The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-11-26

deus Stevens himself 10 recommend
to mercy some Of the guiltiest Of these
offenders, aud / have seen Senator
Wade Of Ohio, more than once plead
| ing for clemency in their behalf, II
Mr.. Sumner himself was distinguished
| for a1y dhe thing more than another,
/ before recent complications, IL was
! his desire to adjust our national diff
culties without resort to the crucial
test His powerful speech against REL
| taliotion need only be mentioned in
/ tLis connection. The ample CORES
pondence between Judge Kelley. an
| other Radical, and leading Southern
mon would, if it were published,
nroye more than his readiness to for
give the UNPLEASANT past, and his
earnest wish to help al measures to
promote the solid prosperity Of the
South. My own knowledge Of and
intercourse with your people, my i'm
innate relations with many of your
public men in former days, have in
dnced me TO seek and to improve all
occasions to spread the mantle Of OBJ.
livion over repulsiye membranes,
and TO smooth the way 10 better
understanding between what We used
10 call the North and the South, but
what lee rs hope and believe, is des.
tined 20 become q homogeneous and q
common nationality. Need | call
yQur attention 10 the last session Of
tie present Congress when the Kadi
Gals tried 10 convince the people Of
the South Of their libaralityY The
bill which passed the Senate appro.
priating VI SOC, 900 for the repair Of
the Mississippi 'levees, with the large
vote Of % yeas to : nays, is one Of the
many that might be enumerated If
this feeling has been changed, the
fault cannot be laid at the doors Of
the Radicals. IF the bill just cited
met their stern opposition ia the
House, and would have been over
whelmingly rejected if brought to q
vote, it was because of the passions
revived under the malign influence of
Andrew johnson, so tragically inter
preted at New Orleans only two days
after the adjournment. | do not cen
sure your politicians and people for
following the lead Of the bad man in
the Presidential chair. His perfdy
was so bold, and his opportunities for
making it effective 50 numerous and
extraordinary, that a less impetuous
population would have been tempted
to respond with equal promptitude.
| cite what ID freshly historical for no
unfriendly purpose, but to show that
that which impelled the misguided
people Of the South to commit Sec
ond mistake stirred the millions Of
the North who had conquered the re-
bellion to a reconsideration of the
stern remedies proved to be necessary
to the security of rights that had been
dearly purchased and still more dear
ly rescued. y
And now, my dear sir, to your
question, whether, " supposing the
amendment to be adopted by our
your State, what else, if anything,
will be required by the Federal Gov
eminent in order that the people of
the State shall be restored TO their
rights under the Consiistution2
Before answering ,tha--aapAat;e
OF your letter in which you speak of
the response ofyour people when they
were requested from Washington to
abolish slavery in the State. to repeal
the rebel debt, adopt the amendment
to the national Constitution abolish
ing slavery in the United States. TO
give the freedmen civil rights, inclu
ding that of testifying in the courts.
DC. You say these things were done
in good faith; not because the peo-
pie and the Legislature were in favor
of the measures per Sc, but because it
was the best course TO adopt under
the circumstances then existing, in or
der TO secure an early resumption Of the
civil functions of the Government.
If you had said in distinct terms
what would have been nearer the
truth, that President johnson had
to command this action on
the part of.your convention and Legis-
lature, and that bitter and violent OBJ
position was made to all these con
ditions to yuur promised rehabilita-
ton, you could not more clearly have |
indicated your resistance to the over
decree of the battle. field,
and your cherished intention to seek
the frst occasion 20 resume privileges |
and immunities that had been entire
" swept eway by your failure TO over
turn the Government Of the United |
States. Your language means this, if |
i means anything. 1t only needed |
Johnson's usurpations, and |
the belief of your politicians that he |
would be'able to buy or bully the pc J.
pie of the North into the support
of his shameless policy, to re-
awaken the worst passions of the
DID pro-slavery regime in Alabama.
Although il may be said to your
credit that Alabama presented a
healthful contrast to other Southern
States, in responding to the demands
of the President, just referred to, first
IN her Convention, and afterward in
her cIat