Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-05
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY. APRIL >, 1866,
Henry ward Beecher on Recon-
StTuCtioD.

Henry Ward Beecher, in a recent lee
ture gave somewhat elaborate views of
,scopstruction from his old anti.slavery
stand point, wherein he argues with ex,
Gov. Andrews OF Massachusetts, and
many others who for the past twenty
Years have ranked among the leading
snt.slavery men Of the country. We
ouote from Mr. Beechers words as fol-
Ows
Il will now glance at the state of
4e!ing in the South. When we consid-
s- what they suffered who they were
that suffered when | consider where
they started from and whore they
brought up when | consider the whole
history OF the case; the state of public
telling South is far more peaceful than
We could expect. 1t is bad enough but
IS far better than We could expect.
Letter writers, travellers, say "a recon
,tructed South, "a nice condition the
South is in TO be reconstructed They
sre our bicter enemies they gnash their
teeth aud all. | wonder if you think
that after you soundly whip a man that
he is going to thank you for it. Do you
suppose that Gen. Lee when he surrender
ed should have thrown his arms around
Geu. Grants neck and thanked him for
Whipping him and compelling him to
Surrender Or that Gen. Johnston
should have regarded Gen Sherman as
bis bene.actOr And SHOULD the South
go upon its knees when it sees a Yam
Ire and say, &c Il bless you, Yankee.
all you have done FOR me ? These
men that talk thus do not like thu state
ceiling in the South The Yankees
t- Us that the South is not fit to be
Il constructed If you do not take the
nth in till she heals Of her wounds,
EE01 will not take her in for long time
Il q come. Human nature does not run
his way. 1t is not question OF alb
..4Ct justice; ii is q practical question
Ld you must decide according to known
ags and to human nature.
A know the South will feel sore. They
Eaeyed in their cause; they Were de-
Eia.et and greater disaster could not
,4.. them. They lost everything
EConey, fame ambition, character, and
ID deep gloom Overhangs them, and
#fy'ound sorrow oppresseS them, and
bly, are expected to give evidence of
|Lankfulness and joy. They must first
Have the hand of kindness stretched to
| them. You must give them new hopes.
New business will lead them to forget
Tod graves new thoughts will check
Did tears. Kindness aud business, that
/ what they want. | hold no Commu-
kly can do better than to take the eX-
Einple Of Christ in this matter, who,
hOugh pure and just, was the object of
ES. offence, the most forgiving and for
&bearing, and who suffered rather than
hat we should suffer; and as He WAS to
tS let US be to others. There is a
#(lrlstlan magnanimity in it for wounds
sOd woe that no other medicine will
buCh, 1t is asked, why not leave them
/ put till they learn better For the
ssme reason that the father and mother
to not throw the rebellous son out of
POOR and expel him till he learns. No,
! put by kindness, and love, and patience,
| iAey endeavor TO reinspire him with
#fope they open anew the spent ioun-
h,ns Of virtue, and he is again taken
/ into the family.
am asked if | would take man
llto my church knowing him TO be u
snner. If didn't take them in while
4lley were still sinners, l wouldn't have
enough in the church to say we. |
'ake the sinner in to reform him. II
ney 90 not want forgiveness and pa
hence, | don't know what need they
1Fould have for church at all. |
NNould let them walk on their own legs
tand throw away the CrutcheS and Ordi-
Nlances Of the church. The South want
knduess, words Of graciousness and
EOth, They need no patronizing, but
Ley need traternal sympathy, and that,
Elth them, will 60 farther and bring
sem better mind than any denuncia-
eons you can utter. l have made war
~ thirty years against slavery, and
tAerever | saw the serpent, without
asItation | smote him. l thank God
ae work is done. The Constitution
sands now as the summer sky stands
sl'alcing and advancing; and though
daisies blossom, nor sun warns, do
Se not know that every advancing
uont1 brings us nearer to the summer,
IN to the perfect day of liberty -