The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-15
ION. JOHN BELL, OF TENNESSEE.

Dear Sir:-My health was not so ully restored
3as nattered myself, when | saw you IN Novem-
Der and promised to reply to your letter, re-
iuesting me to state the substance of my con-
Ee1sation with you, on the subject Of public
ifairs and the condition of the relations between
he Southern States and the Norsn. soon found
+ hat / had undertaken a task beyond my
.treneth; at least, that could not comply with
kour wish within the time promised. II was
bnly at intervals that could attempS to concen
krate my thoughts, so irritable had my nervous
H 5yetem become-sometimes short, aud often re-
Auiring the ropose of whole day before could
resume the labors of composition.
You may remember, that the reluctance or
~ aruiheSs which the people or the South had
'',Inauiested III complying with the wishes or re-
n IIuisltlCns OF the President on certain points
deemed by him necessary prellmlnarles 10 the
buccess OF his pct'ay in restoring the states
lately IN revolt 10 ChCsr proper constitutional
-pelations with the UnCn, was matter OF equal
.kufprise to us both, and it was To reason or re-
mOnstrate with them upon thai subject, II
.coud be supposed to have any might or lnhu-
Lence with Them. that | undertook to comply
with our wishes. But it so happened that,
before l had finished the carefully considered
,. Views which had intended to address TO them,
= with the hope of being able 10 hasten their
InovCmerts The States which bad at first shown
- some reluctance at last acceded to the most
material parts ofthe Presidents requisihons.
~ o the Presidents wishes The State of Alissis-
bippi which had at first moved off promptly and
Nbwlth graceful dignity in accepting the clnditlon
Supposed upon the people by the result OF the
twar, halted at the proposed amendment OF the
& &1Constitution of the United States abolishing
1klavery on the ground of the use or abuse
(which 1t is feared, would be made OF the second
5&clause, which empowered Congress to pass all
1hppropr ate laws co MAINTAIN the freedom guaran-
Z feed to the African race In the first clause Of the
Rmendment
n appears 10 me that the power conferred
RIpon Congress IN the first clause OF the amend
.'hent included all the power implied in the
|Becond inasmuch as Congress has the power to
pass all laws necessary to carry into effect any
( Specific grant OF power. Should be mistaken
fn this view OF the question, the construction
put upon the second clause by Secretary Seward
shou have dispelled the fears OF the people of
IMississippi on that score, masmuch as the con-
Ftruction he places upon 1t showed that no ABUSE
of tt at clause would probably take place, at least
&kluring the present Administration. But if the
radical Republicans should succeed in defeating
khe policy of President Johnson, all the abuses
that could arise, under that clause of the amend
nent, in their hands, " ould fade into shadows in
comparison with the grosser expressions they
{ uld practise in the qualification of their
thirst for the further punishment Of the South,
nnder other grants, or without any grant of
power in the Constitution.
rHE PRESENT RELATION OF THE SOUTH TO THE
GOVERNMENT.
1t is needful that the people of the South
should recognize and understand the true nature
of the Government under which they now live,
before they can Judge correctly OF the expedi-
3 ency OF sound policy OF many things that appear
10 them, at this time to be uncalle1 for, or car
Efying with them degree OF humiliation they
bught not 10 submit to. Thev may not be dis
bosed to think or talk so independently after
khey shall have considered well the further
question-What doubt is there, at this moment
f Il no change has taken place within few days
3fn some of the States that the VIII 1le South are
nh IN mi arr r1l other WOr0a
Under a desr otto Government, and that, what
ver civil authority is at any time exercised, it is
r by the courtesy or permission OF the military
tauthorities?
M As justification for this state of things, it is
alleged that the war is not ended. For the same
reason, the suspension of the writ OF habeas
corpus is still continued over the South. Let me
Illustrate further the true character of the Gov
eTnment under which we live in the South: For
any oflense committed against the United States
br lor any thing done which the military authori-
5ies may regard as an otfense, the citizen NAV be
arrested, imprisoned, tried and punished by a
military commission, organized under the direc-
Jon of the commander OF the military division
pr department in which the supposed culprit
tesides, without any appeal or redress by any
~ ciWl authority except the President as comman-
3lerin chief OF the army. The people otthe South,
t is true, may be said to have choice of evils;
j. tor the present they may select one or many
Hor their rulers; they may take the Presi.
BENT or the radical majority in Congress for
heir despots, but it is certain that until
il he issue that is now made between the radical
*5Republicans and the President on the subject of
restoration is decided in favor of the President,
the people of the South should bear in mind
~ hat they can have no permanent relief. The
form of government is despotic, undoubtedly,
and in some localities it is believe, oppressive
and CALLING, while in others it is milder and
more tolerable; but that is not the most serious
r. and forcible view of the subject for consldera-
lion. They are now in the possession and en-
oyment of many rights and privileges, by
=. which they NAV be able, crippled as they are in
heir resources, to make comfortable living
for their families. Have they ever rehec ed how
long these privileges may be confined to them ?
,' br how soon they may be withdrawn? Have
they ever reflected that they have no security or
guarantee for their continuance even for day ?
+ aThey know perfectly we'll that they are utterly
helpless; that they have no means, in their own
hands, of redressing any wrongs or injuries,
- however small, that may be inflicted upon them.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
+ The President has expressed no wish and made
" no reuusiton as in other cases regarding the
man or negro, and this because he believes that
zach State has the exclusive Iight to regulate
that question for itself; but doubtless he would
= be grati6ed by prompt and liberal exercise o
that power by their Legislatures Oh Conventions
' IN forming their constitutions, as such course
'WouId tend to satisfy the North that the South
are not disposed to ac1uliberally or uniustly by
the colored population. Now, as to the basis OF
br standard of merit or qualification by which
Z sthe granting of the right of suffrage shall bt
regulated, surely the most liberal basis or test
Huuaifcation adopted by any Northern or Eastern
State OUGHT to be satisfactory to the who'll
North. / am not informed what quailneatlon
are required at the present time In Massachu
eetts but few years ago, believe, property U
the value OF two hundred and fifty dollars, an'
10 be able to read and write, entitled the ire
y men of color TO a vote. grant OF the rght 0
suffrage to the SONthern free men of color upol
"a a n cannot