Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-08-28
Letter frsm Hon. Thad. steven.

Letter frem Hon. Thad. Stevens.
Mr.. Samuel Scnoch, Of the Ninth Oougres-
sionai District Of Pennsylvania, has addressed
letter TO Hon Thaddeus Stevens, saying:
~Several of your intelligent constituents in
this region, nc doubt from proper in Information,
are complaining of mistakes made by Congress
in not passing laws at the last session restrain.
ing removals of certain ON GERS engaged in re-
construction. i contended that you had passed
an act at the very close providing for that very
contingency, but which Is not executed. Will
You be so good as 10 inform me how far our
representative is responsible for this omlssion
II omission 1t bel'
The following is the reply OF Mr.. Stevens:
LAHCAeTRR. PKEN'A, August %
COlone! Samuel Schoch, Columbia, Pennsylra.
nid-Dear Sir:-You are right in supposing
liable lot OF man; but you mistake in supposing
that there is any law to prohibit the removal
OF district commanders without the consent OF
the Senate. Soon after the commencement OF
the last session of Congress l reported a bill
from committee Of the House of Representa-
tives which contained provisions prohibiting
removal without consent OF the Senate. II
passed the House and was sent to the Senate.
The Senate struck it out and returned it 10 the
House, which refused to concur in the amend.
ment. The result was committee of confer
enee, where an animated contest ensued. There
were several other questions in controversy
between the houses which the House offered
to yield II this could be granted. The Senate
perseveringly refused, declaring that they
would sooner lose the bill AS that would
frustra'e all our legislation it could not be al
lowed. The House yielded with a warning of
the evil it could tnflict upon the country
Some OF the mem bers of the Senate seemed to
doubt sthetr power under the Constitution
which they had just repudiated, and wholly
outside OF which all agreed that we were act
ing, else our whole work of reconstruction was
usuIpation; or, perhaps, they had desire to
be thought to be grayely conservative and
magnanimous. These ioeas seemed to control
the action of some half. a. dozen Senators, whs
preferred trusting the President. NY dear
Colonel few Senators of great ability, un-
doubted patriotism and purity, have become
so saturated with what they are pleased to call
conservatism, (whose meaning l confess am
unable to understand that l fear thew will
forget the monster that was slain in 1875, and
again In 1851, and will thus do great damage
TO the creation of government now so capa.
BILE OF being con verted into q political paradise
This is liable to happen. not so much by a di-
rect and palpahle attack upon its frame work
as by gradually forgetting the vital principles
OF the Declaration OF Independence. Strike
out one Of the living sparks which give life to
our goddess OF liberty, and the mysterious and
intense heat, whose welding fires near a CEN
tnTy ago were, and at present are, fusing prin-
clples OF freedom and reducing despot. 8 n to
servative despot could thrust his sword into
IT wihont affecting its temper. I have said
above that did not know the meaning of con.
seryatism. J. have since seen the report OF a
speech said TO have been made by an OHIO
Senator at Canton, Ohio which. if it be truly
reported, and is to be considered as a definition
OF that doctrine, then it to me is very alarm.
ing-worse than copperheadism. It is Ieeisla-
ton without authority and reconstruction by
usurpation.
am, very respectfully, your obedient ser.
want, THADDEUs STEVENS.