The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-09-27
BY SCHOFF. VINEGAR & co.
VOLUME 27.1

against rebels and their rebellion, was
led to believe that you would be about the
last man that would recommend or accept
of any terms for reconstruction that would
not offer full security for the future, even
if you might be persuaded by myself and
Others to waive all indemnity for the past
| was grieved and disappointed while
showing my respects to you as President OF
The United States, to find myself listening
to what appeared to me an unjust and I'M
merited censure of the measures which
large minority of the peoples representa-
Itives believed to be right, and the nildest
measures for reconstruction that could be
adopted With any chance Of establishing
justice or of promoting the general well
fare"
|, with thousands of others who labored
to aid the government Ill putting down the
rebellion, would have rejoiced if Congress
could have found all the reports of the con
tinued persecution of Union men through
ont the South to be groundless and false.
The whole Republican party would have
rejoiced if Congress could have found it
safe to admit the members offered from
southern states at once to full share i'll the
government.
This being my wish, does not authorize
me to denounce the majority in Congress
and accuse them of being radicals and trail
tors, changing ON the skirts of a govern
ment which they are trying to destroy"
1t was said of oId-the sin of ingratitude
is worse than the sin of witchcraft.
To my mind, our nation must live in ev-
erlasting infamy if we fail to secure full
measure of justice to an unfortunate race
of men WHO were originally hunted down
in their own country, and carried off and
sold Ike beasts into an abject slavery, with
all their posterity.
This ensaved race has the strongest pos
sible claims for kindness, as well as justice,
at the hands of the people and government
OF the whole country, and more especially
from the people of the South. These uu
fortunate slaves have done a great portion
of the labor that has fed and clothed the
whites and blacks Of the southern country.
AS true as the lsoorer is worthy Of his
hire, so true is it that we, as nation, can
not withhold justice and equal rights from
a race that has fought and bled and labored
to defend and protect the Union Of States III
the hour of our nations greatest extremity
The enemies of our country and govern
ment are now trying to persuade the COM
munity that war of races would result
from giving the black man the same meas
ure of justice and rights which the white
men claim for themselves. This will be
found to be groundless fear. Our nation
al danger will always result from unequal
and partial laws. We cannot make laws
which will Cypress and keep in ignorance
the poor, without bringing on ourselves and
our country the judgment of a righteous
God, who will reward us as nation accor-
ding to our works.
| indulge the hope that you will see, be
fore it is too late, the terrible danger of tax
ing counsel with northern men in sympathy
with rebels who fought with all the energy
of desperation to accomplish the overthrow
Of our government, instead of taking coun-
sci with those friends who elected you
Friends who have been and are as DESTROYS
as you Can possibly be to secure the adop-
ton of every method calculated to promote
the substantial welfare of all parts of our
common country.
With my best wishes for yourself and the
prosperity and happiness OF the nation,
remain,
Truly yours
PETER COOPER.