The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-28
Secretary Harlan's Radical speech-Om-
cial DiscOurtesy.

Mr. Harlan, Secretary of the Interior and
recently elected to the Senate Of the United
States, received the congratulations Of his
friends at his residence in Washington on
Friday night last. He responded to these
congratulations by speech, in which, after
making the usual reference to his own urwor-
thiness he touched upon the questions Of re-
construction and negro suffrage. He spoke Of
sour brothers in the districts recently in rebel
iion," and recognized that the South had given
up its bad cause. He believed that the negro
must soon be admitted to full citizenship, and
that it would not be safe to reconstruct the
Southern States with their governments in the
hands Of rebels. Having just before observed
that there were no longer any rebels-that all
the South had submitted and given up its
cause-this may seem a little inconsistent;
but no matter for that. What the honorable
gentleman meant was, that he did not consider
it would be safe 10 reconstruct with the South
ern States in the hands Of Southern white men.
He knew that the intelligence and capacity Of
the negro were very doubtful, but he "would
rather trust an ignorant loyal man than
wise rebel" and so on. Having made 1t
sufficiently clear what side he was or in the
political agitations of the day, he closed as fol-
lows 81 need hardly say that during the
brief periol may remain in my present posi-
ton ] shall not fail to discuss these opinions,
or urge my convictions in the proper quarter.
Nor am disposed to say tonight that such
views would be distasteful TO the great and
good man who is at the head Of the republic.
l believe it is his purpose TO leave the great
question of reconstruction with the two houses
of Congress-
In any point of view this speech is not cred
table to Cabinet Minister. Mr.. Harlan is
still member of the council whose duty it is
to second the efforts OF the Executives; to assist
the President in the discharge Of the powers
with which he is clothed by the constitution.
As he declares, not too modestly, he Is of but
little consequence except as member Of that
council. Any just perception Of the prophecies
Of his position of the delicate nature Of the con-
fldential relations which it involves, ought to
have induced him to withhold the expression
of his opinions on measures that are attracting
nearly the whole attention of Congress. He
should have been silent If he had not known
the views Of the President; but since, in the
common knowledge Of the Presidents views
he knew how directly his own were in opposi-
ton to them, no power should have been able
to wrcst from him an expression Of those views
while he held the position be does. To make
such speech, TO openly join the clamoring
mass that makes war on the Presidents policy,
and still to hold his seat as one of the Presi-
dents advisers--to even declare before an as
scmbiea .-sisitnda that be will make use of his
place in the Cabinet TO oppose the iresluUu,--
all this indicatesa man either grossly ignorant
of the common courtesies Of official life, or
rudcly Indifferent to those courtesies. And
whether il was Mr.. Harlan's rudeness or his
ignorance that spoke on Friday night, either
should cause his immediate dismissal from his
place. The hypocritical designation of great
and good man. ought not to be permitted to
smooth over an insult and defiance to the
President by member of his Cabinet