The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-09-14
Letter From Henry Ward Beecher.


lion of Soldiers aud Sailors at Cleveland
returned the following answer:
PEEEskILL, August 80 1866.
Chas. G Halpine, Brevet Brigadier Gen
eral, II. W. Slocum, Major General
Gordon Granger, Committee
GENTLEMEN II am obliged to you for
the invitation which you have made me
to act as Chaplain to the Convention OF
Soldiers and Sailors about TO convene at
Cleveland. cannot attend it, but
heartily wish il, and all other Conven-
tions, of whatever party, success, whose
object is the restoration of all the States
lately in rebellion to their Federal rela
tons. Our Government theory has 10
place for State except in the Union. 1t
is just taken for granted that the duties OF
a State in Federal relations tend % It's
political health and to that of the whole
Nation. Even Territories are hastily
brought 10 often before the prescribed
conditions are fulfilled, as if it were dan
gerous TO leave community outside OF
the great body polite. Had the loyal
Senators and Representatives of Iennes
see been admitted a: once on the assem-
bling Of Congress, and in moderate sue
cesson Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama
North Carolina, 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 lave been under more salutary
influence to good conduct than if dozen
armies had been marched over them.
Every month that we delay this health
full step complcates the case. The ex
cluded population, enough unsettled be-
fore, grow more irritable, The army be.
comes Indispensable to local government,
and supersedes it. The Government al
Washington is called on to interfere in
one and another difficulty: and this viii
be done inaptly, and sometimes with
great injustice, for our Government, wise
Iy adapted to It's own proper functions, Il
utterlg devoid Of those habits, and une
quipped with the instruments which tit
centralized Government to exercise au
tho7ity in remote States over local affairs
Every attempt to perform such duues ha:
resulted in mistakes which have eXcitec
The nation, but whatever imptudence
there may be 10 the method, the real crit
icisms should be againlt such duties Of
the General Government.
The Federal Government is unfit to ex'
ercise minor police and local government
and will inevitably binder whom it at
tempts to keep half a score OF States un'
der federal authority, but without nationa
ties and responsibility. To oblige the
central government to govern half the
territory of the Union by civil Fedora
officers, and by armies, is contrary to oui
ideas and principles, but pre- em'rently
dangerous to tie spirit Of our Govern
ment. However humane the end sought
and the motives, it is, in fact, course 0
instruction preparing our Government &c
be despolic, and familiasizing the people
to stretch Of authority which can never
be otherwise than dangerous to liberty.
am aware that good men are held
from advocating the prompt and success
sive admitting Of the exiled States, and
are fearful Of its effects on parties and
freedmen.
1t is said that If admitted to Congress
the Southern Senators and Representa-
tiyes will coaesce with Norlhern Demo
Gratis aud rule the country. Is this nas
lion. then, to remain dismembered lo
serve the ends Of parties? Have We
learned no wisdom hy the history of the
last ter years, in which jHst this course
Of sacrificing the nation to the exigeDc'es
of parties, plunged the country into var
Even admitting that the power would
pass into the hands Of a party of South
ern men, and the hitherto dishonored
Democracy of tie Moth. that power
could not he used Just as they pleased
The war has charged bot alone instltu-
tons, but ideas The whole country has
advanced. Public sentiment is exalted far
beyond what it has baen a. any time. i
new party would. like river. be compel
led to seek its channel in the already ex-
listing shapes and forms Of the continent
We have entered new idea OF llberty,
the style of thought is freer and noble
The Young men of our times are regener-
ated. The gr8at army has been school,
and hundreds Of thousands Of men are
gone to preach truer and nober vie"
II human rights. All the industrial in
terests Of society are moving with in.
creased wisdom towards intelligence and
liberty. Everywhere-in church, litera'
ture, natural science, in philosophy as II
social circles-the nation feels that the
winter is over and new spring hangs IL
the horizon and works through all the ele'
ments
In this happy changed and advanced
condition Of things, no party OF the retro
gade order can maintain itself, Every
thing marches and parties must march.
| hear with wonder, and shame, and
scorn, the South, once more adjusted with
the Federal Government, will rule this
nation. The North is rich, never so rich
The South is poor, never so poor before
The population OF the North is nearly
double that Of the South. The industry
of the North, in diversity, in forwardness
in productiveness, in all the machinery
anu education required for manufactures
is fifty years 10 advance of the South
Churches in the North crown every hill
swell every neighborhood, while the
South has but lights at long distances
tninkling like stars in the darkness. Such
a contrast, however, mean and craven
such is the fear that the south will rule
the land, that it will have an influence