The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-10-02

BEECHER TO BEECHER.
Reply OF Edward Beeeher TO Henry
Ward Beecher.


Rev. Edward Beecher, D. D., of Gales.
burgh, Illinois, has addressed a letter
through the. Chicago Tribune, to his
brother, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, in
reply to the celebrated letter of the lat
ter upon the question of reconstruction.
He charges that that letter implies
this false assumption, that there, are
some who are not in favor ofspeedily
restoring the seeded States. It is an
argument against SUCH" After critic
ally reviewing it, he says:
"Do not deceive yousself by the as
sumption that the peculiarity of your
position is that you are in favor of the
immediate restoration of the seeded
States, and that herein you agree with
johnson and differ with the Republican
party. This assumption is unfounded.
The Republicans are US much in favor
of the immediate restoration of the Sc
ceded states as you, or as. Johnson. The
point of difference is this: johnson in
sists on admitting aristOcratic despot-
isms organized by leaders of the rebel
ordinary power and subjecting loyal
men totheir sway; and Congress does
not. In this antagonism, on which
side are you? There is no middle
ground. Are you against such despot-
isms? Then say so boldly, and de-
nounce them and their author as they
deserve"
Doctor Beecher accounts for his broth
ef's, singular. obliquity on the ground
that one portion of divine truth has be-
come unbalanced in his mind, making
his theories of reconstruction one-sided
and false. These are the duties of for
giveness, confidence in evil doers, mag
nanimity, and overcoming evil with
good. "On these you wero speaking" !"
he remarks, "when you denounced the
policy of Thaddeus Stevens as satanic.
You assigned no specific reason for
your denunciation, but the implication
was strong that it was because it did
not agree with your ideas of magnan-
unity, forgiveness, and overcoming evil
with good. You would restore the
Rebels to power greater than that of
loyal linen, honor them, confide in them,
royalty load them with benefits and
gifts, and then work through them in
their prosperity to elevate the freedmen,
whom you have stripped of all power.
This you think, is Christ-lilze, and any
policy of penalty, deprivation and re-
striction towards traitors is satanic"
In conclusion Doctor Beecher says:
$50 far is it from being true that there
IS no danger of retrogression, that if the
policy of johnson prevails, the South
will have balance of power, in con-
nectiOn with Northern allies and by
following his principles as to Congress
up to their local issues, will be able to
invalidate all the legislation of the war,
restore slavery, assume the rebel debt,
and repudiate that of the nation. If ali
States have anindefeaSible right to rep-
resentation at all times; if all amend
ments to the Constitution should be ini-
tiated to a Congress composed of the
representatives of all the States to be
valid; if the present Congress only as
sumes to be a Congress, hanging on tho
outskirts of the Government, and all
this Johnson and his partizans have
taught, what surer promises are needed
to lead logically to the results which
have been specified? And are we to
trust to the honor or moral integrity OF
| those who through perjury initiated the
rebellion, to avert the result? There is
no safety but in firm adherence to the
fundamental principles of justice and
honor. If we deviate from them, God
will make our sin our punishment
''lf we believe there is n God, and that
as nations SOW so shall they reap; if
justice, honor and humanity are not
mere empty names, let us not dare to
do it.
81 am, your affectionate brother,
edward BEECHER."