Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-09-18
MIA. BEroHRR,s LETTER.

The following is the best commentary on
Mr.. Beecher's letter that we have yet seem
1t ia from HaFper's Weekly:-
"As the letter of Mr. Beecher will probably
be published as campaign document by the
Democratic party it may still be considered
not an untimely topic. Indeed, its vigor and
earnestness, and its general truths, which If
not new are plcturesquely stated, will make
it timely as long as the question remains un'
settled. Yet we must say frankly that, as
campaign document, it will persuade only
those who do not understand the question.
For it does not seem to us TO touch the ques-
ton. To be asked whether ii is convincing
is like being asked after feast OF water
melon, how the peaches taste. We have
not tasted them Here is really powerful
letter full of excellent and indisputable
truths, but they lack completeness and APP
propriateness. The general considerations
presented by Mr. Beecher are admirable.
Their apposlteness to the particular situation
does not appear.
"That our theory contempates States in
the Union is undeniable. That our machinery
works awkwardly except when adjusted to
the normal conditions is not to be disputed.
But it certainly does not follow that if we
should suddenly become possessed of Mexico
it should at once, without prudence, or in
quiry, or deliberation, or security, be ad-
mitted as a State. The genius of our Gov
vernment is just as averse TO war, and es-
pecially to civil war, as it possibly can be to
retaining States in an abnormal relation.
But 1t was equal to the one solely by reason
of the general intelligence and character OF
the people; and for the same reasons it will
be equal to the other. The danger of ia
miliarizing the popular conscience with inius-
tice is at present much greater than that of
familiarizing 1t with despotsm.
Then as regards parties, Mr.. Beecher is
full of scorn at the idea that the South should
be able to govern the North; or il it can, he
cries, Indignantly, that it ought to. But it is
not question of sections. What are the
North and South but ideas2 The Democratic
party is the organized South or the party
which declares the inequality of human
rights. The Union party asserts equality OF
rights. The contest is between those two.
Very well, says Mr.. Beecher, if the idea OF
the South is numerically stronger it ought 10
prevail, until we can overthrow ii by free
speech, schools, and churches. Possibly;
but how can you determine numerical pre-
ponderance if you allow those at the South
who deny equal rights to speak not only lol
themselves but for their opponents, who are
not suffered to speak at all? In a tremen-
dous struggle to plant the Government upon
Its true principle OF equal rights, is there
any sound reason why the enemies of that
principle should he allowed an unfair advan
tage in voting merely because they have moi
succeeded in destroying the Government
altogether?
''Alr. Beecher declares what no sensible
man denies, that we must trust much to the
great laws OF human nature and civilization
and not attempt to do by enactment wha
can only be done by time and variou
spiritual influences. This is very favorit,
assertion also with our friend the Evening
Post. But it seems TO be forgotten by boil
that political changes wrought by war O.
otherwise require political guarantees. It il
true that civilization is growth. 1t is tru,
that all races in this country must take thei
chance. The freedmen must do il. Thel
must not be classified But who is trying /,
classify them2 the States which make then
by law distinct class, or Congress, whicl
declares them equal citizens with the rest O
us? "They must take their chance" suy
Mr. Beecher. Very well, are they not en-
titled to as fair chance as the rest of us
and, according to all experience of human
nature, will they have that fair chance i
their neighbors are to be rewarded by in
creased political power for an attempt to de
prive them of all chances whatever? i
nothing humane or statesmanlike but to dis
regard facts and proceed upon pleasin.
theory? 1.-THE freedmen will never be wei
treated until the South is prosperous" say
Mr. Beecher. Shall we therefore say, in or
der that the South may be prosperous, sh,
may do what she chooses with the freedmen
The situation is obscure. There may be
MIR. BEkcHER suggests, vast perils at hand
But in dark night we must use what lrh
we have. 1t is not the part of wisdom to ial
into a pit that we see, because there ma,
possibly be deeper one few steps ahead
Let us restore the Union at the very earlies
moment which is consistent with reasonable
promise of justice and safety. But do not lie
us abandon reasonable promise of justice
and safety in order to restore the Onion, fo
we should discover that we had lost sub
stance for shadow. Two years ago tn
men who, as party, are now shouting fo
restoration anyhow, and rights and homo
and justice and reason afterward told us n
Chicago that the war was failure, that th
South was infexible, and that we ought I,
surrender, and then see what we could do
But the people were of another opinion, an,
the South yielded. The same moral unan
unity among us to-day will work the sam
miracle.
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