The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-09-11
FIFTEENTH VoLUME---NUMBER 7s4.
LETTER FROM REV. MR. BEEcHER.

+ He AdUocdtes Immediate Restoration.
In reply to an invitation from the Executive
Committee of the National Convention of Sol
diers and Sailors, to serve as chaplain to tho
Convention to be held at Cleveland on the 17th
inst, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher has written
letter regretting his inability to attend, bat
taking strong conservative, anti Radical ground.
His counsel will influence the minds of him.
dreds of thousands ofthe Northern people. We
give below extracts which comprehend all the
points made by Mr. Beecher: -
GENTLEMEN-I am obliged to you for the
invitation which you have made to me to act as
chaplain to the Convention of Sailors and Sol
diers about to convene at Cleveland. / cannot
attend it, but heartily wish it and oil other
conventions, of what party soever, success whose
object is the restoration of all the States late in
rebellion to their FEDERAL relations.
Our theory of Government has no pla,e for q
State except in the Union. 1t is justly taken
for granted that the duties and responsibilities
of State in Federal relations tend 10 its politi-
cal health, and to that Of the whole nation
Even Territories are hastily brought in, often
before the prescribed conditions are fulfilled, as
if it were dangerous to leave a community out
side of the great body polite.
Had the loyal Senators and Representatives
of Tennessee been admitted at once on the as
sembling of Congress, and in moderate success
sion, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, North Caro-
lima and Virginia, the public mind of the South
would have been far more healthy than ii is,
and those States which fingered on probation to
the last would have been under more salutary
influence to good conduct than if dozen armies
watched over them.
Every month that we delay this heal:hfal
The Federal Government is unfit to exercise
minor police and local government and will in
evitably blunder when it attempts it. To keep
a half score of States under Federal authority,
but without national ties and responsibilities
to oblige the central authority to govern half
the territory of the Uuion by Federal civil off,
GERS and by the army, is policy not only uu-
congenial to our ideas and principles, but pre-
emnently dangerous to the spirit OF our Gov
ernment. 81
1t is said that if admitted to Congress, the
Southern Senators aud Representatives viii
coalesce with Northern Democrats and rule the
country. Is this nation, then, to remain dis
membered to serve the ends of parties Have
we learned no wisdom by the history of the last
ten years, in which just this course of sacrificing
the nation to the exigencies of parties plunged
US into rebellion and war?
hear with wonder and shame and scorn the
fear of few that the South once more in ad-
justment with the Federal Government will
rule this nation The North is rch-never so
rich the South is poor-never before so poor.
The population Of the North is nearly double
that of the South. The industry of the North,
in diversity, in forwardness and productiveness
in all the machinery and education required for
manufacturing is half a century 10 advances Of
the South. Churches in the North crown every
hill, and schools swarm in every neighborhood
while the South has but scattered lights, at long
distances, like lighthouses twinkliDg along the
edge of a continent of darkness. In the pre-
sence of such contrast, how mean and craven
is the fear that the South will rule the policy OF
the land That it will have influence, that
it will contribute, in time most important infiu-
ences or restraints, we are glad to believe. But
if it rises at once to the control of the Govern
ment it will be because the North, demoralized
by prosperity, aud besotted by grovelling in
terests, refuses to discharge It's share of political
duty In such case the South not only will
control the Government, but it ought to do it.
2. 1t is feared, with more reason, that the
Of the South to her full Independents
will be detrimental to the freedmen The
sooner we dismiss from our minds the idea that
the freedmen can be classified, and separated
from the white population, and nursed and de-
Tended by themselves, the better it will be for
them and US The negro is part and parcel Of
Southern society lie cannot be prosperous
while it is uDprospered. Its evils will rebound
upon him. Its happiness and reinvigoratio"
cannot be kept from his participation. The
restoration of the South to a:nicabe relations
with the North, the reorganization OF its indus
try, the pra.ion of its enterprise and thrift
will all rebound to the freedmen's benefit. No
thing is So dangerous to the freedmen as an uu-
settled state of society in the South.
Refusing to admit loyal Senators and Repre-
sentaives from the South in Congress viii not
help the freedmen.
For toe sake of tho freedman, for the sake Of
the South and its millions of our fellow-coantry-
men, for our own sake, and for the great cause
of freedom and civilization, urge the imme-
diate reunion Of all the parts which rebellion
and war have shattered. -
1..- am truly yours,
-.e HENRY WARD BEECHER,