The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-06-16
Renry Ward Beecher on Fenianism
and RecOnstructiOn--SeV Attack
ON Thad. Stevens.

AACnEy UdAu oCCNhCA OA II CAAohAsHA
and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Attack
on Thad. Stevens.
Henry Ward Beeeher availed him.
self of pulpit opportunity, last Sum
day morning, to review the present sit
uation of affairs from the standpoint of
immediate events. Upon the text,
Overcome evil with good" he applied
the principle to the duties of commu-
mites and nations to each other. He
said I:
1 hear men say "Aha it's their turn
now. Let US be quiet and allow the
Fenians to return them some of their
St Adams courtesies. I'd just like to see
a town or two burned, bank or so rob-
bed, just to let them know how good it
is" Well, now that is all wrong l
will not deny that my natural man was
delicately and quietly tickled at first
by mischieVous sense of poetic JUS
tice, but it was only for a moment.
True the Canadians did act most I'M
fairly, and the mother country most
wickedly, toward us in our dire distress;
but if we take like opportunities to
show the same spirit, in what is repub-
icanism greater or better than despo-
tism2 / want to heap Goals of fire on
their heads by showing the grand spec
tacle of Christian nation actuated by
Christian principles if England is in
volved in war, l don't want to see
single ship 60 out of our ports to de-
stroy her commerce, and over the Cam
adian border l don't want to see a sim
gle cottage harmed. l want them to
find their evil overcome by good. The
way to live in peacei is to be better than
your enemy-in his opinion not yours.
X X X x
don't know whether I'd better make
a further application of this principle
or not. l have not been very popular
with my people during the past year.
/ have failed to carry them altogether
with me on some public occasions, and
am sorry for them But yet must
say, that l cannot escape the diret
bearing of this gospel law.
am as strong as ever in the convic-
ton that the true result of the war
must be recognized. Whatever went
into the Constitution on account of
slavery, must come out and what was
kept out on account of slavery must be
put into our organic law-and / have
believed and labored for this as strong
" and longer than many of you But
l have felt that it should be done in
the spirit of love, not CT hatred. l
consider the doctrines brought forward
IN the House of Representative by Mr..
Stevens-though followed in their en-
tirety, thank God by very few-I
think them to be the doctrines of Be-
Iial, leading them to destruction. The
North had chance to show grace, and
love, and magnanimity. How longed
to see It'll Both Congress and the Pre-
sident should have been pressed to
Union. had hoped to see the North
showing her superiority in christian
nobleness and generous forgiveness.
But 1 have been disappointed. 1t has
not been done. You can ne more
change rebels to loyal men by casting
them out and turning them away, than
YOU can convert the wicked by build
Ing up a wall of separation between
them and the 0ood-shutting them out
from the very influences that should be
brought to bear upon them. 'If thine
enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts,
give him drink; for in so doing thou
shalt heap Goals of fire upon his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome
evil with good" There go; vote that
You have been talking it long enough;
do It, You have been praying it long
enough; try Il