New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-09-28
HENRY WARD BEECHER.

LETTER PROM THE REV. EDWARD BEEcHER b. D., TO
HIS BROTHER.
The letter Of the Rev. Dr. Edward Beecher Of Gales
burg H. to his brother Henry is an afeconate and
earnest remonsrance and its manly and upright prnc-
pies make more mourniu the detection of the pastor Of
Plymouth Church. We omit Mr.. Beeehers admirable re-
view Of Johnsons policy and give those portions which
apply the part his brother has taken in supporting It's
have been led to the conclusion that for reason.
what cannot say one portion OF tne Oh Aas gaea
reconstruction sided and false. Nothing dan
han Divine truth thus unbalanced II 10 speak
authority Of God but tends to bewder and sedrce
The truths that thus and unbalanced ia your
mind as IL me- duties Of forgiveness, conf
denee In eyldoer magnnnmiy and overcoming evil with
good On these y0d speaking when you denounced the
policy Of Thaddeus SeTens Sitao You assigned spe
chc reason for your denuncaton, bat the implication
strong that because did not agree With YOUR IDEAS OF
magnanimity forgiveness and overcoming evil with good
You would restore Rebels power greater than that Of
loyal honor them cOnhde IN them royalty Load them with
benefits and gifts and then work through them their pros
perty TO elevate freedmen whom have stripped Of all
power This you think, Chrske, and any p9cy OF pen
ay deprivation and restriction toward Satanic
The policy forgiveness and OF overcoming evil with good
But is there no place in his dealing with communities FOR pen
ay Is there sphere for the exercise OF wrath Is wrath
against the enoImes Of guilty communities unehIsun DO
we read of any higher wreh the wrath Of the Lamb
press of the 6erceness and wrath of Almighty God
OF Mr. johnson he thus speaks:
The whole tendency Of his policy to revive nspr and
emboden those proud reyengeu reacherous cruel bloody
arsoeraces OF caste the destruction o. which Is alike de-
manded by glory Of Goo and the welfare OF this nation and
OF mankind To the Of his power he has undone in
them ali that had been effected by the wrath Of God against
crimes manifested in defeat and subugaon through
dened evil Once they rlOt revolt and war Once
they propose the restoration ANA maintenance OF slavery
II in yet really in effect reign OF terror against
all oyass well as the freedmen has been naugu'
rated by these bloody missionaries who now nperoay
demanding admission as States with threats OF vengeance ON
refusal
doctrines Of forgiveness magnanimity and overcoming evil
with good These the doctrines which President johnson
proines his political harangues, comparing himself with
Christ and bis policy with that Of le Son oil God while be Is
AT war With OF Divine Providence and with
the purpose Of Christ deal in wrath and
m he has broken the rod Of every oppressor no kind
these missionaries to continue and establish such
policy Their highest good as well as that Of the nation
the war that they be thoroughly penetrated with an utter
despair Of IN carrying out their unjust despoic and
bloody purposes.
The conclusion of the letter is as follows:
Yoa believe the spirit Of the age the results Of tho
such that retrOgade movement Ms to liberty Is m'
possible any party Of southern arstocats aud North
Democrats is bnt tempting OF Tod and deuson, II
through your Indebtedness and that OF Others arsocraces
,oned AZ bart Of his nation at war with tie very first prn
cples OF liberty In the OF the Declaration OF indie
pendence was said IN like manner an age OF liberty
and progress all parties must be guided BY their principles
And yet they organized In fact aistocracies based on
Slavery part Of the nation. And what was the result
Let the oceans Of blood shed IN for Slavery and the
treasury demanded redeem the national life from destruc
Is not one such warning enoughi Shall we again establish
sayehodng aristocraces and with baseness and ngrat
fathers their despOtsm tue
population who defended us In conflict for existence
and continue sing the ren song Of hepe and progress
In the development Of liberty
1t from being true that there no danger Of retro
erosion If the policy of johnson prevails the South will
balance of power In connection with Northern aes
aud by following bis principles TO Congress up their
logical will be able 10 iuyadate all the legislation Of
the war Slavery the Rebel debt and repudste
that Ii all States have Ddefeasbe night
ressR alton all times all amendments TO the Constitution
should initiated In Congress composed Of the representa-
all the States 10 be yad II the present Congress only
TO be Congress banging on the outskirts OF the
Government and all this johnson and bis partsans have
taught what premises needed 20 lead logically TO all
tho results which have been specified And we TO trust to
thu honor moral integrity Of those who through perjury
initiated the Rebellion {. avert the RESULT There safety
bat firm adherence 10 the fundamental principles Of JUS
tice and honor II 6yiae from them God will make
sin punishment
II we believe that them God and that nations SO
shall they reap justice honor aud humanity not
empty names. let Us not iare 10 do IL.
1 Gm your afeetionate brother.
EDWARD BRECHER.