The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-09-20
ANOTHER LETTER FROM HENRY
WARD BEECHER.
He Declares that He has not left
the Republican Party.
Favored Mr. Johnsons theory of imme-
date Restoration. but Dissents
from his Recent Course.
From the New York Times, of Sept. 8.

From the New York Times, of Sept 8.
Yesterday morning at the conclusion
of the services in Plymouth Church, the
following letter from Rev. Mr. Beeeher
was read to the congregation by Captain
Duncan, to whom it was addressed. Il
was written in reply to representations
of the differences of opinion that pre-
vailed among the members of his church
concerning the sentiments ana views ex
pressed in his reply to the invitation to
officiate as chaplain in the Soldiers and
Sailors Union Convention to be held at
Cleveland on the 18th instant:
PEEKsKILL, August s, 1o66.
My DEAR FRIEND-I am obliged to you
for your letter. l am sorry that my
friends and my congregation are grieved
by my Cleveland letter.
This feeling, however, has no just
grounds, whatever may be the seeming.
l have not left, and do not propose to
leave, or to be put ont of the Republi-
can party. l am in sympathy with its
aims, its great principles and its army of
noble men. But l took the liberty of
and to do what l could to secure what l
believed and still believe to be better
one.
/ am, and from the first have been,
fully of opinion that the Amendment Of
the Constitution, proposed by Congress,
equalizing representation in Northern
and Southern States, was intrinsically
just and reasonable, and that it should be
sought by a wholesome and persistent
moral agitation.
But, from the present condition of the
publicsmind, and from the Presidents
attitude, 1 deemed such change to be
practically impossible in any near period
of political action. And plan of re-
construction, based upon that, seems to
me far more like plan of adjourning
reconstruction for years, at least, with all
the liabilities of mischief which are al
ways to be expected in the fluctuations of
politics in free nation
It is not the North that chiefly needs
the restoration of Government to its
normal sphere and regular action. Either
the advantages of Union are fallacious,
or the continuous exclusion of the South
from it will breed disorder, make the
future reunion more difficult, and, es-
pecially, subject the freedman to the very
worst conditions of society which can
well exist. No army, no Government,
and no earthly power can compel the
South to treat four million of men Justly,
if the inhabitants whether rightly or
regard these men as the cause,
or even the occasion, of their unhappi-
ness and disfranchisement. But no
army, or Government, or power will be
required when Southern society is res
tored, occupied and prospecting, in the
Union. Then the negro will be
felt to be necessary to Southern industry,
and interest will join with conscience
and kindness in securing for him favor
able treatment from his fellow citizens.
We that live At a distance may think
that the social reconstruction involved
in the emancipation Of four million slaves,
is as simple and easy as it is to discourse
about it. But such changeis itself one
of the most tremendous tests to which
industry and society can be subjected;
and to its favorable issue is required
every advantage possible. The longer,
therefore, the South is left in turmoil the
worse it will be for the negro. If there
were no other reason; if the white popu--
lation were not our fellow citizens; if we
had lost all kindness and regard for them,
and all pride for the Union, as in part
by Southern States. and con-
fined our attention exclusively to the
negro, the case would be strong, beyond
my power of expression, for an early
resumption of Federal relations with all
the States. If this is to disregard the
negro, then all social and natural laws
have been studied in vain. 7.t. ara
Neither am l a johnson man" in any
received meaning of that term. I accept
that part of the policy which he favors,5
but with m notification / have.not thought
that 1t would be wise to bring back all;
the States in body, and at once, any.
more than it would be to keep them all
out together. One by one, in due sue
cession. under a practical Judgment,
rather than by wholesale theoretic rule,
l would have them re- admitted. 1 still
think middle course between the Presi-.
dents and that of Congress would be
wiser than either. But with this my
agreement with the President ends. l
have long regretted his ignorance of
Northern ideas and sentiments, and l
have been astonished and panied at his
increasing indiscretions. Uneonsciously,
the President is the echief obstacle to the
re e-admission of Southern States. 1t is
enough that he is known 70 favor meas
ure to set the public mind against it
This is to be deplored But it is largely
owing to his increasing imprudent con-
dect- / believe him to be honest, SIN
cere in desiring what he regards as the
public good, but slow and unapt in re-
ceiving help from other minds. Proud
and sensitive, firm to obstinacy, resolute
to fierceness, intelligent in his own sphere
(which is narrow, he holds his opinions
inflexibly. He often mistakes the inten-
sity of his own convictions for strength
of evidence.
Such man has true sphere in periods
of peril, when audacious firmness and
rude vigor are needed Bat in the deli
cate tasks of adjustment which follow
civil war, such a nature lacks that tact
and delicacy and .morai intuition which
constitute the true statesman.
Mr. .1ohnSau-S hss 70 fat 10 "a rrnnO