Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-04
CONSERVATIVE LETTER FROM
rTrNRY WARD BEErHFu

'
HENRY WARD BEECHEE.
The distinguished preacher HENRY WARD
BEBcHER was invited to net as chaplain to
the Conservative Soldiers Convention at
Cleveland on the 18th of this month. He
declines to serve, but writes the following
letter, which coming from the source it does,
is an encouraging evidence Of the progress
Of healthy sentiment: sF.
PEEKsKILL, Aug 30, 1s66.-T5 Charles
g. Halpig,e, Breta Brig. Gen, H. w. So
cum Major General; Gordon Graager, Major
General C0mBt1Rdiag- GEETLEIES | am
obliged to you for the position which YOU
have made me to act as chaplain to the con
vention of sailors and soldiers about to CON
yene at Cleveland. can't attend il, bat /
heartily wish it and all other conventions;
ofwhat political party soever, success, whose
object is the restoration of all the States
late in rebellion to their federal relations.
Our theory Of government has no place for
a State except in the Union, and it is partly
taken for granted that the duties and res
possibilities of a State in federal relations
tends to its political health, and to that of
the whole nation. Some territuries are
hastily brought in, often before the pres
cribed conditions are fulfilled, as if it were
dangerous to leave community outside Of
the great body polite.
Had the loyal Senators and Representa-
tives been admitted at once on the assem-
bling Of Congress, and in moderate success
sion those Of Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama,
North Carolina and Virginia, the public
mind of the people Of the South would
have been far more healthy than it is, and
those States which fingered on probation to
the last would have been under most sal
utary influence to good conduct than if
dozen armies had watched over them.
Every month that we delay this healthfnl
step complexities the case. The excluded
population, unsettled before, grow more ir-
ritable. The army becomes indispensable
to local governments, and supercedes it.
The government at Washington is called to
interfere in one and another difficulty, and
this will be done sometimes with great in
justice, for our government, wisely adapted
to its proper functions, is utterly devoid of
those habits, with the instruments which fit
a centralized government to exercise au-
thority in remote States to local affairs.
Every attempt to perform such duties has
resulted in mistakes which have cxcitod the
nation.
The general ought to be forbidden to ex-
ercise authority in politics, as it will inevi-
tably keep half a score of States under
Federal authority.
To govern half the territory of the Union
by Federal civil officers, sustained by the
army, is a policy not only uncongenial to
our idea and principle, but evidently dam
gerous to the spirit Of our government
However humane the end sought and the
motives, 1t is in fact a course Of instructions
preparing our Government to be despotic
and familiarizing the people to a system of
autocracy which can never be other than
dangerous to liberty.
/ am aware that good men are withheld
| from advocating the prompt and successive
admission Of the exiled States by the fear
| chiefly of its effects upon the freedmen, and
that if admitted to Congress these Southern
Senators and Representatives will coalesce
with the Democrats of the North and rule
the country. Is this nation then to remain
dissemblers to serve the ends of party
Have we learned no wisdom by the history
of the last ten years. in which Just this
course Of sacrificing the nation to the ext
gencies of parties, plunged us into rebellion
and war. Even admitted that the power
would pass into the hands Of party made
up of Southern men-the dishonored and
misled Democracy of the North. That
power could not be used just as they pleased.
The war has changed not alone our institu-
tions, but our ideas. The whole country
has advanced, but public sentiment is exalt-
ed far beyond what it has been at any time.
For the sake of the freedmen of the
South, and its millions of fellow country
men, for our own sake, and for the great
cause of freedom and civilization, urge the
immediate reunion of all the parts which
rebellion and war have shattered
am truly yours
HENRY WARD BEECHER.