, 1866-09-02
THE ILLINOIS SENATE.
Letter from Hon. r. A. Eastmans

Letter from Hon. r. A. Eastman' IL
Edisoss Chicagn Tribune: ~.
: Having observed; in pretended c1assiaea-
lion of -the holdlng.over members nl the
Illinois Senate according to their political
views, {pnblIshed in the Timss Of Thu1sdayD
my namo set down. with the "ConaeEva-:
tives," I deem 1t due to the public and to
myself, to state my position in tho present
crisis. Pressing business cares, and much
absence from home of late, Will sunc1entiy
account for my protracted sifcnca on the.
current political topics. But, If kno" my
own mind and heart, all my conclusions and |
all my sympaihies are where they have
steadily been alace tho first step in the |
alayeho1ders. ebeII1ou-with the Union men,
white aud black, of our agonlzed conntry.:i,,
When the. war. terminated ;when Grant
and: Sherman had, received the swords Of
Ice and johnson, and babe them and tho
men ,of: :their; crushed hattalionsA.to. 60 In /
ealety to their homes; when, In the :neMs- !
papers of the South, III thelf pulpus, in pub
U1 sps:ehes, and in private Conversations, i
was everywhere seen; indications Of the pres: :
ence OF q right spirit ut .was.I confess, my
opinion, as. It was, I know, -the opinion Of
many others who had BEEN earnest support
/ ers Of Mr.. 'Linco1n's Administration, that
nothing but mercy and : forgiveness and
speedy recognition should be the: panishme'f
Of conquered insurgents. Then Mr.. john
sons policy vas announced His first mes-
|tsage to Congreaa -wGs well composed,
1 without startling departures in his doctrines
from principles TINT a large portion OF
the American people have been educated In,
temperate In tone and digniaed in style
His acts did not correspond with his words.
| the 1oynl press .wns not long In discovering
the real purpose and certain tendency Of the
Presidents proceedings. The alarm Was not
sounded moment too early--it. cannot be
kept IlnGing too distinctly. II my had pre-
dliections, for moderate policies for, q time,
surely the time has nov, passed, when mod.
crate policies could be effective, or could be
tolerated. To- lower, now, the flag of the
North one inch, from It's glorious height
while tho war was going on, would be dis
graceful to ourselves, and treachcrous to
freedom and to truth. ..,.,. so,
The stamping excursion of the President
has settled this, VIZ: that tho present head Of
the nation; and he at Fortress Monroe, WIN
was the head Of the defanct !" Confedefacy,'
had before the war, and now have since the
war, common aim and object. In one ol
his haiangues in. New York, the President de-
clared that jeff. Davis went oussids the Union
4 to fight for. slavcry, which be dccmcd to bt
impc1illed In the Uniun; while hc-the Pres
idcnt--believinG that slavery would fazs
better in the Union, himself remained In tt
il fight for It.. Now, has he given up slavery
His acts do not prove It !; his language doe
not promise IT, If he Is not preparing to con
! ;trovert the faet that the; slaves hav'
i been legally freed, what mean those crnall,
II -taAy
ii He there said that the blacks Of the soutl
. are a class whom Congress " assumed to
4 freedmen" If. this IL not merely seuselcs
fling at Congress, II Is phrase full of fearfu
j import. His oftrepeated declaration tha
the Union is to be perpetual, Is a common
:: Isp,ace, but one that Is always in order. "
are to have this Union, aud to, cherish 1t, On
and indivisihle; but we will not have rebel
in Congress right away, nor rebels IN th
army. Who would ask to have General Lee
; commission restored to himr Would 1t b
; l. any the less base aud pnsillanimons to adml
, Stephens to his old seat In the House m
!, Davis to his old seat in the scnate? And
: what particular arc tho actunl applicants Il
ii Congressional .. honors :, better, than thes
; leaders p i, - " y.
:. In our own good time, gentlemen !; tt
1 North: was forgiviug, Is still ma9
l. unanimous; =. but, II you can :. ador
= to delay the performance of plain .dnty
& the North can afford to postpone the forms
/. recognition of your claims. You hold NJ
. justly q portion, Of representation (robbe
.. from the Nozth,) that attached to you
= slaves: yield 1t up, and you will have mad
r some progress In the right direction. You
y thoughts nre intent on gaining iniquitou
sna na oS as1 as n 1f mSEds,
b: you VIM have made IN approach to q roeo'
:; ciliation:: Al al events, before you.. aspl'
y again to hold the reius Of power, wash yo1
=! hands, that were, but the other day dippt
+, In the blood Of maasacred loyalistsl
x; t=~-':. ';,-~.s:.J FnANo1B a. EAs1AA.S.
Il r. Chicago, ;;september /, 1s9o.1 49,. -,