Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-09-11
ANOTHER LETTER. FROM REV. MIR
BEECHER.

The congregation in attendance at Ply
mouth Church, Brooklyn, N. Y. on Sunday
morning, were req uested by the Rev. Mr..
Burton 10 remain after the benedicuon had
been pronounced. The religious ceremonies
being completed, Mr.. Burton read a commu.
nication setting forth the recent action of n
few members hastily called together 10 take
action upon letter sent 10 them by Rev
Henry Ward Beecher. Mr.. Duncan briefly
related me circumstances under which the
letter was received. He SAID that Immediate
ly after the publication of a former letter by
Mr.. Beecher, some of the church members
bad written 10 their pastor announcing the
feeling excited thereby in the church, aud de-
string some additional explanation of his
views. Mr.. Beecher consented 10 write such
letter, and had sent II TO them for their con.
sideration- Captain Duncan then read it.
Mr. Beecher de nonstrates, in this second
letter, that his desire for the prompt restora-
ton OF the Union is consistent with the steadi-
esttadherence 10 the political doctrines with
%hlch he has so long been identified. He
thereby removes the most formidable obstruc-
uoh 10 the spread of his views in the Repub-
iican party. His first letter had raised :;
breeze about his ears. TO which he thus refers
"Just now those angry voices come TO me "a
ruoe winds roar through the trees The
winds will die, the trees will live.
am not going weakly TO turn away from NV
settled convictions Of the public veal for fear
mat bad men may praise me or good men
blame" He lustifes and affirms all that he
has said before, ard then defines his position
In regard 10 the President, saying:
II believe him 10 be honest, sincere in desir-
ing what he regards as the public good but
slow and unapt in receiving help from other
minds. Proud and sensitive, firm TO obstina-
cy, resolute TO fierceness, intelligent in his own
sphere (which is narrow,) he holds his optn-
ions infiexibly. He often mistakes the intensi-
~ OF bis own convictions for strength of evil
dence. Such man has true sphere in peri
DDS OF peril, when audacious firmness and rude
vlgor are needed But in the delicate tasks of
adjustment which follow civil war, such a ma
ture lacks that tact and delicacy and moral in
i at Dir. johnson Is to be our President for
nearly three years TO come; clothed with a
power which belongs to few thrones Beside
the homer which people owe to him as the
Chief Magistrate, we must, as Christian citi-
zens, credit him with his real excellence-his
original horror Of secession, his bold resistance
to treachery, his persistent and self-deuying
heroism in the long dark days Of Tennessee
We must not forget that he has jealousIy re-
sisted q centralzation of power in the Federal
Government; that he has sought TO dignity aud
secure a true State Rights; that he has main
tanned simplicity of manners and a true love
OF the common people. II is our duty, like
wise, to forestall and prevent, as much as pos
sible, by kind but faithful criticism of his er-
rors on the one hand, and by sympathy and
kindness on the other, those dangers to which
he il liable under attacks which he is peculiar
ly unable 10 bear with calmness. and those dan
gers Of evil counselors, which more and more
gravitate toward him. So long As il was Dos
sihe, have been silent upon MIR. Johnson's
faults, and now speak so plainly, only lest
seem TO approve or cloak them"
Mr.. Beecher deplores the lack of true unity
between the President and Congress- and saws.
"Had a united Government said TO the South,
promptly backed up, as il would have baen
by the united North, "Wih slarery ,oe must tnke
out Of the Constitution 1ohdtecer sldrery put in
and pat an echdterer Slarery for its ocn support
ieft o1n-there can scarcely be doubt that
long before this, the question would I'VE been
settled, the basis of representation In the South
cOnformed TO that in the North, and the prIn.
ciple, the most fundamental and important of
"a q hAa oh tsha ~,
tuition, viz that manhood and full citizenship are
identical"
Mr.. Beecher believes the pending constitu-
tional amendment TO be intrius:cally inst and
reasonable, but he maintains that to postpone
the restoration of the Southern States for It's
RATIFICATION would be a virtual decision TO post
pone reconstruction for years, and incur all
The hazard of mischief which would thence
result. Either" he says, .the advantages OK
the Union are fallacious, or the continuous ex-
clusion OF the South from it will breed disor-
and. especially, subject the freedmen to the
very worst condition of society that can well
exist" Mr.. Beecher desires the election of
representatives to Congress, this fall, who IA
yor me early admission of the recusant States.
g In TINS spirit" he says, ''and for this end,
drew up my Cleveland letter. Ideem ITS uieaus
sound; am not sorry that Urote at"
The New York Sun, (Republican,) says:
The effect in Plymouth Church, when this
letter was read, can be imagined much better
than II can be described. 1t is well known tnat
tne "hadIcaT' element is somewhat strong IN
that tabernacle, and scores of ultra Abolition
lists worship there. After Mr.. Beecher's letter
had been read yesterday, some of those extre-
mists took exceptions thereto, and among
others, MI. Lewis Tippan vigorously charac-
terized il as .'nothing but an elaboration of his
former letter. " and added: ssThere is no argu-
ment IN It." This view was endorse q by others,
who hinge red in the pews and aisles, discuss
ing the document. The Conservative mem.
bers, however, expressed themselves satisfied
with Mr.. Beecher's explanations, and were
glad 20 believe that his letter would calm the
passions of those who We're disposed 20 de-
nounee their pastor and disturb the harmony
OF his congregation, on account of the views
embodied in his Cleveland Ieiier- s,.
The Commercial Advertiser, (Repnblcan,)
says; The letter is calculated 20 make pro-
found impression on the public mind, and 70
cause many 20 modify the strong judgments
they nave pronounced, bo.h Rpon the course
of the President and OF the Soutnr
- SIN. JenninRe. O rich old misar died re.