The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-01
THE CLEVELAND CONVENTION.

of the Soldiers and Sailors Convention, to be
Held at Cleveland Ohio, September II.
New YORK, August 2s-To the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher.-Dear and Reverend Sir;-The
undersigned have been appointed by the Exc
cutiye Committee OF the National Convention of
Soldiers and Sailors who honorably served
during the late war for the Union, as a special
Committee to wait upon you, and request your
consent to serve as Chaplain of the Conven-
ton, which will be held at Cleveland, Ohio on
the 18th OF next month.
Your name has been selected by the Executive
Committee from sincere admiration of your char
acter, and as the only tribute within their power
to pay in acknowledgment of your noble devo-
ton to the cause OF the Union, and your earnest
and unceaslng efforts in behalf of our soldiers
and sailors during the recent war.
The Executive Committee also find in your
course since the termination of the struggle sub
stantial harmony with the views to which they
desire 10 give effect in the Convention your
eloQuence and the Just weight OF your name
being employed TO enforce upon the country
generous and magnanimous policy towards the
people OF the lately rebelous States, and a
prompt reconstruction OF the Union under the
Constitution as the best means OF regaintng the
national tranquility which the country so much
needs, and readjusting the rights of all sections,
under the new ORDER OF things, on basis of law,
order, Christian brotherhood, and justice.
In the call ior the Convention, which the un-
dersigned have the honor to transmit herewith
you will see fully set forth the motives which
actuate the military and naval defenders of the
Union in their present unusual course of taking
part in political movement; andlt is our hope,
az we have always looked to you in the darkest
DAYS OF the war tor inspiration, aid, and the
cheering sympathy of a noble heart. and never
failing 10 find them-that you will consent TO
invoke the Divine blessing upon the Conven-
ton of the Soldiers and Sailors of the United
States who served during the late Rebellion
and who approve the restoration policy of
President Johnson and the principles announced
by the recent National Convention of Philadel-
pna--the inst Convention since 1860 in which
all the States of our beloved Union were repre-
sented.
Hoping an early and favorable reply, we have
the honor to be, with very profound respect for
your character, and sincere gratitude for your
powerful and generous efforts IN behalf of the
military and naval servants of the country
during the late war,
Your obedient friends and servants,
Charles G. Halplne, Brevet Brigadier. General
(Chairman); H. w. Slocum, Major-Geueral;
Gordon Granger, MajorGeneral, Committee.
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher's Reply.
PEEKsKILL August 30.-Charles G. Halpine,
Brevet Brigadler. General; II. w. Slocum, Major.
Generals; Gordon Granger Major General Com
mittee.-Gentlemen:-I am OBLIGED 10 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. | can
not attend it, but | heartily wish it, and all
other conventions, of what party soever, sue.
cess, whose object Is the restoration of all the
States late in rebellion 10 their Federal rCla-
tlons.
Our theory of government has no place for q
State except in the Union. 1t is justly taken
for granted that the duties and responsibilities
Of State IN Federal relations tend to its polti-
cal health, and to that of the whole iatIon.
Even Territories are hastily brought in, often
before the prescribed conditions are fulfilled, as
if it were dangerous to leave community out
side of the great body polite.
Had the loyal Senators and Representatives
of Tennessee been admitted at once on the as
hlinu nf In m to
sion, Arkansas, 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 pro-
baton to the last would have been under
more salutary influence to good conduct 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, grows more irritable;
the army becomes indispensable to local gov
ernment, and supersedes it; the Government at
Washington is called to interfere in one and
another difficulty, and this will be done ia
aptly, and sometimes with great injustice-for
our Government, wisely adapted to Its own
proper functions, is utterly devoid of those
habits and unequipped with the instruments
| which fit a centralized Government to exercise
| authority in remote States over local affairs.
| Every attempt to perform such duties has
| resulted in mistakes which have excited the
| nation. But whatever imprudence there may
| be in the method, the real criticism should be
|
| General Government
The Federal Government is unfit to exercise
minor police and local government, and will
| inevitably blunder when it attempts 1t. TC
| keep half score OF States under Federal autho.
| Iity but without national ties and responsible
ties to oblige the central authority to govern
| halt the territory of the Union by Federal civi
officers and by the army, is policy not only
| uncongenial to our ideas and principles, bu
| pre-eminently dangerous TO the spirit of Oul
| Government. However humane the ends sough
and the motives, 1t is, In TACT, course of in
| struction, preparing out Government 70 be des
potic, ana fapliliarizing the people to a~stretcl
OF authority whlch can never be other than dan
! gCrous to liberty,
am aware that good men are withheld iron
advocating the prompt and successive admission
OF the exiled States by the tear, chiefly, of it
effect upon the parties, and upon the freedmen
1t is said that, if admitted to Congress, tn
Southern Senators and Representatives vii
coalesce with Northern Democrats and rule tn
country. Is this nation then, to remain dis
mem bered to serve the ends of parties Hav
we learned no wisdom by the history of the las
ten wears, in which just this course of sacridcin
the nation to the eXigencies parties plunged u
into rebellion and war!
Even admit that the power would pass int
the hands OF party made up of Southern me
and the hitherto dishonored and mlsled Dem'
cracy of the North, that power could not Q
used Just as they pleased. The war has changel
not alone institutions, but ideas. The who
country has advanced. Public sentiment
exalted far beyond what 1t has been at an
former period A new party would, like rive
be obliged TO seek out its channels in the alread
{ existing slopes and forms of the continent.
: We have entered new era of liberty. Tt
2 style of thought is freer and more noble. III
young men OF our times are regenerated. Th
great army has been a school, and hundreds
thousands of men are gone home to preach
truer and nobler view OF human rights. All I'll
7 industrial interests of society are moving wit
2 increasing wisdom towards intelligence and
! beTty. Everywhere, In churches, in literatur