Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-09-19
MIR BccCher'S Views.

70 these who may be curious TO know what
views of reconstructon MIR. Beecher holds the
following extract from his second recent letter
will give some light:
1t is not the North that chiefly needs the
restoration OF government TO normal sphere
and regular action. Either the advantages of
Union faliacIous, or the continuous eXclu-
sion of the South from it will breed disorder,
make the future reunion more difficult, and,
especially, subject the freedmen TO The
very worst conditions of society which
well exist. No army, no government, and no
earthly power can compel the South 10 treat
tour million men astly, If the inhabitants
(whether rightly or wrongly regard these men
Is the Cause, even ne occasion, of their un-
happiness and disiranchlsement. But no army,
or government, or power will be required, when
| southern society is restored, occupied and pros
| pering in the renewed Union. Then the negro
| vii. be felt TO be necessary to southern indus
try, aud interest will join with conscience and
| kindness in securing tor him favorable treat
| ID ent fru m his fellow citizens.
| We that live at a distance may think that the
| social reconstr uction involved In the emanci-
patton o! four millions slaves is simple and
easy as ii is 10 converse about 1t. But such q
| ch nge is itself one of the most treme endous
tests 10 which industry and society tan be sub
ected, and to its favorable issue is required
every advantage possible. The longer, there
| fore, the South Is left IN turmoil, the worse 1t
will be for the negro. If there were no other
| reason if The white population were not our
fellow citizens; if we had lost all kindness and
regard for them and all pride for the Union, as
in part represented by Southern States, and
| confined all our attention exclusively TO the ne
gro, the case would be strong, beyond my pow
| er of expression, for early resumption oi
federal relations with all the States. If this is
TO disregard the negro, then all social and nat
| ural laws have been studied in vain.
MIR. Be, cher does not much admire Andrew
Johnson. In this letter be says:
Neither am "Johnson man " in any re-
ceived meaning of that term. L accepted tha
part of the policy which he favors; but with
modification. ! have never thought that i
would be wise to bring back all the States in
body, and at once, any more than 1t would b'
to keep them all out together. One by one
in due succession, under practical judgment
rather than by u wholesale theoretic rule,
wt ud have them readmitted. still think
middle course between the President and tina
of Congress would be wiser than either. Blu
with this my agreement with the Presidsn
; ends. | have long regretted his ignorance c
= northern ideas and sentiments; and l hav
been astonished and panied at his increasing ir
discretions. Unconsciously the President
, the chief obstacle to the readmission of tn
S Southern States. 1t is enough that he is know
| to favor measure to set the public min
: against it. This is to be deplored. But it
!, largely owing to his increasing lmprudent coz
j duct believe him to b. honest, sincere i
!; desiring what he regards as the public goot
! but slow and unapt in receiving help from othe
minds Proud and sensitive, firm to obstins
CT, resolute ID 6erceness, intelligent in his ow
: sphere (Which is narrow. he holds bis opinion
d iu fex.bly. He often mistakes the intensity
J. bis own convictions for strength of evidence.
Mr. Johuson's haste TO take the wrong SIC
e at the atrocious massacre of New Orleans vi
$ shocking. The perversion and mu,ilation
Is Sheriden's dispatches need no characterizatio
v l 90 not attribute this act 10 him. Yet II v
il OF such criminal and disgraceful nature tn
/. NO, to clear himself Of it by the exposure al
s, rsouke of the offend ing party amounted
collusion with crime after the fact. What sh'