The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1866-09-13

Rev, Henry Ward Beecher having been
invited to act as Chaplain to the Convention
Of soldiers and Sailors at Cleveland, return
cd the following answer: .Leq
" pEEKsKIII, August 30, ls66.
40 Charles g. Halpine, Breyet Brigadisr
General II. w. Slocum, Major General
Gordon Granger, Major General Com
mitteei I .....-
GENTI.ENEN--I am obliged 10 you for the
Invitation which y0u have made mo "a act
~, Chaplain tO tho Convention Of Soldiers
and Sailors about 10 convene ut Cleveland.
I cannot attend IL, hut heartily wish il
aud all other conventions, of what party
socvor. success, whose object il the restora-
ton Of All The States late IN rebellion to
their Federal relations trff
% Our theory of government has no place
for State except IN the Union II Is jnstiy
taken fur gnInted that the duties ald ro-
spouslbilitics of n State in Federal relations
extend 10 its political health, and to that Of
the whole nation. Even Territories are has
Oily brought in, often before the prescribed
conditions are fulfilled, rs II il were danger
Gus to leave community outside OF tho
great body polite.
" Had the loyal Senators and Representa-
tives of tennessee been admitted at once ON
the assembling of Congress, and with mode
ratio success in Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama;
North Carolina and Virginia, the public
mind Of tile South would have been far
moro healthy than it is, and those States
which fingered ON probation 10 the last.
would have been under more salutary in
ilnencc TO good conduct, than If dozen ar
mics watched over them.
Every month that No delay this health
ful step complexities the case The excluded
population, cnOhgh unsettled before. grow
more irritable the army becomes indispens-
able TO the local governments, and super
codcs 10 the Government at Washington IL
allied t0 interfere ia one and another dileal-
~. And this will be done apparently, some
times, with great Injustice; for our Govern
inent, wisely adapted 10 its own proper fune-
lions. Is utterly devoid Of those habits, and
uneqnipped with the Instruments which nc
civilized government ~ exercise authority
In remote States IN local affairs. Every at
tempt 10 perform such duties has resulted In
mistakes which have excited the nation.
But whatever uniitness there be In the
method the real criticism should be against
the requisiton of such duties Of tho general
Government, TO exercise the minor police
aud local government will inevitably keep
half score Of States under Federal anthori-
w. hut without nationalities aud respOnsi-
bilities, To oblige the central authority to
govern half the territory of the Union by
Federal civil officers. hacked by the arng,is
a policy not Only uncongeniaI TO our ideas
aud principles, but evidently tangeronsto
the spirit Of our Government 31aI ID i8
" However humane the ends sought, and
the motives, u Is In fact 0 course Of instruc-
tion, preparing onr Government TO be de-
spotic, and falnillarixing the people to- n
stretch of authority which can never be
other than dangerous ~ Liberty. iH&
am aware that goVd mon arc withheld
from advocating the prompt aud successive
admission Of the exiled States, by the fear
chiefly, of it, effects upon freedmen, II Ia
said that II admitted to Congress these
Senators and Representatives will
caalesco with Northern Democrats and ruin
the country IL this nation, then, 10 remain
10 serve the ends Of parties
Have We Learned no history within the last
ten years, In which Just this course OF sacri-
icfng the nation to che exigencies Of parties
plunged us into rebellion and warl
Even admit that the power would pass
into the hands Of party made up Of South
efil men, and tho Hitherto dishonoTed and
Insled Democracy Of the North. That pow
er could not be used just as they pleased.
The war has changed not al0ne institutions,
but ideas. The whole country has advanced,
but public sentiment Is exalted far beyond
what IL has been ut any time. EiieNN
rFOr the sake Of the freedmen, for the
sake oftie South aud its millions Of fellow
for Onf own sake, and for the
great cause Of freedom and civilization, |
irge the immediate union Of all the parts
which rebellion and war have shattered.
lm truly yours, W. NIt fN M "a