble achievement of
! leadership.
Deeming the speedy admission Of the
southern States as necessary to their own
health, rs indirectly the best policy for
the freedmen, as peculiarly Eeedful To the
safety of our Government, which, for the
sake of accomplishing u good end, incau-
tious men are in danger of perverting,
favored, and do still favor, the election
to Congress of Republicans who will seek
the early admission of the recasant States.
Having urged il for year past, was
more than ready 10 urge 1t again upon the
( various conventions which preceded the
nomination Of representatives to Congress
this fall. I'm this spirit and for this end |
drew up my Cleveland letter. / deem its
views sound--I am not sorry that wrote
it. I regret the misrepresentation which it
J has caused, and, yet more, any sorrow
which it may have ncedlcssly imposed
| upon dear friends. And as l look back
upon my course | see no deviation from
that straight line which, have made, with
out wavering, for now thirty years Of pub
lie life in favor Of justice, liberty, and the
elevation Of the poor and ignorant.
The attempt to class me with men whose
course have opposed all my life long will
utterly fail. / shall choose MY own place,
! and shall not be moved from it. / have
been from my youth firm, unwavering,
avowcd, and active friend of all that were
oppressed. have done nothing to forfeit