Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-09-29
HENRY WARD s,EECmER.
LITTER TO HIS CONGREGATIONS.
He Denies TINT He Is n ''JOl,nsOn
Man,

On Sunday morning, 9th inst, at the con-
clusion of the services in Plymouth Church,
Brooklyn, a letter from Rev. Mr.. Beecher
was read to the congregation by Captain
Duncan, to whom it was addressed. 1t was
written in reply to representations of the
differences of opinion shat prevailed among
the memters of his church concerning the
sentiments and views expressed in his reply
to the invitation to ofliciate as chaplain of
the Soldiers and Sailors Union Convention
which was held at Cleveland on the 18th
inst. We make the following extracts, which
speak for themselves. The rcsiGue of the
letter is an attempted vindication of some of
the positions he has assumed:
PEEKsKILL, Sept. 8, 1866.
My DEAR FRIEND am obliged to YOU
Tor your letter. am sorry that my friends
and my congregation are grieyed by my
Cleveland letter.
This feeling, however, has no just grounds,
whatever may Uo the seeming have not
left, and do not propose 20 leave, or to be
put out of the Republican party. am in
sympathy with its aims, its great principles,
and its army of noble men. But took the
liberty of criticising its policy, in single re-
spect, and to do what could to secure what
] believed and still believe to be better
one.
am, and from the first have been, fully
of opinion that the amendment of the Con-
| sttution, proposed by Congress, equaizing
I representation IN Northern and Southern
States, was intrinsical'y just and reasonable,
and that it should be sought by wholesome
and persistent moral agitation.
Neither am johnson man" in any re-
ceived meaning of that term. / accept that
part of the policy which he favors, but with
modification. l have never thought that il
would be wise to bring back all the States
i'll boly, and at once, any more than II
would be to keep them all out together.-
One by one, in due succession, under prac
| teal Judgment, rather than by q wholesale
| theorctic rule, would have them readmitted
| still think middle course between the
Presidents and that of Congress would be
{ wiser than either.
But with this my agreement with the Pre-
sident ends. have long regretted his igno
rance of Northern ideas and sentiments, ant
l have been astonished and panied at his in
creasing indiscretion.
Unconsciously, tic President is the ellie
obstacle to tie re-admtssion Of the Souther'
States. 1t is enough that he is known t.
favor measure to set the public min,
against it. This is to be deplored. But i
is ayye1y o,oing to his increasing impruden
conduct. believe him to be honest, sincere
in desiring what he regards as the publi
good, but slow and unapt in receiving hell
from other minds. Proud and sensitive
firm to obstinacy, resolute to ferceness, in
telligent in his own sphere (Which is narrow,
lie holds his opinions infexibly. He ofte
mistakes the intensity of his own conviction
for strength of evidence.
Such man has q true sphere in periods {
peril, when audacious firmness and rud
vigor are needed. But in the delicate task
,, of adjustment which follow civil war, sue
nature lacks that tact and delicacy an
moral intuition which constitute thu trl
,, statesman.
l Mr.. Johnson's haste to take the wrong sit
at the atrocious massacre of New Orlcal
: was shocking The petversion and mutil
tion of Sheridan's dispatches need no cha
G acterization. / do not attribute this act
: him. Yet it ,eas Of such a criminal and d
J, yrdcefM nature that not TO clear MmseJ of
:. Jy tie exposure and rebuke Of the o6endi
u party amounted to colIusion With crime az
s tile fact. What shall say of the speech
= made in the wide recent circuit of the Ex
n cutivea Are these the acay Of reconc,liatiO