New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-21
RRCONsTRUCTION.
Views Of the He's. Henry Winter Dnvis-
All Muss Vote.
From The Miuoari Denocr,t

| From The Mssoah Democrat
In May last, in response 10 inquiry, the Hon.
Henry Winter Davis wrote a letter setting forth
with his characteristic clearness and cogency his
views upon the problem of reconstruction. This
letter has hitherto remained unpublished. The con-
sent Of Mrs. Davis TO the publication having beer
obtained, friend at Washington transmits TO us
the manuscript, and We have thus the pleasure OF
presenting 10 our readers document which strikes
us as ranking among the most mastery expositions
of the subject involved, that has yet appeared,
Following is the letter:
! Ny DEAR Sin: Please accept my Acknowledgment
| for your kind note.
wish I could give you a short and satisfactory
answer 10 your brief and pregnant question touchbg
our prospects under President johnson.
The future Of the nation Is summed up in the rettore
ton o! political power 10 the States lately In heDe
lion. ,
az what the Presidents policy is on that topic. /
know nothing.
The conditions Of the problem plain and the con.
sequences Of the poss Bile solutions follow with
logical certainty IL rests with the President IN the
state IL which Congress has left the question,
10 take the initiatives and the mode in which Thai Is
done will determine all that follows whatever State
Governments he allows TO be organized and TO elect
Representatives and Senators 10 Congress. VIII be re-
COS nized by Congress In December In all probaoiiy.
! None exist now in any State which rebeled' none
can be organized legally without the assent OF the
United States and no steps that sssent can
be taken without his permission
The Presidents only power over TIE question ress IN
his hight 10 refuse permission for any convention or
election 20 be held unless on terms satisfactory 70 MN
but that power is decisive II be refuse to permit any
election convention 10 De heO, tLipst piH u" l
the solution Of Congress. "
II ne permit the aggregate white population Of the
South qualified 90 under tie old governments ABB
rogated by the Rebellion, 10 organize state bo'efn'
meHts that instas the revolutionary faeten IN power
IN the States and fills Congress with their Repftecnih'
tives and Senators.
That IL 10 place the scepter In the Lands from which
We have Just wresied the sword.
1.-THE President attempt 10 discriminate the loyal
from the dsloya and exclude from voting all who have
given aid and comfort the Rebellion. mere handful
of the population will remain. wholly inecmpetett 10
form or maintain State Government aud sure 10 be
overwhelmed by the political CONFERENCE.-THE a. the
nett election which will restore power 10 the leaders
OF the Rebellion. While II stands under the protection
Of the United States 1t viii constitute an odious oil.
garchy dsposng OF the lives and property OF me ereGt
Of their fellow citizens without any responsibility
and controlling tho national legislation by the people
for whom they vote.
This result il unavoidable The whole mass Of the
population Of tho South has given AID and comfort 70
The Rebellion The war made by the accession OF
the Union to the Rebel faction. II s idle TO talk
quescent Of loyal men overborne by violence
Ii the Union who passed the ordinance OF Seces
son in Virginia and who made 1t eIectua after was
passed. In State the Rebellion danger
Gus without the active aid Of those opposed TO Sc
cession.
But the United States had no friends In the Rebel
states against those States. and they Mace "0"s TO-
dav
neace 10 asunon; they deplored the outbreak OF the
war but they hesitated moment which SIDE 70
take Ifthere was 10 be war, they were Tor their
States and against the United States There WAS no
yespectable sumber OF Union willing to aid the
United States IN compelling submission to the Consti
tution and there are none non. Al submit 10 J0ee
Nany are willing 20 acquiesce In the Unavoidable All
are willing 10 govern the United States again. since
Is In possible; but all were also willing to
aid the Rebellion; and not an assault and osreIy was
committed for the United States from tne ro'omse W
the Gulf Of Mexico.
The Union men Of the South did not merely bow 70
force but they hastened to seek places In
the Legislatures the Congress- tho Executive mansions
and gave It countenance and support without which
IL must have fallen In year; and when Its cause vas
hopeless they we're qniet and SUBMISSIVE ana aio ho'
rise 70 aid the United States.
II Ia certainly 70 ths class Of the white population
that We must look for aid In restoring civil government
in these States bat It 10 great delusion TO suppose
she! bold Or strong enough 70 meet spC 'o Gh;o
drove thou int rebellion. II they ID In power. they
viii again do the vim Of the resoute and reckless men
stood behind s1G :ss Rsb. %.s ana no
this discrimination DO attempted BY the oasn 10 sup
mort the Con stuon Of the United States W~ybody viii
n hs Isodsrs Of tho Rebellion, OWL and military Do
excluded though willing submit and take the oath the
ma, Of the Rebel faction will BE- admitted and that VII
inc the State and selecting Representatives
and Senators and the practical result is the same - II
nobody were excluded.
and By Congress- IL will instantly change the
balance OF political power In the United States
n IL probable the people who have saved the nation
arc not content 10 accept ~ consequences without
None OF the white population Of the Southern States
u interested In paying the puolo asot OF Imposing
taxes 70 meet its interest They hold none OF H.
Va ore sted TO subjngste them 70 the laws been
ooo,umsI in their overthrow II Is 10 be paid IN great
ont OF their substance II has annhilatcd their
public debt II has filled the land with ostraciseo ON
oers with wounded soldiers with an odious Tree negro
population, lately their sves. and si under their 20
n ths Whites be restored TO political power. their
representatives are interested In repudistng that
Pablo Debt in refusing 10 pay its interest In restoring
their ofcer % tho army ana es'y, prc;ns sSsi,
cisnds for ioeses by war confscson or forced $sx
.iss in restornR Slavery under the forms Of sPpren
ticesbip or fixed wages and compulsory service ana as
orminsnG and SpR,sTs:s and The sorit which
$1,000 4. perysdes tho whole South. and VIII mad
ststutes ready to its hand In every state
minority can arrest legislation majority OF stasr
Houss car compel submission 70 any terms. under
nsrsty Of srrsstng or dsorgsniEng the Government
Ths ,soresentatiyes from the States lately in repe
- iii form 4 povsrful and hostile minority. ana u
thew DO not hnd enough snens: OF tne rc.ernmea'
from the States now represented to give them ma
.s IN ons Housc for some Of the purposes ABOVE IN
To.;eI ths near past throws no light on the near ~,
tnys The prospect Of political disorgsnisa,ioa Sh
present TO people sun nd D os,s ~ Content to
smaYting under the Overthrow anu 9u''s DO
ruin a. 70 rule the country. p.,nhvo.,
To EXPECT them 10 Join In electing hepuous .N.
p,esdept would be amiabe delusion when INC ni'
election would dspel and they mgh. nna y",s thew
Ssmpity for emancipation II the increased vo,e ,nsy
M c.st in the name Of their freed slaves should nap
W. ~ Sscae thu contest and elevate them TO power
u The peVpIs ere Tssdy f@ taeae soaseaUsaesA w''