Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-09-21
| Henry Ward Baecher on the PRECEDENT

Henry Ward Bsechero on the President.
Mr.. Beecher's letter to the Cleve-
land Convention excited a great deal
of remark and sharp criticism, some
of which has come to his ears. An
other letter from him was read after
service in Plymouth Church last Sum
day, in which, after regretting that his
position is as he says misunderstood,
he declares:
81 have not left, and do not pro-
pose to leave or be put out of the Re-
publican party. l am in sympathy
with its aim, its great principles and
its army of noble men, but l took the
liberty of criticising its policy in a
single respect, and to do what l could
to secure what / believed, to be bet
ter one.
Neither am l a "Johnson man" in
any received meaning of that term. l
accept that part of the policy, which
he favors, but with modification. |
have never thought that it would be
wise to bring back all the States in a
body at once, any more than it would
be so to keep them out altogether
One by one, in due succession, under
a practical ju igment, rather than by
wholesale theoretic rule, / would
have them readmitted. still think
middle course. between the Presi-
dents and that of Congress, would be
wiser than either, but with this my
agreement with the President ends.
have long regretted his ignorance
of Northern ideas and sentiments, and
l have been astonished and panied at
his increasing indiscretion. Uncon-
sciously, the President is the chief OBJ
stacle to ;he readmiSsion of the South
ern States. 1t is enough that he is
known to favor measure to set the
public mind against it. This is to be
deplored, but it is largely owing to
his increasing imprudent conduct.
believe him to be honest. sincere in
desiring what he regards as public
good, but slow and inapt in receiving
help from other minds; proud ano
sensitive: firm to obstinacy; resolutt
to hereepRss intelligent in his OWL
sphere, which is nareQ~. Re holds
,, his opinions infexibly. he often mls
takes the intensity Of his own conyic
tons for strength If egidfselRPce. sucl
q man has q true sphere in periods 9
''~Asn. when aqdacious frmpess an'
rude rld vigor ar r.. Assaea' sas in a q,
delicate tasks of adjus..-- IL,
follow civil war, such a nature lack:
that tact and delicacy, and moral intu
ition, which constitute the true states
men.
Mr.. Johnson's haste to take thu
f wrong side at the atrocious massacre
, at New Orleans was shock; the per
version and mutilation of Sheridan
dispatch needs no Characterization
do not attribute this act to him, ye
. it was of such a criminal and disgrace
, full nature that not to clear himself o
, it by the exposure and rebuke of tn
offending party, amounted to collu
sion with crime after the fact. Wha
shall | say of the speeches made il
, the recent circuit of the Executive
Are these the ways of reconciliation :?
II attrihnta tho rAeant misundcr
standing in part to the excitemen
which now exists, to the narrowing @
the issues, and to the extreme exae
Grafton which Mr.. Johnson's extraor
binary and injudicious speeches hav
produced. To this may be added m
known indisposition to join in crit
cism upon the President, and the fac
that | urged moderate form of tina
: policy which he, unfortunately for it
, success, holds. Upon Mr.. johnson
accession | was supremacy impresse,
with the conviction that the Who'll
problem of reconstruction would praC
tically pivot on the harmony of MI
. Johnson and Congress. With tina
We could have secured every guarar
r tee and every amendment of the Cor
' stitution."
"Deeming the speedy admission c
=, the Southern States as necessary t
their own health-as indirectly til
best policy for the freedmen-as pr
J. cu(iarly needful to the safety of GU
> government, which for the sake of a,
e complishing good end incautious me
3 were in danger of perverting, l favor
ed, and do SO still favor, the electio
to Congress of Republicans who wi
y seek the early admission of the recr'
t, ant States
= Having urged it tor year past
Y was more than ready to urge it agai
, upon the various conventions whic
preceded the nomination of represel
d ftives to Congress this fall. In thi
Esprit and for this end | drew up m
81 Cleveland letter. / deem its view
e sound. | am not sorry that l wrot
, it. | regret the misapprehensio
= which it has caused, and yet more, an
i sorrow which it may have needlessl
Imposed upon dear friends"
OF Horace Maynard of Tenn, was on
<, of the most marked men in the soutl
e ern loyal convention, and his persons
n appearance is very striking-tal
slim, with thin and sallow face, an
y very long hair, he seems the very en-
I, bodiment OF the extreme souther
a type. His manner is very earnes
g and deliberate and impressive. An
:. herst college is proud of him, and wit
:, reason, as one of her graduates. q