Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-09-11


ding uplandsl J, was quoted at 18d.
| -S
Letter from Henry Ward Beecher.
The New York Evening Post, Of
the LIST inst, contains the following
letter from Rev. Ward Beecher, in
reply to an invitation to act as chap.
lain to the Soldiers and Sailors
Convention at Cleveland:
PEEKsKILL, August 80, 1866.
Chas. G. Halpine, Brevet Brgadier General, Fl.
| W. slccum, Major General, Gordon Granger,
Major General, Committee:
Gentlemen-I am obliged to you
for the invitation which you have
made me to act as chaplain to the
Convention of Sailors and Soldiers
about to convene at Cleveland. [
cannot attend it, but [ heartily wish
it, and all other conventions, of what
ever party soever, success, whose
object is the restoration of all States
late in rebellion to their Federal re-
lations.
Our theory of government has no
| place for State except in the
Union. 1t is justly taken for granted
that the duties and responsibilities
Of a State in federal relations tend
to its political health, and to that of
the whole nation. Even Territories
are hastily brought in, often before
the prescribed conditions are fulfilled,
as if it We're dangerous to leave
community outside of the great body
polite.
Had the loyal Senators and Rep
resentatives Of Tennessee been ad-
mitted at the assembling Of Congress,
and, in moderate succession, Arkan-
sas, Georgia, Alabama, North Caro-
lima and Virginia, the public mind
of the South would have been far
more healthy than it is, and those
States which fingered ON probation
to the last would have been under
more salutary influence to good con-
duct than if a dozen armies watched
over them.
Every month that we delay this
healthful step complicates the case.
The excluded population, enough
unsettled before, grow more irrita-
BILE; the army becomes more ingis.
pensable to local government, and
supersedes it; the Government at
Washington is called to interfere in
one and another difficulty, and this
will be done inaptly, and sometimes
with great injustice-for our Gov
eminent, wisely adapted to its own
proper functions, is utterly devoid of
those habits, and unequipped with
the instruments which fit central
lied government to exercise author
ity in remote States over local affairs.
Every attempt to perform such du-
ties has resulted in mistakes which
have excited the nation. But what
ever imprudence there may be in the
method, the real criticism should be
against the requisition of such duties
of the General Government.
The Federal Government is unfit
to exercise minor police and local
government, and will inevitably
blunder when it attempts it. To
keep half score of States under
Federal authority, but without ma
tional ties and responsibilities to
oblige the central authority to gov
ern half the territory Of the Union
by Federal civil officers and by the
army, is policy not only unconge
NAL to our ideas and principles, but
pre6minently dangerous to the spirit
of our government. However hu-
name the ends sought and motives,
it is, in fact, course of instruction,
preparing our Government to be de-
spotic, and familiarizing the people
to stretch Of authority which can
never be other than dangerous to
liberty.
| am aware that good men are
withheld from advocating the prompt
and successive admission of the ex-
lied States by the fear, chiefly, of
It's effects upon parties and upon
freedmen.
1t is said that if admitted to Con-
gress, the Southern Senators and
Representatives will coalesce with
Northern Democrats, and rule the