Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-07-27

Then. OIL dear one, when far away,
III ne'er know joy again;
And every thought that's cast on thee.
viii give my bosom pain.
| ----os g.
LETTER FROM SECRETARY wELLEs.
The following letter from Hon. 6 d-on
WeIles, Secretary Of the Navy, to Senator
Dool!ttI., Chairman of the Executive Com,
mi,reo of the National Union Club. is q
n'odel as - condensed argument in bchalt
Of the policy Of the President il CONTRA
senl'on Of tho destructive course Of .Cou-
gress:
WAsnlNorcH, ID. c., July Ii.
SIR: Your note Of the 10th instant was
received yesterday. l cordially approve the
movrn,en, which has been instituted to
| ''ru>tain the Administration in maintaining
nnhiokcn tha union Of the United States"
| anal -scogui1,: in the which you have
sent NE the principles and views By which
the A administration has been governed.
The attempt made to destroy the na .
'iona' '"trgri:v ., -eetss.op, or the volun-
| tary withdrawal Of a State from tue Uuiop.
hns heen Defeated. War hns forever cx-
'inguished the beresy Of secession. On
the suppression Of the rebellion measures
wore promptly commenced to re.estab-
''sh those fraternal relations which
for four years has bsen interrupted.
The policy "itinted by President Lin
col" to restore national unity was adopted
and carried forward by President johnson:
the States which had been in rebellion
were under this benign policy, resuming
their legitimate functions; the people had
laid down their arus, and those who had
been in insurrection were returning to their
allegiance; the Constitution had been vim
dicated, and the Union was supposed to be
restored. when check was put upon the
progress to national harmony and prosper
'ty thus dawning upon the country. On
the assembling Of Congress all efforts to-
wards union and nationality became sud-
denly paralyzrd the measures of recon-
cilia,ion which the President had, from the
lime he entered upon bis dp,ies, pursued
with eminent SUCCESS, were assaiIed, and
their ben ficent purpose. to great exteut,
deleared attempts we're made to impose
conditions precedent upon States before per.
mitting them to exercise their constitutions
al rights; loyal S.na'ors and Represents
, tiyss from the State. which had teen in
rebellion were refused admittance :nto Con-
gress-tte people were denied righiiful con-
r'i'ptional epresentation--and eleven S. ates
were and are excluded fr I'm all partici pa
th,n in the Government.
These proceedings, which conflict with
'he fundamental principles on which our
Whole governmental sysiem is founded. are
gene' ating and consolidating sectional ami.
mostly. and, it long persisted in. must even
tuate in permanent alienation. I re-
joice, therefore. in movement which has
ior its object the union in one bond of love
OF the people Of our common country, and
which invites to counsel and TO political &C
'ion the citizen. of every State and Terri
tory, from the Atlantic TO The Pacific, and
from the Lakes 10 the Gulf. The central
iz'ng theory that the loyal and qualified
Senators and Representatives iom' eleven
States shall be excluded from Congress.
and that those States and the people oi
those. States shall not participate 10 the
Government, is scarcely less rspugaant
than that OF secession ITSELF
Propositions to change the Constitution
and unsettle some Of the foundation prin
ciples Of our organic law-to change our
judicial system In such a manner a. 10 dss.
troy the Independence Of the Stale by 10
sidiously transferring to the federal tribu-
nails ell questions RELAXING to the "life, lib
erty and property of.the ci,izsn''-to
change the basis Of representation, which
was one Of the difficult and dsleoats COM
/ promises Of the Convention of 1877, when
no States were excluded from representa-
tion--to change the existing and wisely
aejus,ed distribution of power bssween the
different departmsnss Of The govern msnt,
by transferring the pasdoning power 10 oer-
.ian cases from the Executive, where i.
properly 6eioug,. 70 Congress. or the leg-.
'isIa.ive branch oftbe government, 10 Which
Ejt does not legi.imately :pertain-.o inc:oir-
porste iato our constitutions which Is 70
stand through all lime, 2 Prescription Of
citizens who have erred. aud waosare i.-
DIE to penalties. .iuna:rs Z s1h,ios ss ssesns,n,s.
partaliue of .ths uatuis Of, ,Sr, nsoss s,c,a