The Van Buren press., 1866-03-10
Letter from Hon. Geo. H. Pendleton

We commend to the attention of our
readers, the following letter Of the Hon.
Geo II. Pcndleton, of Ohio. Mr.. Pen
dleton. it will be remembered, was the
Democratic nominee for Vice President,
on the ticket with Gen Mcclellan We
commend it to the candid consideration
of the people and legislators of this
State; and we fully believe that by adop-
ting its suggestions, in the main, we will
more speedily secure peace, contenment
and relief from the ever intermedllng ia
lnaticism Of the North. Let our readers
peruse the letter carefully and candidly,
weigh its contents and exercise wisdom
and magnanimity in dealing with the ne
GRO in his present unfortunate situa-
ton:
CINCINNATI, Dec. 2S, 1865.
Nath. b. Neade, Esq.,, Winchester, Va:
Ny DEAR SIR: Your letter has just
come to hand | have been absent from
the city good deal lately, and this may
account for the delay in part-the mails
must answer for the rest
Iregret that have not compilation
of the laws of Indiana and Illinois to
send YOU. ! am not familiar with their
|provisions in relation to negroes resident
i'm those States, but have an impression
that they are more stringent than those
of Ohio.
Indeed, in this State, the negro enjoys
practically, all civil rights. He may ac-
Qnire and hold property, make contracts.
sue and be sued, and give testimony in all
courts and cases. In some parts Of the
State, public schools for the education of
colored children, are established under
the authority Of law, and are supported
by the taxes levied on the property Of all
the people Of the State and apportioned
pro rata according to the enumeration of
white anl colorcd children The laws
which created disabilities on the part of
negroes in respect to these civil rights
were repealed in the year, lS4S, after a
contest quite memorable in the history
of the State. Their repeal was looked
upon with great dislavor, by a large por
ton of the people rs a dangerous inno-
vation upon u just and settled policy, and
vote in that direction consigned many
members of the Legislature to the rcposc
of private life. But | am not aware that
any evil results justified these apprehen-
sions, or that any effort was ever made
to reimpose the disabilities, On the con
trarv, the new policy, if | may call it so
has been found 50 consistent with jus
tice to the negroes and the interests OF
the whites, that no one--c certainly nc
partv-in Ohio, would be willing tC
abandon it,
My observation Of the effect of such {
policy has been limited to Ohio. | an
well aware that policy well-suited to ;
State where the negroes are few in mum
Der, and generally of a good character
might be disastrous in a State where tht
negroes are very numerous, and general
ly very ignorant and degraded. am al
so fully aware that y condition Of societ'
which has existed for centuries, leave
deep impressions on the habits, modes o
thought and character of Il people, ant
that 1t is always unpleasant and frequent
" unsafe to disregard them. llstor,
teaches, in every page that sudden an,
radical changes, which at once shocl
deeply rooted prcjudiccs, and 90 too far
: even in right direction, are followed b,
Il reaction which leaves the latter stat
worse than the first. The wisdom an,
beneticencc OF any change depend upol
its entire fitness in time, and manner, ant
degree to the condition of the peopl
upon whom it operates.
The questions relating to the status o
its inhabitants belong solely to each State
They lie within the domain of rcservct
powers upon which neither the fedora
governments nor the States can lawful
enter.
These considerations constrain me t.
speak with diilidence OF the proper cours,
to be pursued at this time by the South
crn States in relation to their freedmen
!, That it ought to he humane, and in con
formity with their changed condition
and calculated to give free scope to what
ever capacity for Improvement they ma,
possess, | do not doubt Whatever ma,
have been expedient Unnecessary in so
ciety where the condition Of slavery ex
lists, it does seem to me that Justice anC
good policy alike require that ample pro
lection should be assured to the perso,